Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,654
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Feb 8, 2022 9:02:45 GMT
KEVIII Pillar Box Spotted During Weekend TripSince the time of my last TSF Newsletter article about British post boxes, I always try to be on the lookout for unusual ones. This past weekend, my wife and I visited some old friends who live in Hampshire not too far from Southampton, and we travelled around by car to Salisbury and Winchester during that time. As I was explaining a bit to our friends about my post-box-spotting activities, lo and behold, I saw a pillar box on one of the main roads into Winchester, and I was convinced that I had seen one of the super-rare Edward VIII boxes, not a sure thing when moving at 35 miles per hour (about 55km/hr). So, we turned the car around to check, and it was indeed one of the <0.1% odds KEVIII pillar boxes. This one also happens to be situated in front of a very nice-looking pub.... cheers, everyone!
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Londonbus1
Moderator
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 4,870
What I collect: Cinderellas and some Ephemera from Great Britain, France and Israel plus a few beautiful bits from elsewhere !! Topical interests include Flags & Judaica, the latter with an emphasis on the Jewish National Fund.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Feb 8, 2022 22:02:05 GMT
Beryllium Guy....Pity I didn't know you would be in Salisbury. I was going to place an order with Dauwalders for delivery during my UK trip. Nice Postbox. Here's a couple nearer to home here, in fact in place that produces such great Oranges !! Jaffa ! ( JeffS) The two boxes here are no longer in use but remain from the British Mandate period as relics of a bygone age. Situated a short distance from the famous Ottoman Clocktower on the main square. Made in London and Falkirk, Scotland. (shown elsewhere I believe on an old post but they fit here too)
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Londonbus1
Moderator
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 4,870
What I collect: Cinderellas and some Ephemera from Great Britain, France and Israel plus a few beautiful bits from elsewhere !! Topical interests include Flags & Judaica, the latter with an emphasis on the Jewish National Fund.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Feb 8, 2022 22:15:46 GMT
Back to Eton ! Couple of wall items. The stamp dispenser was no longer in use but don't they look great ! Like the box in Jaffa, this was also made in Falkirk . There were many Iron Foundries in Falkirk and I have not yet been able to pinpoint which ones worked for the Post Office. The Carron Company were one such company and it was they who produced some of the boxes to commemorate the reign of KEVIII.
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Londonbus1
Moderator
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 4,870
What I collect: Cinderellas and some Ephemera from Great Britain, France and Israel plus a few beautiful bits from elsewhere !! Topical interests include Flags & Judaica, the latter with an emphasis on the Jewish National Fund.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Feb 9, 2022 7:19:24 GMT
How to degrade a British Post Box. Also from that day in Eton, this box was close to the former Post Office. A temporary 'sign' had been taped to the top advising potential customers that the Post Office had been moved to a nearby grocery store !! (Budgen's is a small supermarket chain in the UK) Not only is that beautiful KGV postbox looking cheap but you have to go a supermarket to do your postal business !! I am sure that sign on top of the cap of the pillar box was never intended for such thuggery ! Barcodes we need. Post Offices ? Apparently not. The times they are a-changing ! Londonbus1
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hrdoktorx
Member
Posts: 6,602
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 Feb 22, 2022 23:06:27 GMT
A Moroccan postbox featured on this issue for World Post Day in 1993:
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wakeybluenose
Member
Mostly harmless!
Posts: 279
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 Mar 8, 2022 14:56:32 GMT
Currently in Athens, Greece ..... For a city/country steeped in ancient history.... the only post boxes I've been able to find are very modern!
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on May 23, 2022 18:08:16 GMT
Spotted this nice wall mounted Edward VII example in Cambridge, UK in the railway station earlier today:
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,654
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on May 23, 2022 18:47:10 GMT
Many thanks for your post, Chris ( cjoprey ). I agree that it is an interesting postbox! Just in case other TSF members who see your post are wondering, this postbox is painted black because it is no longer in service. Despite the fact that multiple sources state that painting a UK postbox black is supposed to indicate that it is no longer in service, and although obviously not removed, in my experience, very few UK postboxes taken out of service have actually been painted black. Most just have the aperture (mail slot) blocked off and remain painted red. Anyway, nice post, Chris, and thanks!
