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Some countries have different coloured postboxes; in countries such as [[Australia]], [[Portugal]], and [[Russia]], the colour indicates which type of mail a box is to be used for, such as 1st and 2nd class post. However, in [[Germany]] and parts of [[Sweden]], because they have postal [[liberalisation]], the different colours are for the different postal services. For example, in Germany, yellow is for [[Deutsche Post]] (the [[incumbent]]) and blue for the private companies, like [http://morgenpost-briefservice.de/ Morgenpost Briefservice].
Some countries have different coloured postboxes; in countries such as [[Australia]], [[Portugal]], and [[Russia]], the colour indicates which type of mail a box is to be used for, such as 1st and 2nd class post. However, in [[Germany]] and parts of [[Sweden]], because they have postal [[liberalisation]], the different colours are for the different postal services. For example, in Germany, yellow is for [[Deutsche Post]] (the [[incumbent]]) and blue for the private companies, like [http://morgenpost-briefservice.de/ Morgenpost Briefservice].


Post boxes or mailboxes located outdoors are designed to keep mail secure and protected from weather. Some boxes have a rounded or slanted top or a downturned entry slot to eliminate or reduce rain or snow collection. Locks are fitted for security, so mail can be retrieved only by official postal employees, and the box will ordinarily be constructed so as to resist damage from vandalism, forcible entry, or other causes.<ref>''Postal Collection Box survives Sept. 11 attack'' http://www.arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=2&cmd=1&id=83037&img=1&mode=&pg=1&tid=2032051</ref> Bright colors are often used to increase visibility and prevent accidental damage.<ref>''British Post Box Colour Changed to Red because of Accidents'' http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-news/displayarticle.asp?id=106007</ref> Entry openings are designed to allow the free deposit of mail, yet prevent retrieval via the access slot by unauthorised persons.
Post boxes or mailboxes located outdoors are designed to keep mail secure and protected from weather. Some boxes have a rounded or slanted top or a downturned entry slot to eliminate or reduce rain or snow collection. Locks are fitted for security, so mail can be retrieved only by official postal employees, and the box will ordinarily be constructed so as to resist damage from vandalism, forcible entry, or other causes.<ref>''Postal Collection Box survives Sept. 11 attack'' http://www.arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=2&cmd=1&id=83037&img=1&mode=&pg=1&tid=2032051</ref> Bright colors are often used to increase visibility and prevent accidents and injuries.<ref>''British Post Box Colour Changed to Red because of Accidents'' http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-news/displayarticle.asp?id=106007</ref> Entry openings are designed to allow the free deposit of mail, yet prevent retrieval via the access slot by unauthorised persons.


== Clearance ==
== Clearance ==

Revision as of 21:46, 14 August 2008

Post boxes in Australia
The yellow box is for express mail.
A British Lamp Box post box of the 1940 pattern at Denvilles,Havant, Hampshire.
First Paris street letter box from c.1850

A post box (British English and others, also written postbox), (in the U.S. and Canada, collection box, mailbox, or drop box) is a physical box used to collect outgoing mail (mail sent to a destination). Post box can also refer to a letter box for incoming mail.

Varieties of post boxes (for outgoing mail) include:

Types of post boxes

Some postal operators have different types of post boxes for different types of post. For instance, there may be separate boxes for regular post, air mail and express post, for local addresses (defined by a range of postal codes) and out-of-town addresses, or for post bearing postage stamps and post bearing a postage meter indicator.

Some countries have different coloured postboxes; in countries such as Australia, Portugal, and Russia, the colour indicates which type of mail a box is to be used for, such as 1st and 2nd class post. However, in Germany and parts of Sweden, because they have postal liberalisation, the different colours are for the different postal services. For example, in Germany, yellow is for Deutsche Post (the incumbent) and blue for the private companies, like Morgenpost Briefservice.

Post boxes or mailboxes located outdoors are designed to keep mail secure and protected from weather. Some boxes have a rounded or slanted top or a downturned entry slot to eliminate or reduce rain or snow collection. Locks are fitted for security, so mail can be retrieved only by official postal employees, and the box will ordinarily be constructed so as to resist damage from vandalism, forcible entry, or other causes.[1] Bright colors are often used to increase visibility and prevent accidents and injuries.[2] Entry openings are designed to allow the free deposit of mail, yet prevent retrieval via the access slot by unauthorised persons.

