Beryllium Guy
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What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jul 30, 2019 11:34:38 GMT
France Modern Double Post Box
Paris Metro (Underground Train) StationOn a trip to Paris last month, I saw this double post box in an underground train station. I liked it because it has two slots for mail intended for different destinations: the slot on the left is only for specific "départements" located around Paris with the first two digits of the postal codes indicated, and the slot on the right is for everywhere else. I had originally stated that this gives one an idea of how Parisians see their city in a global context, but that may not really be a very astute observation, at least in this context of post boxes. Also, it seems that the use of double-slotted post boxes is apparently relatively common throughout France, but I had simply failed to notice it. Edit: Many thanks to Xavier ( hrdoktorx ) for setting me straight on the particulars about this post box. I have revised the above in an attempt to make it a bit more accurate. For completeness, here are his comments: 
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Beryllium Guy
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Posts: 5,917
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jul 30, 2019 11:44:12 GMT
France Modern Small Post Boxes
Yellow & Blue, All for SaleA couple of weeks ago, my wife and I made a day trip out to a small town called L'Isle sur la Sorgue (translates to "Island on the Sorgue River"), which is known in this region as a very quaint town filled with canals and waterwheels, and it is also famous for its antique and second-hand stores. Naturally, I was on the lookout for stamps, but I am sorry to say that I did not find any. The only stamp-related items that I found are shown below: four small, but official-looking post boxes, two in the traditional dark yellow and two in bright blue. I did a little online searching, but did not find an answer about the purpose of the blue-colored post boxes. These were available for somewhere around 150-200 Euros each, I think. It was way more than I wanted to spend, so I contented myself with taking a photo. At least this explains one way how collectors such as alexcandy, who started this thread, might acquire such items. I didn't recall seeing post boxes offered for sale in the past.... 
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hrdoktorx
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What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Jul 31, 2019 5:53:30 GMT
France Modern Double Post Box
Paris Metro (Underground Train) StationOn a trip to Paris last month, I saw this double post box in an underground train station. I liked it because it has two slots for mail intended for different destinations: the slot on the left is only for specific Paris suburban locations with the last two digits of the postal codes indicated, and the slot on the right is for anywhere else in the world! That sort of gives you an idea of how Parisians see their city in a global context, I think! Small correction, it's the first two digits of the postal code that the postbox instruction label refers to, and they indicate the département (France is divided into 101 such units). And, this may be more a testament to the relative rarity of such boxes in France now than to Chris' sense of observation, but the two-slotted model is actually found throughout France. In the village of Volx where I used to live before where I am now, the local slot was for mail directed to départements 04 and 13. The logic is that the local mail can be directly sorted and redistributed from the area's regional distribution center, while the rest will have to be shipped out. It's one of the ways the French Post Office tries to ensure next day delivery for normal mail items. For further afield within France, the promise is two-day delivery. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 31, 2019 12:07:29 GMT
Over here in Canada, at least in Brighton, we used to have two separate mail boxes at the Post Office. One was for local mail, with postal codes starting with K0K. There were a few codes, not sure now what they were. Not all K0K codes were local. The second mail box was for everywhere else. Local mail USED to be cancelled , sorted and sent out from here. The rest would be shipped to Toronto for that. But a couple years ago, one of the boxes disappeared. Now ALL mail gets shipped out for cancelling & shipping. Even local mail gets shipped to Toronto (I believe that is where it goes) for treatment.
When I have a letter to send, I always get the clerks to cancel it here with a Brighton stamp, but I recently noticed it still gets the inkjet cancel at the Toronto sorting station. I'm not all that enthralled with the local large canceller. I miss the round steel hammer cancellers!
