Record revealed
Copy of Henry VIII's diplomatic assurances to João III of Portugal
Recently rediscovered, this letter offers new archival evidence into Britain and Portugal's shared history.
Sub-sub-fonds
Post Office: Inland Mail Services: Registration
Catalogue reference: POST 26
What’s it about?
This record is about the Post Office: Inland Mail Services: Registration dating from 1807-1976.
Is it available online?
Maybe, but not on The National Archives website. This record is held at The Postal Museum.
Can I see it in person?
Not at The National Archives, but you may be able to view it in person at The Postal Museum.
Full description and record details
-
Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- POST 26
-
Title (The name of the record)
- Post Office: Inland Mail Services: Registration
-
Date (When the record was created)
- 1807-1976
-
Description (What the record is about)
-
This series relates to the introduction and implementation of the registration service, the compulsory registration scheme and compensation for the loss and damage to registered mail.
Please see The Postal Museum's online catalogue for descriptions of individual records within this series.
-
Note (Additional information about the record)
- Catalogue entries below series level were removed from Discovery, The National Archives' online catalogue, in November 2016 because fuller descriptions were available in The Postal Museum's online catalogue.
-
Arrangement (Information about the filing sequence or logical order of the record)
-
Arrangement
The material is arranged in chronological order within series.
All pieces are one volume unless otherwise stated.
-
Related material (A cross-reference to other related records)
-
See also POST 23
-
Held by (Who holds the record)
- The Postal Museum
-
Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
- Public Record(s)
-
Language (The language of the record)
- English
-
Physical description (The amount and form of the record)
- 21 files and volumes
-
Access conditions (Information on conditions that restrict or affect access to the record)
- Subject to 30 year closure
-
Immediate source of acquisition (When and where the record was acquired from)
-
Post Office Archives
-
Subjects (Categories and themes found in our collection (our subject list is under development, and some records may have no subjects or fewer than expected))
-
- Topics
- Communications
-
Administrative / biographical background (Historical or biographical information about the creator of the record and the context of its creation)
-
In the tenth report of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry, January 1838 it was recommended that a uniform fee of 2d should be charged for the registration of letters and that the Post Office should admit liability for their loss up to a maximum of £5. This scheme was to come into force in June 1839. However it was stopped by news of impending reductions in postage rates. A general scheme for the registration of inland letters came into force on 6 January 1841. Registration was applicable to any valuable letter for a prepaid fee of one shilling. There was no compulsion or compensation. By 1854 the fee was payable by stamps and in 1856 letters marked 'registered' and posted in a letter box were charged one shilling.
The principle of 'compulsory registration' was introduced on 1 August 1862 for all letters containing coin and passing through London, at a double registration fee of 18 pence. Compulsory registration was extended throughout the country during 1863. On 1 September 1873 compulsory registration also became applicable to those letters containing jewellery and watches.
The principle of compensation for damage and loss to registered letters was introduced on 1 January 1878 at a sum of two pounds.
-
Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C11756/
How to order it
- View this record page in our current catalogue
- Check viewing and downloading options
- Select an option and follow instructions
Catalogue hierarchy
270 records
This record is held at The Postal Museum
111 records
Within the fonds: POST
Records created or inherited by the Royal Mail Group plc and predecessors
You are currently looking at the sub-sub-fonds: POST 26
Post Office: Inland Mail Services: Registration
You may be interested in
-
-
Record revealed
A dramatic plea for Churchill’s help from Bletchley Park
In 1941, four Government Code and Cypher School cryptanalysts, including Alan Turing, made a stunning appeal directly to Winston Churchill. -
Record revealed
Secret letter sent to British Secret Services
During the Second World War, some British prisoners of war were able to send secret messages and intelligence back home via creative and unusual ways.