Slogan postmarks for September? Maybe - and other interesting postmarks and news

I am writing this at the end of August as I won't know until the middle of September what has happened during the month.

I expect September to start with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) default slogan, but I this should soon make way for a slogan marking Air Ambulance Week which this year runs from 7-13 September.  Postmarks should appear all week until Saturday 12th.  Then the BHF slogan should return.

Update 14 September:  Thank you to everyone who sent examples of September's slogans, and especially to RW who scoops the jackpot by providing good examples of everything!

1. British Heart Foundation default slogan, both types.  Northern Ireland Mail Centre and Norwich Mail Centre both used 2 September.

Both formats of the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland Mail Centre 02/09/2026 and Norwich Mail Centre 02-09-2026

 

---

2. Air Ambulance Week.  The slogan is in the format used in previous years.  Examples from Tyneside NE/SR Mail Centre and Mount Pleasant Mail Centre.

Support your
Air Ambulance

Air Ambulance Week
September 7th - 13th

 

Support Your Air Ambulance Mount Pleasant Mail Centre 08-09-2026

Support Your Air Ambulance Tyneside NE/SR Mail Centre 08/09/2026

Royal Mail publicity image on X - I quite like this as it draws attention to the subject.

---

UPDATE 15 September.

As anybody who has received stamped mail will know we are back to the BHF default this week, but I am expecting the annual Send A Card campaign to get a 'Thinking of you' slogan very soon. The week officially starts on 21 September, which is next Monday, so it is quite likely that the slogan will start on this Friday (18th) - look out for examples, and let's hope we can have a full house as we did for the Air Ambulance.

This was on the PGBuzz website* confirming that campaign which Royal Mail is hoping will be mutually beneficial is instigated by the Greetings Card Association.

* Includes some Royal Mail videos apparently show only on Instagram.

 

Send A Card
Deliver A Smile for
Thinking of You Week
21-27 September 2026 

Two good clear examples from KeithD both on 22nd September.  One layout from Chester & N Wales and the other from Glasgow Mail Centre.

Thinking of You Week slogan used at Glasgow Mail Centre 22-09-2026

Thinking of You Week slogan used at Chester & N Wales Mail Centre 22/09/2026

But first on the grid was AnthonyA with one from Gatwick Mail Centre on 18 September

Thinking of You Week slogan used at Gatwick Mail Centre 18-09-2026

Thank you both. 

Update 30 September

Thanks to Robert for sending this USPS example of Thinking of You week from Denver Colorado.

Thinking of You Week slogan used at Denver Colorado 14 SEP 2026

 

---

Other postmarks and postal markings

Holmbush update - JF has sent an additional example of the Morse-type self-inking-date stamp, with the index letter A, rather than the H shown earlier. 

Holmbush Post Office index letter A 'Morse' type SID 24 AUG 2026.

As with all the 'Morse' postmarks it lacks the proper spacing between the letters.

It appears thus  .--.---...----..-...-...-.-.

instead of  .--. --- ... - --- ..-. ..-. .. -.-.   

---

UPDATE 22 September.  A very Worthy addition to the blog, from JF, is this self-inking datestamp (SID) from PILTON in Somerset.  (It's the nearest village to Worthy Farm, of Glastonbury Festival fame).  The branch is in the village Co-op store, which is squashed between the Village Hall and St Mary's Lane.  The Google streetview photos don't give a good view of the post office.

Pilton (Somerset) SID 15 September 2026

Coincidentally from JW, another SID , from West Pilton, Edinburgh.  The Pennywell branch post office shut down around 2 years ago due to the old building being demolished, and at last it has reopened in a new location.

West Pilton SID 21 September 2026

These are the photos taken by JW, this week.  

Pennywell branch post office, Edinburgh 21 September 2026

These are earlier pictures before the old building was knocked down - some appearances suggest parts of it were falling down.

(All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.)

 

---

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

A reminder of what these monthly listings are for.