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hrdoktorx
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What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Aug 19, 2019 9:53:53 GMT
During my vacation, I saw the following example of a two-slit French postbox, here where the "local" mail in the slot on the left is to be delivered within the "Languedoc-Roussillon" region, i.e. postal codes starting in 11, 30, 34, 48, and 66. This covers the corner of France between Spain and the Mediterranean. The label is a few years old, as "Languedoc-Roussillon" no longer exists as an administrative entity, since it merged with the neighbouring Midi-Pyrénées to form "Occitanie" in 2016.  |
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hrdoktorx
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Posts: 7,259
What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Aug 20, 2019 8:20:06 GMT
Another example of the two-slit French postbox, this time the larger stand-alone model, here the one in front on my local post office. The local mail slot on the left is now for addresses with postal codes starting in 06, 83, and 98. Note that 98xxx are the Monaco postcodes (which uses the French system), so we have here an unusual example of "local international" mail delivery.  |
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Beryllium Guy
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What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Aug 20, 2019 8:54:42 GMT
Nice post, Xavier ( hrdoktorx )! Glad to see the local village box on the thread here. I must admit that I am especially impressed by the slot labelled "Lettres pour le Père Noël". It's good to know that there is such a clear and direct way to get those important letters to the North Pole during the busy season, which will be upon us soon enough! Merry Christmas to all! -BG  |
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rex
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Post by rex on Apr 20, 2020 12:02:55 GMT
Next to the main post office at Montefalco (Pg) Italy  |
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rex
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Post by rex on Apr 20, 2020 12:09:11 GMT
Gradara's castle (PU) Pesaro Urbino . .Italy.  |
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rex
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Posts: 1,217
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Post by rex on Apr 20, 2020 12:22:07 GMT
Cibiana di Cadore.. Italy  |
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rex
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Post by rex on Apr 20, 2020 12:29:15 GMT
Farmagosta . .. nord greek Cyprus.  |
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rex
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Post by rex on Apr 20, 2020 12:35:52 GMT
Ireland .   |
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rex
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Post by rex on Apr 20, 2020 12:47:49 GMT
Monteleone di Spoleto. ...Italy.. post box 1707  |
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rex
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Post by rex on Apr 21, 2020 16:25:35 GMT
Venice  |
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rex
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Post by rex on Apr 21, 2020 16:30:51 GMT
Future collector..  |
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WERT
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What I collect: Canada and Provinces
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Post by WERT on Apr 21, 2020 19:44:27 GMT
Canadian Postbox Pictures
Robert..Canadian pictures
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Londonbus1
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Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 5,075
What I collect: Wonderland; 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, London ('Ideal' Stamp, ephemera); French Cinderellas with an emphasis on Poster Stamps; Israel and Palestine Cinderellas ; Jewish National Fund Stamps, Labels and Tags; London 2010, A Festival of Stamps (anything); South Africa 1937 Coronation issue of KGVI, singles or bi-lingual pairs.
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Post by Londonbus1 on May 17, 2020 21:20:24 GMT
 This was in Barcelona.......... cursus............I am ashamed to say I cannot recall on which building this lovely piece of art was placed. But I had an excellent guide...... |
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Londonbus1
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Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 5,075
What I collect: Wonderland; 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, London ('Ideal' Stamp, ephemera); French Cinderellas with an emphasis on Poster Stamps; Israel and Palestine Cinderellas ; Jewish National Fund Stamps, Labels and Tags; London 2010, A Festival of Stamps (anything); South Africa 1937 Coronation issue of KGVI, singles or bi-lingual pairs.
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Post by Londonbus1 on May 17, 2020 21:26:29 GMT
Having reached an all-time low with the recent 'million-dollars' worth of new issues in the middle of the Coronavirus (when some postal services had cancelled some new issues altogether), UK's Royal Mail redeemed themselves somewhat in my eyes when I saw this in a news article. They do care after all........just not about Stamp Collectors !  (Atrocious English notwithstanding !!)  |
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giolito
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Post by giolito on May 18, 2020 12:37:52 GMT
(Please see earlier post for image.) This was in Barcelona.......... cursus ............I am ashamed to say I cannot recall on which building this lovely piece of art was placed. But I had an excellent guide...... This wonderful mailbox is at Gaudi's cathedral, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. |
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Londonbus1
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Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 5,075
What I collect: Wonderland; 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, London ('Ideal' Stamp, ephemera); French Cinderellas with an emphasis on Poster Stamps; Israel and Palestine Cinderellas ; Jewish National Fund Stamps, Labels and Tags; London 2010, A Festival of Stamps (anything); South Africa 1937 Coronation issue of KGVI, singles or bi-lingual pairs.
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Post by Londonbus1 on May 18, 2020 12:47:43 GMT
giolito........I seem to recall that it was on the outer wall of a Museum, near the entrance but hopefully cursus will be able to tell us for sure. He was with me when I took the picture !!
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giolito
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Post by giolito on May 18, 2020 15:02:20 GMT
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cursus
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What I collect: Catalan Cinderellas. Used Switzerland, UK, Scandinavia, Germany & Austria. Postal History of Barcelona & Estonia. Catalonia pictorial postmarks.
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Post by cursus on May 18, 2020 18:29:19 GMT
It's, actualy on the wall of Casa de l'Ardiaca. A XVI century building, just in front of the Cathedral (the real, the Gothic one) and built onto the Roman wall (I BC). The post box itself is a Modernist one, designed in 1902 by the architect Lluis Domènec i Montaner (the same that built el Palau de la Música, l'Hospital de Sant Pau, la Casa Lleó Morera...). The sculptor was Alfons Juyol.
