Design & icons

Explore the history of design in the postal service, from posters, uniforms, letterboxes and maps to iconic designs like the Penny Black and Machin stamp.

Designing a Royal Stamp

From Queen Victoria to King Charles III we explore nearly 200 years of Royal stamp design.
The first ever stamp: the Penny Black

A short history of the first and most famous stamp in the world.
The history of letter boxes

Find out how letter boxes in Britain became an iconic symbol of the nation, recognised the world over.
Postal uniforms

The postman's uniform is one of the most easily recognised uniforms worn in the UK - a real symbol.
The Machin Design

Find out about the creation of one of the most recognisable designs of the 20th century.
Stamp Design

Need to know the basics of British stamp design? Read our short overview.
Maps

Our Archive holds over 700 maps, dating from 1757 to the 1990s.
Posters

Explore our collection of over 6,000 posters, as well as original poster artwork.
Paintings

Our collection of paintings covers over three hundred years of postal activity. They show us how the artists and their contemporaries perceived the postal service.
The first Christmas card

Find out more about the world's first Christmas card, sent 178 years ago.

Research

You can search collection records in the online catalogue and study material from our archives by visiting the Archive.

Access and enquiries

Search our catalogue

Visit the Archive

Design & icons

Designing a Royal Stamp

The first ever stamp: the Penny Black

The history of letter boxes

Postal uniforms

The Machin Design

Stamp Design

Maps

Posters

Paintings

The first Christmas card

Research

Opening times:

Getting here

Opening of Mount Pleasant, 1934

Telegram messenger, 1934

Post Office Home Guard, 1941

Tibs the Great, 1954

Stamp cancelling machine, 1948

Van at crossroads, 1934

Telegram messengers, 1934

Ships Div’n, Mount Pleasant, 1945

Fish Wharf Post Office, 1936

Travelling Post Office, 1881