For each month I record the different slogans in use, plus the default slogan that is used when there is nothing else.

For each of these I try to record only one of each of the basic two types, plus any that are reversed on square envelopes, which normally only gives three or four.  

Occasionally a slogan appears with different line spacing in the same format.

I do not record multiple versions of the same as any of these unless I later get a much better example of one that I showed purely for the record, but which is otherwise not very clear.

The only exception to this, which doesn't seem to happen much these days, is when a slogan is used well out of time.  

I mention this only to avoid readers unnecessarily duplicating what has already been provided.

---

Slogan postmarks for August? Maybe - and other interesting postmarks and news

We are a 18 days through August but so far I have had no reports of new slogans.  Mind you, with the low amount of stamped mail anyone receives these days - apart from dealers and other collectors - it's hardly surprising that we have had no reports yet, not even for the default British Heart Foundation (BHF) slogan.

Mind you, the BHF slogan may not continue for much longer.  John F reports seeing this on Royal Mail's website: 

Royal Mail are working in partnership with the charity Missing People to raise awareness of their support services for anyone who may be thinking about disappearing, anyone already away from home, or friends and family with a missing loved one.

Update: John has advised that this partnership has been running for a number of years - although I've never seen any evidence of 'raising awareness' - so it is unlikely that it will replace the BHF slogan.

On which subject I received two today, sadly on the same envelope from Sheffield Mail Centre. Margaret also sent one from Home Counties North, date unclear.

British Heart Foundation slogan Sheffield Mail Centre 17 August 2026

British Heart Foundation slogan Home Counties North ?? August 2026

UPDATE 20 August. I am pleased to say that SS in Canada has now returned from holiday and has sent a couple of items for inclusion here.  Out of 11 UK packages only three were postmarked and on one the stamps were pen-cancelled. The other 7 had nothing!  Anyway, here is a much clearer BHF slogan from Birmingham Mail Centre on 11/08/2026.

British Heart Foundation slogan Birmingham Mail Centre 11 August 2026

As a reminder of an occasional non-slogan ink-jet postmark, JohnH has sent this one from North & West Yorkshire showing a situation when the machine settings do not produce a slogan, only a summary.

Non-slogan inkjet postmark from North & West Yorkshire, 18/08/2026

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

---

Other postmarks and postal markings

At the time of writing I haven't found anything to show here, but in the absence of anything new I shall probably delve into history!

Another one from SS in Canada, who received this package from Wotton Under Edge in Gloucestershire.  Nice use of the top three values of the datamatrix Machin stamps and 3 x 20p for the £8.60 up to 100 g rate International Tracked and Signed. 

Wotton Under Edge self-inking datestamp 27 July 2026

The post office is in the Co-operative supermarket in Long Street (Google Streetview 2025)

A dull day in Wotton Under Edge, outside the post office, July 2025.

---

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

A reminder of what these monthly listings are for.

For each month I record the different slogans in use, plus the default slogan that is used when there is nothing else.

For each of these I try to record only one of each of the basic two types, plus any that are reversed on square envelopes, which normally only gives three or four.  

Occasionally a slogan appears with different line spacing in the same format.

I do not record multiple versions of the same as any of these unless I later get a much better example of one that I showed purely for the record, but which is otherwise not very clear.

The only exception to this, which doesn't seem to happen much these days, is when a slogan is used well out of time.  

I mention this only to avoid readers unnecessarily duplicating what has already been provided.

---

Slogan postmarks for July 2026 - and other interesting postal markings.

We are a third of the way through July but so far I have had no reports of new slogans.  Royal Mail has featured in many news articles about dog attacks on postal workers, and by now we would have expected to see a Dog Awareness slogan, but no.

So once again we have the British Heart Foundation, and I can show both examples received here. Bristol Mail Centre 04/07/2026 and Norwich Mail Centre 08-07-2026.

