December slogan postmarks and other interesting postal markings.

December starts (as November ended) with the default British Heart Foundation slogan. Again, JH has provided an example, but again it is difficult to read.

Default British Heart Foundation slogan Jubilee Mail Centre 3 December 2025

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Unlike last month - when we had only one example of the Remembrance slogan - while I have been away a flood of examples has reached me from readers - thank you all!   This is for the state visit of the German President.  This occurs in 3-line versions: JM sent the best one from Manchester (with others in the same format from LT, AA & RW are less than ideal which is a shame for a very short-term slogan). The Nowich one in the other 2-line format from JH is the best we've seen so far.  But we have had one from Sheffield here, which is quite poor, but in the reversed format on a square envelope!

Welcome
President
Steinmeier
State Visit 2025

Welcome President Steinmeier State Visit slogan Manchester Mail Centre 03/12/2025

Welcome President Steinmeier State Visit slogan Norwich Mail Centre 03-12-2025

UPDATE 9 December.  Surprisingly yet another variation; this one has four lines from Jubilee Mail Centre 05-12-2025, thanks TP.

Welcome President Steinmeier State Visit slogan Jubilee Mail Centre 05-12-2025

Welcome President Steinmeier State Visit reversed slogan Sheffield Mail Centre 03?-12-2025

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UPDATE 12 December.  Before we get to the Christmas reminders slogans greetings cards have brought forth a rash of examples of the default British Heart Foundation slogan, with three variants so far.  Even I have some!

Firstly thanks to RW for this one from Tyneside on 09/12/2025 which arrived as I was scanning mine from Gatwick.  But I also have one in the other format from Norwich 08-12-2025.  

British Heart Foundation slogan, Tyneside Mail Centre 09/12/2025

British Heart Foundation slogan, Norwich Mail Centre 08-12-2025

 And MM sent us the first reversed one on a square envelope, also from Tyneside on 08/12/2025 

Reversed British Heart Foundation slogan, Tyneside Mail Centre 08/12/2025

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We will expect some form of Christmas posting slogan from Royal Mail very soon, probably replaced later by a 'Last Posting Dates' slogan.  As we understand that there are no Universal machines now in use, it will be interesting to see what appears other than from the regular ink-jet machines.

UPDATE: We understand that there will be no 'post early' slogans this year; as we are only a week away from Christmas, that is not much of a surprise.   What will be a surprise is if Royal Mail start using stamp-issue related slogans next year.  

UPDATE 17 March 2026.  The March 2026 edition of the British Postmark Society Journal has a report that the Universal machine was still in use at Stromness, Orkney, using the Snowman slogan.  Although the example shown as no year in the die (no new date slugs were provided after 2021), it was used on a 2025 Christmas stamp, which is conclusive proof.

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UPDATE 7 January.  I showed a slogan from Ireland last month.  Here's one from the USPS, where ink-jet slogans are slowly getting better.

United States Postal Service Happy Holidays slogan used Santa Ana California.

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Other postmarks and postal markings, etc

Recipients of my sendings last week may have been able to determine that they were posted in Street, Somerset.  The light was in the wrong place get a good photo, so here is one from Google StreetView when it was still a branch of WHSmith. Now it is a One Stop, but at the same address in the HIgh Street postcode BA16 0EZ.

Street, Somerset, branch post office from Google streetview March 2024.

I was able to get my post cancelled at the counter with the self-inking counter datestamp GG shown on the left below.    Also shown is one I obtained in 2017, unit E.  Note that this one, with quite different spacing, has an unexpected error, with two M's in Sommerset!

 

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Galmpton in Devon was mentioned here in 2023 when a self-inking datestamp was in use.  The latest missive from there (thank you RW) is a new-type single-circle which looks like rubber - it turns out that this is a private production, similar to the Mailer's Permits used in the USA, and not a new counter datestamp.  

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Blackheath Village, Kent.  The branch is in an impressive building and was taken over by WHSmith in 2016, much to the surprise of the local historical society.  As you can see from these Google streetview pictures the original post office (built in 1911) had wooden doors below an impressive stone identity.  Whilst the latter has been retained, the new owners ripped out the wooden doors and replaced them with glass and steel. Obviously this building did not have nationally listed status although it is on Lewisham’s register of locally-listed buildings and is recognised by the Council as a building of character in the Blackheath Conservation Area.

Thanks to SH for the example of the self-inking datestamp which led to this story.

