Postal History Society

Welcome to the Society

How we can benefit you:

Free copies of an award winning quarterly journal "Postal History"
Regular all-day meetings held in London and the provinces
Books published by the Society and other organisations at discounted prices
Assistance with the publication of members' research
Access to an extensive library of reference works
Annual Conference where members see leading collections and exchange information and socialise
Annual auction where you can both dispose of, and acquire, interesting items
The chance to meet and correspond, both on your particular interests, and to learn more about new topics from experts in a wide range of subjects

Postal History is the story of written global communication in every form. Clay tablets, papyrus and parchment were the forerunners of today's e-mail and world wide web. Because the envelope did not come into general use until the 1840's, much later in some countries, most early letters were sent as an entire with the address on the outside together with all of the relevant postal markings. Their contents are therefore retained for posterity, unlike envelopes where more often than not the contents have been discarded over the years. We thus only have the address and postal markings to deduce the sender and destination. These early letters cover every conceivable aspect of life.

Methods of Communication

The letter or envelope can tell the historian whether it was carried on foot, on horseback, by stage coach, railway, ship, balloon, airliner or even pigeon or rocket. It can answer questions about the route taken and the length of the journey.

Our History and Aims

On 26th September 1936, at the suggestion of Fred Melville, a group of eminent philatelists met at the offices of Robson Lowe. By a unanimous decision The Postal History Society was formed and a small committee appointed to draw up the rules.

The objects of the Society were, and remain, the promotion and encouragement of the study of postal communications, local, national and international, to publish a journal for members and other works relating to postal history.

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Membership Records

One problem all Societies have is the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date membership records. To help us to achieve this, it would be appreciated if members could take the time to complete and send in our online form. This can be done as confirmation at any time but especially when there has been any change of circumstances. The form is available here>>

Competitions

Gilbert Cup
This cup is awarded annually for the best article published in our in-house magazine Postal History. It is presented at our annual conference.

Society Cup Competition
Competed for annually at Conference, usually on Saturday morning, it comprises entries of 16 x standard competition sheets with protective exhibition covers.

President's Prize
One sheet entries are put up for display after the Conference Dinner. This is a time for 'blue skying' and a bit of fun. The subject should have an element of Postal History but more importantly a great deal of humour.

Auction

The Society runs an annual auction which is normally held on the Sunday afternoon of the Conference.

This is an opportunity for members to buy fellow members' superfluous material at attractive prices. The catalogue includes literature, memorabilia, covers etc. Lists are posted individually with sufficient time to read and select before the big day.

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Chester Cross Post Cover

1756 letter from Chester to Petton endorsed "X post", charged 3d and sent via the Bristol to Chester cross post

Valparaiso to Hamburg via Panama

This unpaid wrapper posted in Valparaiso dated 5th September 1873 will have travelled up the west coast of South America on a Pacific Steam Navigational Company ship to Panama. There it crossed the Isthmus on the American owned railway to Colon and loaded onto R.M.S. Elbe of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. It departed on the 21st September arriving Plymouth on the 23rd October and arriving in London the same day where a charge mark of 1/5d was struck showing the amount due to the British Post Office. On arriving in Hamburg on the 25th October a charge of 19 ½ silver groschen was raised as shown in blue crayon

Early Machine Cancellations – Hoster Trials 1882-93

Trials started with the Post Office in 1882 on 2 machines submitted by Mr. Albert Hoster, which are thought to be a development of the earlier tested Azemar prototypes. Hoster insisted they offered faster processing with a high degree of accuracy. Despite various rejections by the Post Office Circulation Department the trials continued for 11 years. The final result was that they finished up life stamping the reverse of the cover as a receiving stamp, normally in red. The above type was used at Charing Cross branch in use between 16th October 1885 until 7th December 1887

Posted in Advance for Christmas

A postcard cancelled by the 'Christmas Cross' of Knutsford, Cheshire dated 1906. This scheme was introduced in 1902 and ran until 1909 with a variety of towns participating. During the latter years it was largely based in the North West of England from the regional post offices of Manchester and Liverpool. The idea behind it was that Christmas postcards and letters could be handed into a main post office around the 17th- 22nd December. Here they were cancelled with the special cachet and given a guaranteed delivery on Christmas Day. This gave the Post Office an opportunity to sort these early posted items and help relieve some of the enormous pressure associated with the increased Christmas mail

Postage due cover

A 1964 underpaid cover illustrating the use of French and Italian postage due stamps. A French postage stamp was also used to pay part of the tax

Sudan Airmail

It is quite remarkable what lengths people will and have gone to produce a cover. This is a first day cancellation dated 5th February 1931 struck in Khartoum and sent by ship to Alexandra with a Shellal-Halfa T.P.O. dated the 18th February on the reverse. Put on a plane to the UK where, what is highly probable, a grace-and-favour hand-stamp on a ½d green, date stamped 25th September, has been applied to confirm receipt. This would help establish that the letter had been carried by airmail. Much of this supposition is based on the known fact that the addressee was a stamp dealer. However it does illustrate the point that at times it is as well to have a guess in figuring out a cover

75th Anniversary Souvenir Booklet

The Postal History Society was formed as the first specialised Society of its kind when a group of eminent enthusiasts gathered in what was no doubt a smoke-filled room at 96 Regent Street, London, on Saturday 24th October 1936. Among the names to conjure with from the annals of the past are Fred Melville, Robson Lowe, Forster Bond and Samuel Graveson, all of whom feature on many library shelves to this day.