The Royal Mail is celebrating its
500th birthday. Therefore, its newest Royal Mail First Day Cover is
dedicated to this fantastic achievement. In 1516, Brian Tuke was knighted by
King Henry VIII. Tuke had been appointed as the first Master of the Posts, thus
formally organising the postal network. From these royal beginnings, the postal
system has evolved across five centuries into the nation-wide service that Royal
Mail runs today, keeping to the same principles of delivering mail for the
customer.
The development of Royal Mail
from an establishment run by one person for one person, the king, in 1516 to
the national organisation it is today was an evolution. Gradually, the system
was opened up to the public, but until postal reforms were implemented in 1840,
delivery prices remained high and few could afford to send mail.
After 1840, with the introduction
of uniform penny postage, a massive expansion occurred, and more and more
innovations were introduced in response to the demand for what was proving to
be a vital service in Victorian society. Some of these developments, such as
roadside letter boxes, first appearing in 1852, have become treasured icons of
the country and still define the business today.
Indeed, the postal service has
been at the forefront of British life, playing an important role during both
world wars, for example, and making a significant contribution to the nation’s
graphic arts and communications by commissioning pioneering posters and film
documentaries. It has also introduced the postage stamp – which continues to
provide a platform for high-quality design and creativity.
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