Blackheath Village self-inking counter datestamp 5 December 2025.

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Enquiry Office handstamps - JW has sent this example from Edinburgh North West DO dated today 13 DEC 2025.  (digitally enhanced)

Edinburgh North West DO / 13 DEC 2025 / Royal Mail handstamp

Certificate of posting for online postage, Edinburgh NW DO

Although this means not using stamps, such material is important to obtain and record, so sometimes we have to resort to unconventional practices - a bit like sending stamps to yourself by special delivery to get them fine used.

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US Tariffs - did Royal Mail deliberately route some mail through Europe?

JW reports a discussion on Reddit about an International Tracked parcel from the UK to USA.  It appeared to be stuck in limbo in the USA, but was returned a month after sending with a CN15 Return label from Hungary!  And this wasn't just a one-off.  This was the label shown by user Leading-Pie1366 at the beginning of December. 

Another user reported that they too had this problem: "after clearing customs at usps.com it was showing that it was scanned at 'BUDAPEST 1005, United States of America'."  This person obtained a refund for their postage label from Royal Mail.   

Google AI suggests that because of backlogs Royal Mail was shipping via Hungary, but that doesn't quite match up with the tracking routing described on Reddit.

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Remember, slogan postmarks appearing in December will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing.

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Disposal of remaining Crown Post Offices to take place this year.

In April this year Post Office Ltd announced that  

..... the last 108 Directly Managed Branches which are operated by the Post Office will be franchised by the autumn. 

This means that those communities that currently have a Directly Managed Branch in their area will continue to be able to access Post Office services either at, or near to, the same location.

More details have been revealed in the last few days.

It is proposed that 56 Directly Managed Branches will be operated by three operators from the same premises where they are currently located whilst the long-term arrangements for the branch are finalised.

RF Retail

With 21 years’ experience in retail and Post Office, Richard Fleetwood, is the third generation of postmasters. His grandfather and father both ran branches, and his mother has had several senior roles managing Post Offices across the UK. RF Retail’s journey began when it opened its first store in the North East of England in September 2020. They currently operate six Post Office branches. RF Retail is also the largest independent operator of Banking Hubs in the UK after operating the first two in 2021. They currently operate six Banking Hubs. Another Post Office and Banking Hub are also being planned for this summer.

RFE will operate branches at Bransholme, Bridlington, Caernarfon, Chester-Le-Street, Crossgates, Gloucester, Grimsby, Morley, Nailsea, Oswestry, Redditch, South Shields, and Sunderland City.

UOE

Led by postmaster Elliot Jacobs, UOE operates nine 'Mains' Post Office branches, a Banking Hub, and a group of award-winning stationery stores across London, Hertfordshire and Surrey. With 28 years of retail experience — including over a decade as a Postmaster — Elliot brings deep expertise in running high-performing, community-driven retail operations, and is a non-executive director of POL.

Eight of UOE’s nine Post Office branches are former Directly Managed Branches (DMBs). Together, the UOE network serves over 2 million customers annually and employs more than 60 team members. All of UOE’s London Stores and Post Offices are open seven days a week.

UOE will operate these branches in London and beyond: Baker Street, Barnet, Brixton, Cambridge City, Golders Green, Hampstead, Harlesden, Harold Hill, High Holborn, Houndsditch, Islington, Kennington Park, Kilburn, Kingsbury, Kingsland High Street, Knightsbridge, Leighton Buzzard, London Bridge, Lower Edmonton, Milton Keynes, Mount Pleasant, Northolt, Oxford, Paddington Quay, Raynes Park, Roman Road Bethnal Green, St Peters Street St Albans, Stamford Hill, Wealdstone, and Windsor.

ZCO

ZCO is a well-established company based in Bolton that operates 21 Post Offices across the UK, which were all former directly managed Post Offices, as well as four banking hubs. ZCO was founded in 2014 by Zubeir Patel and now the Managing Director is Tan Musa. He has well-organised regional teams to assist with the running of Post Offices in England, Scotland and Wales.

A sister company, called Potent Solutions, set up in 2008, operates Post Office branches on a temporary basis to maintain service to communities. However, it is ZCO that is taking on these new franchised branches. The retail alongside their branches is traditionally cards and stationery. Bespoke retail also has included luggage and luggage accessories, souvenirs and beach equipment, depending upon each unique location.