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on May 23, 2022 19:20:46 GMT
Thanks Chris ( Beryllium Guy) - I didn't know about the painting black part, and did wonder. Very informative!
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rainbowhugz
Member
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 177
What I collect: Hong Kong and Canada
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Post by rainbowhugz on May 26, 2022 6:16:07 GMT
All of the colonial post boxes in Hong Kong have been decommissioned (and painted green, if not completely replaced). But there's still 5 on display. This one is displayed at the GPO in a small display corner - they call it a museum, but it really isn't! Here is the info that was posted next to it: Queen Victoria Royal Cipher Letter BoxQueen Victoria was on the throne from 1837 to 1901. Cast on its face is the insignia of Queen Victoria, featuring artistically rendered cursive letters of "VR". "VR" is the abbreviation of the Latin "Victoria Regina", meaning Queen Victoria. This posting box is over a century old. The name of the manufacturer, A. Handyside & Co. Ltd. Derby & London, was cast at the bottom.
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rainbowhugz
Member
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 177
What I collect: Hong Kong and Canada
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Post by rainbowhugz on May 26, 2022 6:25:59 GMT
For comparison, these are the current HK Post letter boxes. HK Post says: "There are about 1150 Street Posting Boxes in Hong Kong for the public to post mail. They are mainly rectangular fiberglass posting boxes, with a small portion of cast-iron posting boxes." I plan to go and seek out some of these cast-iron ones as those will be the old colonial post boxes that have been repainted green. Watch this space!
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,654
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on May 26, 2022 6:38:07 GMT
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rainbowhugz
Member
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 177
What I collect: Hong Kong and Canada
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Post by rainbowhugz on May 26, 2022 6:55:21 GMT
Thanks for the interesting post Beryllium Guy . I was looking at this website yesterday which prompted me to search for the old cast-iron post boxes. It's got a photo of every single one that supposedly still exists but has been repainted. But as there's no date on the online posting, it's hard to tell what is still out there. Still, I shall try! hiddenhk.com/colonial-post-boxes
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cursus
Member
Posts: 1,770
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 26, 2022 9:23:19 GMT
Last July, while in Bassel (Switzerland) I ran into this nice post box,featuring the famous "Bassel taube" of Basse'l pigeon, the 1845 cantonal stamp of that city. There are a few around.
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rainbowhugz
Member
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 177
What I collect: Hong Kong and Canada
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Post by rainbowhugz on May 27, 2022 2:12:47 GMT
Here's two more from Hong Kong. The first: Queen Elizabeth II Royal Cipher Letter Box And these are old school letter boxes people had, which would be hung downstairs of a residential building with the flat number written on the front for the postman. There's only 1 or 2 elderly craftsmen who still make these, so they're a bit of a collectors item
The symbols on the front of the red/gold/green ones are a pair of Chinese coins. The idea behind this pair of symbols on the front of the letter box is the belief that the letters placed in the box will bring good luck to the receiver.
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,602
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on May 30, 2022 22:59:59 GMT
Stamping has not been much on my mind as I continue to travel through the UK. We passed into Wales this afternoon and outside the Cardiff Castle I did see this Queen Elizabeth II letter box in gold. I assume this may have been for her Golden Jubilee. I did get an email from my condo security advising I had an envelope to pick up so it appears I won some lots at a Vance Auction. Something to look forward to when I get back.
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wakeybluenose
Member
Mostly harmless!
Posts: 279
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 Jun 4, 2022 20:44:34 GMT
Currently in Oslo for a few days away... These are the only postboxes I could find on my wanderings (reassuringly red though)
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,602
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on Jun 5, 2022 21:56:12 GMT
My UK tour continues so no stamping but I did spot this George VI mail box in Edinburgh Castle this morning My tour, Best of Britain by Trafalgar, has been great but busy with a fun bunch of people and a nice director. It seems hard to believe but I have been in the UK 12 days now and have only needed the umbrella open once for a light sprinkle. When it does rain we are on the coach or asleep.
