Curious stories, personal passions and behind-the-scenes exclusives await in our museum blog:
Blog
Enter the world of The Postal Museum!
-
Invisible Labour: The Women Who Kept Wartime Telecommunications Running
During the Second World War, women’s behind-the-scenes work in telecommunications was vital to the war effort. What can their experiences tell us about office work for women in the postal service at the time?
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
-
King George V: The Stamp Collector
King George V is renowned in philatelic circles as a passionate stamp enthusiast. His love for stamp collecting earned him the nickname 'The Collector King', and his legacy continues to be appreciated in the world of philately today.
- Archive & Collections
- Stamps
-
Behind the Lens: Women in the Airgraph Service
During the Second World War, sending and delivering mail became increasingly difficult. With routes across the Mediterranean compromised, the General Post Office (GPO) sought a new way to connect Britain with its overseas forces.
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
-
What is a Stamp?
What are they, why do we use them, and how have they changed over time?
- Archive & Collections
- Stamps
-
The Pneumatic Railway
At the start of the 20th century, congestion on the streets of London, combined with poor weather and pollution meant moving post could be slow and dangerous. The Post Office started to explore more efficient solutions.
- Archive & Collections
- Post Office
-
Delivering the Post: The Beginning of the Postal Network
Before Rowland Hill introduced the world’s first postage stamp in 1840, the postal network had already been developing for over 300 years. But where did it all begin?
- Archive & Collections
- Post Office
-
A History of Mount Pleasant
Very close to The Postal Museum is the Royal Mail site of Mount Pleasant. It has been a major hub for the distribution of mail for over 130 years. However, before that the area had an infamous history.
- Archive & Collections
- Post Office
-
Why did Mail Rail close?
On 31 May 2003 Mail Rail carried post underneath London for the last time, bringing the operation to an end after 76 years. Learn about the events leading up to that day here.
- Archive & Collections
- Post Office
-
David Gentleman: artist and stamp designer
Learn about one of the most distinguished and prolific figures in British stamp design history.
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
- Stamps
-
Exploring The Postal Museum’s Archive
Learn more about how you can make use of our Archive with this first-hand experience from volunteer Cyril.
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
- Post Office
-
WWI Field Service Postcard
War separates loved ones and leaves those at home desperate for information. The introduction of a small postcard with limited text sought to alleviate this worry.
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
-
Love on the frontline: letters between lovers in World War Two. Part 2
Curator Yupeng traces Jimmy and Freda’s love story by exploring their correspondence during the Second World War.
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
- Post Office
-
Love on the frontline: letters between lovers in World War Two. Part 1
Curator Yupeng traces Jimmy and Freda’s love story by exploring their correspondence during the Second World War.
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
- Post Office
-
Textile Treasures: Practical tips for looking after them. Part 1
In a two-part blog, conservator Eleni outlines the best care and storage decisions for your textile heirlooms.
- Archive & Collections
- Design
-
Textile Treasures: Practical tips for looking after them. Part 2
In a two-part blog, conservator Eleni outlines the best care and storage decisions for your textile heirlooms.
- Archive & Collections
- Design
-
How did Jane Austen write her letters?
To commemorate Jane Austen’s death over 200 years ago, Archive Assistant Mathilde explores Austen’s private letters and what they tell us about postal history.
- Archive & Collections
- Human Stories
- Post Office
- Stamps
-
Identifying a Button
Learn how to recognise and label historical buttons with Deputy Curator Georgina
- Archive & Collections
- Design
- Exhibitions
-
Meet the Maker: Sakina Saïdi
Exploring Ramadan and Eid greetings card design with artist Sakina Saïdi
- Archive & Collections
- Design
- Human Stories
-
Telegram Messengers
Archivist Susannah uncovers how Telegram Messengers went about their daily duties by exploring one of their first-hand accounts.
- Archive & Collections
- Exhibitions
- Human Stories
- Post Office
-
Postal Uniforms: The case of Sant Singh Shattar
Archivist Helen explores how a 1960 application changed who could be employed as a postal worker.
- Archive & Collections
- Exhibitions
- Human Stories
- Post Office