ZCO will operate across the country: Bexhill-on-Sea, Canning Town, Cricklewood, Dereham, Edinburgh City, Furness House Barrow-in-Furness, Glasgow (West Nile Street), Haddington, Kendal, Kettering, Matlock, Melville Road Hove, Morecambe, Poulton-Le-Fylde, Rotherham, Saltcoats, South Ockendon, and Springburn Way Glasgow.
 

Firstclass Managerial LTD

Run by postmaster Mikesh Parekh, Firstclass Retail operate thirteen Post Office branches in and around Greater Manchester, the majority of which are larger, Mains-style branches. With over fifteen years of experience as a postmaster, Mikesh has a wealth of experience in running post offices at the heart of communities. Being a postmaster runs in the family, with Mikesh having learned from his father at his branch in Oldham, who himself was a postmaster for fifteen years.

Mikesh also runs Interim Solutions, which delivers a number of temporary post offices. Between the two businesses, Mikesh currently operates around 30 branches and employs over 170 staff. Mikesh has a deep commitment to the community he serves and has a track record of working with local stakeholders to safeguard Post Office services.

Firstclass will run branches at Barnes Green Manchester, Breck Road Liverpool, Didsbury Village, Eccles, Hyde, Leigh, Old Swan Liverpool, and Salford City.
 

South Coast Retail

Liam Searle is at the helm of South Coast Retail in Dorset. He is the third generation of his family connected to Post Office branches. Both his grandmother and his father worked at Directly Managed Branches as counter clerks. His father’s career progressed to being an area manager before he took on Swanage Post Office when it was being franchised. Liam then took over as postmaster for Swanage in 2019. His Dad still helps at his Swanage branch and runs the outreach services.

The 36-year-old now also operates successful branches in Dorchester, Sherborne, Swanage, and Weymouth, plus three outreach services for three communities in the Swanage area. A banking hub also opens in Sherborne in June. Liam runs a close-knit company with 50 employees. The retail offering at his branches is cards, stationery, gifts and soft drinks.

SCR's new branches will be at Bideford, Liskeard, Mutley Plymouth, Newquay, Paignton and Teignmouth.

UPDATE 1 September

From the St Albans Times

Customers using the new franchised Post Office service in St Peter’s Street have reported major teething problems during its first few days of opening.

The Crown Post Office branch closed its doors on Tuesday at 3pm, and reopened on Wednesday at 1pm, but is now operated by independent franchise retail partner Universal Office Equipment Ltd, which runs eight other PO branches, a banking hub and stationery stores across London, Herts and Surrey.

But things have gone far from smoothly.

One customer told the St Albans Times on Friday: “There is chaos at Saint Peter Street post office which was taken over by a private company a day or so ago. According to the manager all her staff resigned on the spot and she’s now had to try and recruit a couple of complete beginners. None of the automatic machines are working and as I speak, the queue is running out of the front door.”

There are conflicting reports on the number of resignations but we are striving to confirm numbers.

Update 9 October

John wrote a comment on the Post & Go post which deserves repetition here.

The branch manager of the directly managed Cambridge City post office told me a month or so ago that the Post & Go kiosks and the ticketing machine for counter service would all be removed overnight and that none of his staff would continue with UOE. 

All wrong! The kiosks and ticketing machine were all working, and at least three of his staff continued working for UOE. UOE had hired someone for four days to solve any problems on opening; he was very complimentary to the continuing staff and remarked how everything was running smoothly. Obviously UOE didn't want any repetition of the chaos at St Albans, Windsor and Brixton. 

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December Slogan Postmarks and other interesting Postal Markings

November actually ended with the Post Early slogan which I received on a (stamped business!) letter today.  

This may be the only general design until Royal Mail get date specific - last year they didn't do any post early slogans and in 2022 they were urging us to use up our old stamps until the middle of the month when they switched to date specific.  

Remember also, that the Universal machines are usually pressed into service at this time of year.

2022 Date-specific 'Post Early' slogan.

Dumb wavy line Universal machine in 2022.

Decades-old Snowman slogan in Universal machine in 2022.

Post Early

This slogan will be widely used, I should think, so please send me other layouts.

Remember to
post early
for Christmas
royalmail.com/greetings

This first example is from Peterborough Mail Centre 30-11-2024.

Post Early slogan, Peterborough Mail Centre 30-11-2024

UPDATE 4 December: We and MM both received reversed examples today on square envelopes.  Mine is from Gatwick 02/12/2024 and MM's is from Tyne & Wear 03/12/2024.