Clearance

Post boxes are emptied ("cleared") at times usually listed on the box in a TOC, Times of Collection, plate affixed to the box. In metropolitan areas, this might be once or twice a day. Busy boxes might be cleared at other times to avoid overflowing, and also to spread the work for the sorters. Extra clearances are made in the period leading up to Christmas, to prevent boxes becoming clogged with mail.

Since 2005, most Royal Mail post boxes have had the time of only the last collection of the day listed on the box, with no indication of whether the box is cleared at other times earlier in the day. The reason given for this by the Royal Mail is that they needed to increase the font size of the wording on the "plate" listing the collection times to improve legibility for those with poor sight and that consequently there was insufficient room for listing all collection times throughout the day. Some post boxes may indicate the next collection time by a metal 'tab'[3] or dial that can be changed while the box is open. The tab displays a day or number, each number corresponding to a different time shown on the plate.

Terrorism

The surviving Manchester pillar box from the 1996 bomb
  • In 1952, a number of post boxes were attacked in Scotland in a dispute over the title adopted by the British monarch and displayed in cypher on the boxes. This included at least one which was blown apart with an explosive device.
  • In the U.S.A, nearly 7,000 collection boxes were removed following the aftermath of the September, 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center due to concerns over bombs being placed in the boxes. Since that time, a decrease in first-class mail volume and the onset of online bill payment processing has resulted in a decrease in need for collection box service in the U.S.[4]

Colours

Symbols

Swedish Royal Post
Irish Post & Telegraphs "P7T" logo
  • Australia — a styled red letter "P" on a white circle, "P" standing for "Post".
  • Canada — a combination of a bird wing and an aircraft wing in a red circle and flanked by the words Canada Post / Poste Canada. Previously the words Canada, Canada Post, or Canada Post Corporation) were used on mail boxes.
  • Continental Europe — most designs include a Post horn, like those used by postmen to announce their arrival. In Germany the post horn is the only element indicating post services.
  • Ireland — from 1922 the Irish harp entwined with the letters "SE" for Saorstát Éireann, then "P7T" Gaelic script for Post & Telegraphs and from 1984 An Post with their wavy lines logo, often on the door as a raised casting.
  • Russia — logo of Russian Post (Почта России) written white on blue and black on yellow 1st class mail boxes.
  • Japan — a "T" with another bar above it (〒).
  • United Kingdom — all post boxes display the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch at the time of manufacture. Exceptions are the Anonymous pillar boxes of 1879–87, where the cypher was omitted, and all boxes for use in Scotland manufactured after 1952 (including replicas of the 1866 Penfold design) which show the Queen's Crown of Scotland instead of the Royal Cypher for Elizabeth II. Private boxes emptied by Royal Mail do not have to carry a cypher. Royal Mail postboxes manufactured since 1994 carry the wording "Royal Mail", normally above the aperture (lamp boxes) or on the door (pillar boxes). Before this date all post boxes, with the exception of the Anonymous pillar boxes, carried the wording "Post Office".
  • United States — the United States Postal Service eagle logo, except that boxes for Express Mail use the USPS Express Mail logo.

Gallery of Post Boxes from around the world

See also

References

  1. ^ Postal Collection Box survives Sept. 11 attack http://www.arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=2&cmd=1&id=83037&img=1&mode=&pg=1&tid=2032051
  2. ^ British Post Box Colour Changed to Red because of Accidents http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/blackcountrybugle-news/displayarticle.asp?id=106007
  3. ^ Has the last post gone? (retrieved 18 September 2007)
  4. ^ Marsh, Allison, Postal Collection Boxes, National Postal Museum, http://www.arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&mode=&tid=2032051
  5. ^ All Royal Mail / GPO post boxes were painted BS 538 Post Office Red between 1874 and 1969. With the introduction of the K8 Telephone kiosk in 1969, a new "red" colour was adopted for GPO street furniture, designated B.S. 539 Post Haste Red. After British Telecom and Royal Mail were split by the British Government, BT continued to use BS539 exclusively, whilst Royal Mail use both BS538 and BS539 in a seemingly random way. Prior to 1859 there was no standard colour although there is a document in the BPMA archive indicating that optionally, the lettering and Royal cypher could be picked out in white or black. In 1859, a bronze green colour became standard until 1874. It took ten years for every box to be repainted during this period).
  6. ^ PIN MAIL AG

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Post box.
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