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Introduction



This section contains the texts of official source documents that provide information of one kind or another on aspects of Great Britain philately and postal history, in the hope that they may be useful to those interested in the subject. The general idea is to provide easily accessible information in text or PDF form that can be easily searched, cut-and-pasted etc. (For additional information in PDF form, see our links and downloads sections.)

Additional resources are always welcome. If you have any suggestions along these lines – or even better, content already prepared that we can use! – please contact the Website Manager with the details.

Naturally, while every effort is made to ensure accuracy, mistakes are always possible. If you spot any, please let the Website Manager know.

Acts of Parliament The actual texts of various Acts relating to the Post Office, with a listing of such Acts. Link
Treasury Warrants
1839-1893
The Warrants that authorised new postal rates and services in the Victorian era. Link
Post Office Warrants
1893-1969
The general statutory delegated legislation that authorised new postal rates and services for much of the 20th century. Link
Post Office Schemes
from 1969
The official legal announcements of changes to postal prices and services printed in the London Gazette. Link
Post Office Guides The Post Office Guide (British Postal Guide until 1881), published from 1856 for the information of Post Office staff and the public on postal regulations, Post Office services, and (before 1936) a list of current Post Offices. Link
Postal Treaties Details of treaties and conventions entered into by the UK. Link
Post Office Leaflets Official leaflets giving rates, routes, posting details etc. Now includes the airmail leaflets page. Link
QV Registration
('Imprimatur') Sheets
Index to the photographs of the registration sheets on The Postal Museum site. Link
QEII Plate and
Cylinder Data
Data from the archive files containing details of all pre-decimal cylinders and plates. Transcribed by Peter Shaw. Link
Parliamentary Reports Official reports made by the order of Parliament, either from the Post Office itself or from various commissions of inquiry. Link
Reports of the
Postmaster General
Produced annually from 1855, these reports contain summaries of developments in the preceding year, together with statistics and often unusual "stories". Link
Staff Handbooks Official handbooks for Post Office employees, explaining the rules and methods for carrying out their jobs. Link
Miscellaneous Documents Other miscellaneous types of official document. Link