At the turn of XX century, the building housed Catalonia's Lawyers' College. It seems that the birds (actually, swalows!) symbilize the quickness of of the post, while the turtle is the, slow-advancing, justice. On the right, you can see the arms of Catalan lawyers.
Nowadays, and since around 1930, the building, houses Barcelona's hemerotec, where the old magazines and newspapers are kept. A place to go toresearch, before internet times...
As you may guess, this old post box is one of the most revered items of Barcelona's philately. And you can see it on stamps, cinderellas, postmarks, like:
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Londonbus1
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Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 5,075
What I collect: Wonderland; 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, London ('Ideal' Stamp, ephemera); French Cinderellas with an emphasis on Poster Stamps; Israel and Palestine Cinderellas ; Jewish National Fund Stamps, Labels and Tags; London 2010, A Festival of Stamps (anything); South Africa 1937 Coronation issue of KGVI, singles or bi-lingual pairs.
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Post by Londonbus1 on May 18, 2020 19:04:48 GMT
Thank you !!!!  |
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stanley64
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Post by stanley64 on May 19, 2020 6:26:43 GMT
For the armchair traveler, this postbox in Barcelona has quite the story behind it,
"The Mailbox And The Magic Turtle" ...The design is rich in symbolism: the swallows represent the idea that justice needs to fly high and rise above the worlds’ ills; the ivy symbolizes the difficulties lawyers back then already encountered with bureaucracy; the turtle represents the slow pace of the judicial system. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the mailbox’s design was not well received by the local magistrates at first, but eventually it was accepted.
Happy collecting!
P.S. Who would not want to have or touch a magic turtle?
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cursus
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Posts: 2,018
What I collect: Catalan Cinderellas. Used Switzerland, UK, Scandinavia, Germany & Austria. Postal History of Barcelona & Estonia. Catalonia pictorial postmarks.
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Post by cursus on May 19, 2020 14:08:49 GMT
This is just a stupid history just for uneducated tourists (like most that we had). I've never heart about this silly thing in my 61 years in Barcelona (since the day I was born!). People from Barcelona, know that the only good luck comes from hard work. Luckily, tourists have gone. Lets hope that forever!
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy showing our beutiful city to friends, like Michael. But I hate those uneducated, low class people missbehaving in our city. Going half naked and drunk in the underground and on our streets... The city of our forefathers, deserves respect.
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hrdoktorx
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What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Sept 12, 2020 19:37:22 GMT
On this 2002 Thailand issue, celebrating 25 years of their telecommunications authority, we see a local postbox featured on the right:  |
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wakeybluenose
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What I collect: GB to 2000 (but definitives to date) / Ireland to 2000 / General WW classics & definitives / ASFEC / SciFi & Fantasy Literature / Local History
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Post by wakeybluenose on Jan 29, 2022 15:32:43 GMT
I'm currently in Malta for a few days away... The postboxes are disappointingly British looking:  |
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wakeybluenose
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Mostly harmless!
Posts: 311
What I collect: GB to 2000 (but definitives to date) / Ireland to 2000 / General WW classics & definitives / ASFEC / SciFi & Fantasy Literature / Local History
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Post by wakeybluenose on Jan 31, 2022 16:35:48 GMT
Still in Malta... Found this one with the Royal Cypher filed off!  |
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Londonbus1
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Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 5,075
What I collect: Wonderland; 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, London ('Ideal' Stamp, ephemera); French Cinderellas with an emphasis on Poster Stamps; Israel and Palestine Cinderellas ; Jewish National Fund Stamps, Labels and Tags; London 2010, A Festival of Stamps (anything); South Africa 1937 Coronation issue of KGVI, singles or bi-lingual pairs.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Feb 8, 2022 8:34:30 GMT
Here's one from my last visit to the UK........it was so long ago now I have almost forgotten !! This is on Eton High Street near Windsor, not far from the famous Eton College. An 1856 Fluted Victorian Postbox with a vertical flap. One of the oldest still in use in the UK. Hopefully it will still be there when I go later this month. The 'VR Post Office' lettering around the top were originally in Gold. The box is not in it's original location and the boards behind it were the result of restoration work on an old building. Hopefully the boards will be gone before my next visit !!   |
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Beryllium Guy
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What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Feb 8, 2022 8:51:03 GMT
Here's one from my last visit to the UK........it was so long ago now I have almost forgotten !! This is on Eton High Street near Windsor, not far from the famous Eton College. The box is not in its original location and the boards behind it were the result of restoration work on an old building. Hopefully the boards will be gone before my next visit !!Hi, Michael: Amy and I visited Windsor back in October or November of last year, and the fluted VR pillar box is still there, but so were the wooden boards for the construction works. Not sure if those have been removed in the meantime, but wanted to reassure you that the box is still there! |
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