Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1683-2003 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
10 boxes, 85 files, 274 volumes and 4 pamphlets
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The earliest established packet stations were Dover to Calais 1633, Harwich to Holland 1660, Falmouth to Spain and Portugal 1689 and Falmouth to the West Indies in 1702.
Mail was carried in sailing packets up to 1815, but after this date these gradually gave way to steam-driven vessels. By 1840 the carrying of mail had been put into the hands of the commercial shipping lines, Cunard, Peninsular and Oriental Shipping Company, the West Indian Royal Mail, Union Castle etc., who found the postal subsidies valuable as they extended their routes further to keep pace with the expansion of the British Colonies.
After 1840 the General Post Office introduced domestic and Imperial 'penny postage' (in 1898), and before the Second World War, 1939-1945, pioneered a comprehensive airmail service, carrying letters at a standard rate without air surcharges. During the war it also introduced the airgraph and, later the airletter which was prefranked with the standard postage.
Archival history
GB 0813 POST 43 Series 1683-2003 Series 10 boxes, 85 files, 274 volumes and 4 pamphlets
No further information available
The earliest established packet stations were Dover to Calais 1633, Harwich to Holland 1660, Falmouth to Spain and Portugal 1689 and Falmouth to the West Indies in 1702.
Mail was carried in sailing packets up to 1815, but after this date these gradually gave way to steam-driven vessels. By 1840 the carrying of mail had been put into the hands of the commercial shipping lines, Cunard, Peninsular and Oriental Shipping Company, the West Indian Royal Mail, Union Castle etc., who found the postal subsidies valuable as they extended their routes further to keep pace with the expansion of the British Colonies.
After 1840 the General Post Office introduced domestic and Imperial 'penny postage' (in 1898), and before the Second World War, 1939-1945, pioneered a comprehensive airmail service, carrying letters at a standard rate without air surcharges. During the war it also introduced the airgraph and, later the airletter which was prefranked with the standard postage.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
This class primarily relates to the establishment and organisation of the packet boat and shipping services between the United Kingdom and overseas. There are a small number of records relating to operational procedures between the Post Office and HM Customs and Excise Office. The records mainly consist of Post Office Daily Lists of ship's departure and arrival times, and mail carried. It also contains Packet boat log books, voyage record books and Packet station correspondence relating to personnel, stores held, and armed conflict.
It also includes some later records concerning the general organisation of overseas mail including by air.
Some records have been re-classified from POST 12 and POST 45.
The class is divided into three sub-series: Organisation and Services, Packet Boats and Voyage Records. These are in turn sub-divided into sub-sub-series based on area of operation or type of record.
Public Record
Please contact the Archive for further information.
English
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Please also see POST 4 Financial, for Accounts, Packet stations and Agents; POST 14/238-334 for information on revised rates of postage for overseas mails, steam packet boat sailings etc.; POST 48 for overseas mails letter books; and POST 51 for contracts with shipping companies.
Entry checked by Barbara Ball
Compiled in compliance with General Internation Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G) second edition 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997
Entry checked June 2011 Water transport Transport Maritime transport Shipping Packet boats Customs and Excise Office Post Office Boats Vessels Vehicles
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This class primarily relates to the establishment and organisation of the packet boat and shipping services between the United Kingdom and overseas. There are a small number of records relating to operational procedures between the Post Office and HM Customs and Excise Office. The records mainly consist of Post Office Daily Lists of ship's departure and arrival times, and mail carried. It also contains Packet boat log books, voyage record books and Packet station correspondence relating to personnel, stores held, and armed conflict.
It also includes some later records concerning the general organisation of overseas mail including by air.
Some records have been re-classified from POST 12 and POST 45.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The class is divided into three sub-series: Organisation and Services, Packet Boats and Voyage Records. These are in turn sub-divided into sub-sub-series based on area of operation or type of record.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Public Record
Conditions governing reproduction
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Please also see POST 4 Financial, for Accounts, Packet stations and Agents; POST 14/238-334 for information on revised rates of postage for overseas mails, steam packet boat sailings etc.; POST 48 for overseas mails letter books; and POST 51 for contracts with shipping companies.
Finding aids
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General Internation Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G) second edition 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English