Greetings telegrams were originally introduced in Denmark in 1907. The UK followed in 1935. These celebratory messages were brightly decorated and proved to be very popular especially for events that couldn’t be planned in advance, such as the birth of a baby. This telegram depicts a stork holding a baby in its beak over a 'GPO' cradle and comes with an envelope with a 'GPO' sign and nappy pins. Inside a mother sits up in bed with the baby while a father stands at the foot of the bed. The artist is G Burrell.
1600s Letter from Thomas Witherings to the Mayor of Hull (28 January 1636)
1700s Ralph Allen (1693-1764)
1700s John Pratt writes to John Palmer to inform him that he hasn’t been appointed to Government (August 1782), (from the private papers of John Palmer)
1800s British Forces Post Office
1800s The first private posting boxes
1800s Fores Courting Envelope (c.1840)