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Tue 08 th Jan 2019
Ian Bagshaw – The Royal Mail & Secret Language of
Postcards. |
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Ian made a welcome return to the society on our first meeting of
2019. He went back to the beginning explaining that the earliest
postal communications date back to the reign of Edward IV
(1442-1483).
Henry VIII, who was excommunicated by the pope,
needed to know what was going on in his kingdom. He appointed
the first master of the post and set up a postal system. This
was developed and extended further by successive monarchs who
knew the importance of controlling the post. Oliver Cromwell,
although not a monarch, was no exception when it came to this.
Through the slow improvement of turnpike roads in the 18th
century the postal improved too through licensed horse drawn
carriages carrying the mail.
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Ian Bagshaw |
Further transport developments in the 19th
century saw the first Royal Mail ship and the first contract to carry
mail by rail in 1830 between Liverpool and Manchester. This century also
saw the red-letter box introduced onto Britain’s streets.
Ian brought
developments up to date with the advent of motor vehicles and aircraft
and of Royal Mail’s use of them.
Postcards-Britain was the first
country to introduce postage in 1848 and, as such, is the only country
that does not have its name on a stamp. Ian went on to say that
postcards became highly collectible during Edwardian times.
They were
used for many things, for example, advertising products, services,
events and for communication between individuals. Postcards, their style
and the concise messages they conveyed, are useful for looking at social
history and are the equivalent of today’s emails and texts.
Ian’s
illustrated talk was first-class and made for an enjoyable and
interesting for all present. Peter Robinson |
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