Reversed Post Early slogan, Gatwick Mail Centre 02/12/2024

Reversed Post Early slogan, Tyneside NE/SR Mail Centre 03/12/2024

And the last layout to complete the set (of mostly poor impressions!) comes from PC with this one from Romford Mail Centre, probably 02/12/2024.

Post Early slogan, Romford Mail Centre 02/12/2024

UPDATE 21 December 2024  Royal Mail's last day for posting 2nd class mail was 18th December, and although the last day for 1st class mail was 20th, the Post Early slogan was replaced on 19th by the default British Heart Foundation slogan.  I suppose anything posted on 19th was unlikely to be delivered on 20th, so no point in continuing to remind people of the last posting date.

Here's a the envelope from a card which reached us this week which has the Birmingham Mail Centre Post Early slogan on 17/12/2024, and also a Norwich Mail Centre British Heart Foundation slogan on 19-12-2024. After that there is a clear example of the BHF slogan from Norwich on 20-12-2024.

Post Early slogan from Birmingham Mail Centre slogan on 17/12/2024, and also a Norwich Mail Centre British Heart Foundation slogan on 19-12-2024.

Norwich Mail Centre British Heart Foundation slogan on 20-12-2024.

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UNIVERSALS

CP emailed to say that Stromness's Universal machine was used again, but could not send a copy.  I should think it is much like this one, without a year.  "Stromness stamped the reverse of my letter (on 2 December) suggesting the Universal is only used on island mail and the stamp on the front was cancelled with Glasgow Post early slogan of 3 December"

Stromness, Orkney Universal with no year slug, used in 2023, which was used again in 2024

UPDATE: the reported 2024 usage has now reached me and is of course the same slogan as last year, but they put the day slug into the time slot on 2 December.

Stromness, Orkney, Universal with no year slug, used 2 December 2024 with the day slug in the time slot.

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Other postmarks, postal markings etc.

Jersey post used a Santa Sleigh slogan postmark this year: the transposed position as used by Royal Mail in pre-inkjet days allows the slogan to be seen clearly. 

Jersey Post Merry Christmas slogan illustrated with Santa and reindeer 05.12.24

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Remember, all postmarks appearing in December will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing.

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May Slogan Postmarks and other interesting postal markings.

Last month we only had St George's Day, and the BHF default.  This month we continue with another example received here, but we're nearly half way through the month with nothing new on the horizon.  

British Heart Foundation Cornwall Mail Centre 08/05/2024

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UPDATE 14 May - I am pleased to welcome a new reporter (GO) with the first new slogan for May, which is for Mental Health Awareness Week.  This first example is from Peterborough Mail Centre 10-05-2024

Mental Health
Awareness Week
#MomentsForMovement
13-19 May

Mental Health Awareness Week slogan Peterborough Mail Centre 10-05-2024

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OTHER POSTMARKS AND POSTAL MARKINGS

I recently acquired a job lot of covers which revealed some postmarks that I had not shown here when they were actually used, so I am adding them in their rightful place and will mention them here as well.

But I'll start with an example which still occasionally draws queries on stamp forums - because it is so unsual and unique (in the sense that it was heavily used in Manchester but examples from elsewhere are scarce).

This is a 2019 example from the 'Large Flat machine in use at Manchester Mail Centre, primarily used for magazines and A4-size mail but on this occasion it's on a 19 cm square greetings card envelope.

Manchester 'Large Flat' postmark with Postcode slogan 11.12.19

There was also an unusually good copy of a Universal usage in 2021 from North & West Yorkshire. This has been added to the Christmas 2021 slogans post.

FInally, Aldwych is back on again! It seems that the trials of Post Office Ltd's New Branch IT in house developed replacement for Horizon (as part of its Strategic Platform Modernisation Programme) and I received this 2nd class Signed For label.   It's on a c6 envelope - and it really is big!

2nd class Signed For label from Aldwych PO (London)'s New Branch IT replacement for Horizon, 9 May 2024

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If you have any other slogans used this month, or any other interesting postal markings from any period or place, please send them to the email address in the top right of this blog.  Thank you.

Remember, all postmarks appearing in May will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing. 

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December 2023 slogan postmarks and other interesting postal markings.

Slogan postmarks used in December will be shown here; please check for latest updates before spending your time scanning, but if you have something new or another format, then please do send it in for publication. 