BHF Norwich Mail Centre 08-07-2026

BHF Bristol (BA,BS,GL,TA) Mail Centre 04/07/2026

 

---

OTHER POSTMARKS AND POSTAL MARKINGS

Our reader in Canada (SS) has sent a picture of a cover with a new counter datestamp.  This is another case of not identifying the town or area because the inscription on the SID is simply VICTORIA ROAD.  This could be in north London, in Romford, Leeds, Swindon and Kirkby in Ashfield. Fortunately, being tracked, we can see that it was posted in the Swindon area.

Victoria Road, Swindon, self-inking datestamp 01 07 2026

International Tracked and Signed letter from Swindon to Vancouver, Canada.

Victoria Road, Swindon, from Google maps.

---

Update 13 July  I've just posted details of summer post office closures, but here is news from Northern Ireland of a new opening.  Thanks to GF for this:

"Killycomain Road" in Portadown, Northern Ireland is inside a completely new shop - EuroSpar at 117 Killycomain Road, Portadown, Craigavon, BT63 5JH, complete with petrol forecourt and parking.

There is an older "Killycomain" post office in Russells Food & Drink, 23-25 Gilford Road, Portadown, Craigavon, BT63 5EF (16 minutes walk away)

Another PO nearby is "Seagoe, Craigavon" in Spar, 52 Lurgan Road, Portadown. (Also about 16 minutes away)

Craigavon was to be a new town (like Milton Keynes) begun in 1965 and was meant to link Portadown & Lurgan - but it didn't work.  Wikipedia has an article about Craigavon.  If you live in Portadown or Lurgan you are supposed to put "Craigavon" in your address - but a lot of us don't.

Illustrations of the three self-inking datestamps.  The new one is another one without a town name.

---

Update 24 July.  Another contribution from our correspondent SS in Canada of part of a Moths first day cover sent by special delivery.  This is often done because the place has an association with the subject of the stamps: I can't find any such link here, and it's not a first day of issue either. The self-inking datestamp shows only the name of the village.

Benenden self-inking datestamp, 13 July 2026

Benenden is near Cranbrook in Kent and the Community Shop incorporates the post office.

Benenden Community Shop, Post Office and Cafe, Google streetview 2016

Benenden is probably best known for Benenden School, a private girls boarding school located to the north of the village.

---

Update 25 July.  It may not be a busy month for slogans but readers have made many contributions with other postmarks - thank you.  MikeM has sent a picture of a 1990 postcard to Australia which I have covered in more detail on the Modern British Postal History blog, but it is notable for this ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL LETTERS postmark which, I suppose, must have been applied in Mount Pleasant, London.

Royal Mail International Letters 25 May 1990 packet-size stamp used on postcard to Australia.

I don't remember seeing one of these before, but then I don't remember much these days!  If you have any other examples, please do send them.

---

Update 29 July.  The last addition for this month has been sent by JohnH and is this self-inking datestamp from Billericay in Essex. I often used to pass through there en route from Kent to the northern parts of Essex back in the 1960s. I expect it has change a lot since then.  This was the post office until 2012, but I expect the town mourned the loss of the blacksmith's shop which was previously on the site.

Billericay Post Office (1938-2012): Billericay Community Archive

Billericay self-inking datestamp 25 July 2026

Unfortunately there isn't a current 'street view' on Google Maps - given how quickly our High Streets change you would think they could get their car down there more often than every two years!
 

---

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

A reminder of what these monthly listings are for.  

For each month I record the different slogans in use, plus the default slogan that is used when there is nothing else.

For each of these I try to record only one of each of the basic two types, plus any that are reversed on square envelopes, which normally only gives three or four.  

Occasionally a slogan appears with different line spacing in the same format. 

I do not record multiple versions of the same as any of these unless I later get a much better example of one that I showed purely for the record, but which is otherwise not very clear.

The only exception to this, which doesn't seem to happen much these days, is when a slogan is used well out of time.  

