One of the best parts of sending mail is in acquiring all your stationery needs. From pens to paper and envelopes to writing desks, there were many stationery items showcased in newspaper adverts over the years. Newspapers could keep their readers abreast on the latest developments in stationery, and the latest in homonym jokes! (Click on an image to enlarge) The latest thing in stationery is an envelope that is its own letter-book. Each envelope is attached by perforations to …
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Where would we be without post offices! Believe it or not, but post offices did not always exist. You can learn about their origins in The British Newspaper Archive. You may also discover details about your local post office — when it opened or when previous iterations closed! Among detailing the post office’s evolution, the above article also includes an anecdote that relates to a time when the recipient of a letter was obliged to pay the postage: ‘The …
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The love of stamps is no joke; those dedicated to such a love are known as philatelists, and the study of those delicate bits of paper is called philately. Newspapers may not be an obvious source for researching stamps, but they can, in fact, offer a glimpse into the history and evolution of stamps in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. We’ve found a few examples to showcase what treasures you can discover in the historic newspapers on The British Newspaper …