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wakeybluenose
Member
Mostly harmless!
Posts: 279
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 Jun 30, 2022 10:51:45 GMT
Spotted in Wimbledon Town centre today... Knitted hat to celebrate the tennis championships!
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tobben63
Member
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,866
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Jun 30, 2022 11:53:02 GMT
Here is a standard Norwegian postbox, not especially beautiful!
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tobben63
Member
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,866
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Jun 30, 2022 11:59:35 GMT
But here is an real old one. ( I think I have posted it before on this forum)
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rainbowhugz
Member
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 177
What I collect: Hong Kong and Canada
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Post by rainbowhugz on Aug 15, 2022 12:16:56 GMT
I passed by this post office (in Stanley, Hong Kong) today, which has one of the last remaining colonial post boxes (and stamp vending machine) as a piece of history on display. The first photo is the front of the post office. The green post box on the right is the current post box and the machine with the green thing with a touch screen is the new stamp vending machine. Here's a close up of the old post box and stamp vending machine: The plaque on the wall for the post box says: Posting Box No. 60A This "Wall" type posting box bearing the cipher of King George VI was previously installed at the Stanley Post Office. It has a limited posting capacity of about 250 letters and, with the continued development in the vicinity of Stanley, this posting box was no longer able to meet the posting demand of the residents. Hence, it was replaced by a larger-sized "Pillar" type posting box No. 276 in 1988.The plaque above the stamp vending machine says: Stamp Vending Machine (Manual Type) This kind of manual stamp vending machine was first installed in Hong Kong in 1955. With the introduction of electronic stamp vending machines, the original machine in Stanley Post Office was replaced in November 1995. Reel stamps of 10 cents and 50 cents were on sale from the manual type of stamp vending machine before they were withdrawn. Four kinds of reel stamps with denominations of $1.40, $1.80, $2.40 and $3 are currently on sale from the electronic machines.
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Post by dankir on Aug 18, 2022 0:49:07 GMT
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wakeybluenose
Member
Mostly harmless!
Posts: 279
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 Sept 19, 2022 15:20:45 GMT
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wakeybluenose
Member
Mostly harmless!
Posts: 279
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 Sept 25, 2022 15:09:44 GMT
In central Europe for a few days away. These were the only two post boxes I saw.... 1st one in Vienna, Austria 2nd one in Bratislava, Slovakia
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Post by daniel on Apr 19, 2023 23:43:58 GMT
A few covers celebrating post boxes. Firstly, a cover for the First Road-side Pillar Box in mainland Britain, Carlisle 1853. Special hexagonal postmark on a charity stamp. The Oldest Pilar Box in the British Isles, Guernsey Feb. 9th 1853 and the 115th Anniversary of London's First Pillar Box 1855 described as rectangular, sage green and with a large ball on top.
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Post by daniel on Apr 20, 2023 0:06:54 GMT
40th Anniversary of the introduction of Air Mail Pillar Boxes June 23rd 1970 Croydon, Surrey. They lasted only from 1930 to 1938.
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Post by daniel on Apr 20, 2023 0:21:00 GMT
Three British post boxes. Midyell in the Shetland Islands, Fairfield in Tameside and a Penfold in Buxton
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peter
Member
Posts: 315
What I collect: Australian Slogan Cancels
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Post by peter on Apr 20, 2023 0:22:11 GMT
This may have been mentioned elsewhere in this thread, but there is a huge community of people on Twitter (including myself) who post pictures of postboxes every Saturday under the hashtag: #postboxsaturday Here is a recent picture of a postbox I took while on a little road trip through the Japanese countryside...
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Post by daniel on Apr 20, 2023 0:28:38 GMT
Three more British post boxes. In Grasmere, Windermere and Ryedale.
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