Our first stamped post of the month shows a continuation of the British Heart Foundation default postmark, and as it's a square envelope we have a good example of the slogan layout reversed - and the wavy lines go squarely across the barcode due to the position of the stamp.  

Gatwick Mail Centre 02/12/2023 reversed layout.

British Heart Foundation slogan postmark Gatwick 02/12/2023.

UPDATE 19 December. I'm sorry these have been building up and I did not attribute them in my file name, so apologies if I get the attribution wrong.

This one is easy, as it is addressed to us!  We don't often see examples from Home Counties North Mail Centre 17-12-2023. The stamp is in the right corner, but the envelope was processed turned 90º clockwise, and the postmark missed the stamp entirely!

Square envelope causing problems at Home Counties North on 17-12-2023

 The other layout from North & West Yorkshire 11/12/2023

British Heart Foundation slogan postmark North & West Yorkshire 11/12/2023.

JG shows two examples of the BHF slogan from Peterborough Mail Centre on 4 & 5 December in different sizes.  The reason for this was explained once but I've forgotten it.

British Heart Foundation slogan postmark Peterborough Mail Centre 04 & 05-12-2023 in differemt sizes.

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Post Early for Christmas?  Last Posting Dates?

When did we last not have a 'Post early' or similar slogan?  UK readers will know of the delivery problems that Royal Mail has simply because it has driven so many of its employees to leave the service rather than put up with the stress of extra long hours and heavy loads.  So this year they didn't bother to ask us to post early or have a slogan with the last posting dates.

Meanwhile, here are some they did earlier...

Last Posting Dates 2017 Norwich Mail Centre

Remember to Post Early, Exeter Mail Centre 2017

Remember to Post Early, Norwich Mail Centre 2018

Last posting dates, Exeter Mail Centre 2018

Last posting dates, Peterborough Mail Centre 2019

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Other postmarks, postal markings etc,

It's Christmas and so as is usual at this time of year - despite fewer cards being posted every year - old Universal machines are coming out of retirement.

First out of the trap this year is Stromness, Orkney on 4 December, with the Snowman slogan.  JE writes, "Stromness' machine has not had a year slug for several years - but the stamp and the Inverness inkjet confirm that it is from 2023. This is one of the few Universal SCMs still in regular use by RoyalMail - presumably year slugs are no longer supplied.  The Snowman slogan die dates from 1994. (The Inverness British Heart Foundation slogan applied later the same day.)

Stromness, Orkney, Universal postmark dated 4 December (2023) with Snowman slogan.

Overlabelled!

My thanks to AB for sending this image,  Packaging from Amazon was reused - very commendable - and the Post Office stuck the Horizon label over the yellow Amazon label.  Remember that these QR-type codes are tracked internally through Royal Mail's system (and may also provide proof of delivery on the website).  

Evidently scanning at the Midlands Parcel Hub was hampered by 'show-through' from the Amazon label, and so they provided a new QR-coded label with the same pattern and same number.  I've never heard of this operational need before, probably because most of the time the packaging is discarded when the goods are removed.  One to watch out for - more modern postal history!

Overlabelled at Midlands Hub - to provide a more readable QR-type code.

Update 22 December. This is one I should have shown last month; it is also on the Postal History blog because of the new surcharge rate of £2.50 effective from 30 October, but we don't get many Northern Ireland postmarks, so this one from CRAIGAVON DELIVERY OFFICE helps to redress that

£2.50 'Stamp no longer valid', surcharge 1 November 2023 at new rate effective 30 October, with Cragavon Delivery Office postmark

CARDIFF REVENUE PROTECTION

My thanks to Mel Holley for this image from Cardiff Mechanised Letter Office.  The packet (which must have weighed between 101-250g) was correctly prepaid at the 2nd class rate of £2.40, but was set aside for checking, maybe because it was a spot check on the weight?

Whatever the reason, no surcharge was applied and the letter was duly delivered.

DIOGELWCH REFINIW
POST WEDI'N DALU
M.L.O. CAERDYDD
REVENUE PROTECTION
POSTAGE PAID
CARDIFF M.L.O.

To the left of the text is the figure 1 for First Class, although this is a 2nd class Large Letter.

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If you have any other interesting postal markings, please send them to one of the email addresses in the top right of this blog.  Thank you.

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Remember, any other slogans appearing in December will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing.  I'll add new ones as quickly as possible.

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