Letter Boxes

As far as I’m concerned it all started with a small article in a magazine listing some unusual clubs in Britain. “The Letterbox Study Group” intrigued me. The idea behind this turned out to be one of the cheapest fun collections I’ve met. All one needs is a camera!

Letterboxes as we know them have been in use since Queen Victoria’s time. Usually they have the Sovereign’s initials on them (e.g. VR entwined). So we expect to find mail boxes for Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II (Elizabeth I in Scotland). That makes six Monarchs (although boxes for Edward VIII are few and far between).

Now, there are generally three types of post box to be found – pillar boxes, wall boxes and so-called ‘lamp boxes’. The last are attached to lamp posts or telegraph poles.

So we have three sorts of box for six kings and queens. That gives 18 different types though within those types there is huge variety. Off you go with your camera. Should take you about two years.

In your research you will see that pillar boxes come in several shapes. The best looking one is the ‘Penfold’ and a representation of this is the symbol of the LBSG. A specimen is to be seen in the centre of Shrewsbury where it is registered as a ‘listed building’! On one set of Victorian pillar boxes the supplier forgot to put the Queen’s initials . These are known as ‘Anonymous’ boxes. An example is to be found outside a museum in Malvern.

Some people ‘collect’ pillar boxes with ‘Post Office Direction’ (POD) signs attached. These are oval sheets of tin fixed upright on the roof of the box with an arrow pointing to the nearest post office. Machynlleth has at least one example.

An off-shoot of the game is to request photographs of overseas post boxes from relatives or friends going abroad. These add a colourful addition to one’s collection. It is surprising how many countries have a post horn as the logo on their boxes.

Well, there it is. A fun collection costing but the price of a film (or a digital camera!) and petrol money. It can become as sophisticated as one wishes with the help of the Group, the cost of which to join is small and the magazine is a delight.

LSBG Membership Secretary membership@lbsg.org
Val Scott, 38 Leopold Avenue, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 1ES

April 2008 – Geoff Bates