I mention this only to avoid readers unnecessarily duplicating what has already been provided.

---

 

 

 

Slogan postmarks for June 2026 - and other interesting postal markings.

There should be some new slogans in June. but we can start off with the British Heart Foundation standard slogan from Edinburgh Mail Centre on 01-06-2026, thanks to JH. 

British Heart Foundation Edinburgh Mail Centre 01-06-2026

---

This will be interrupted in the next few days as Royal Mail honour our Armed Forces.

Armed Forces Week should start on 19 June for deliveries on 20th - 23rd.

Armed Forces Day should start on 23rd June for deliveries on 24th - 26th June. 

The British Heart Foundation should follow again after that.

 So let's hope some of us receive stamped mail with some of these usages.  

---

Armed Forces Week 22nd - 28th June 2026.  LT has sent a good example from Sheffield 20/06/2026, and JM a similar one from North West Midlands 22/06/2026

Armed Forces Week North West Midlands 22/06/2026

Armed Forces Week Sheffield Mail Centre 20/06/2026

I actually received one of these from Nottingham dated 23rd but it isn't as good as these! 

---

Armed Forces Day 27 June 2026

Again, thanks to LT for one from Sheffield dated 26/06/2026 - a very clean example!  And JM has sent a one at the other extreme. so much so that I can't work out where it is from!

Armed Forces Day Sheffield Mail Centre 26/06/2026

 

Armed Forces Day, ? Mail Centre 24?-06-2026

---

British Heart Foundation standard slogan was then reused; here's an example from Manchester Mail Centre 29/06/2026.

British Heart Foundation Manchester Mail Centre 29/06/2026

 

---

OTHER POSTMARKS AND POSTAL MARKINGS

This year marks the 50th birthday of the Postal Mechanisation Study Circle.  I'm not a member of this (but I am a member of several specialist societies), but I exchange information with their Jeremy Meal.  

"The Circle's liaison contact at Royal Mail has been able to produce a further development of our 25th (and before that, as an ordinary slogan die cancel, a 15th) Anniversary slogan for our current 50th Anniversary celebrations; kindly produced towards the end of May at Bristol MC on an IMP.  

50th Anniversary of Postal Mechanisation Study Circle 

Jeremy writes:  

Please find attached a scan of the slogan itself (above) plus the whole envelope with the commemorative text description in the style of the previous series of PMSC covers, but not numbered 301 as we stopped production at 300 in the series. 

I now have permission, on a first come first served basis, to make spares available (while stocks last!) to slogan collectors more widely but only on a one per person basis on application to me at the address on the cover at a price of £4 (UK), £7 (International) to cover production costs and mailing out. 

Please make your cheque payable to the Postal Mechanisation Study Circle (written in full NOT abbreviated PMSC) and NOT made out to Jeremy but please remember to tell him your address so it can be posted back out to you!! Just to repeat, Jeremy's address is on the illustration of the cover here on this blog entry, please don't write to us at Norphil! 

Jeremy has also sent a copy of the 'proof' showing how the slogan was set up.  This also shows us that there might be space at the left of the place and date portion for something else.

 

---

Thanks to JF for these three branch postmarks.   Firstly one that simply reads MARK 09 JUN 2026.  Now if you didn't know there was a village with the simple name of MARK you might think that there was something missing!  I actually went through it last year, when we were in Somerset.  The origin of the name is believed to mean A boundary of property from the Old English mærc.

Mark, Somerset, Morse-style counter datestamp.

Mark Post Office & Village Stores from Google Streetview.

Staying in Somerset, the name of Windwhistle is a historic, rural hamlet and high ridge in South Somerset near Cricket St Thomas, best known for the 17th-century Windwhistle Inn, said to be the only pub with that name in the country - and now even that seems to be closed.

But the post office is in the Bournville area of Weston-Super-Mare (who knew that there was another one, where they don't make chocolate?!), and is apparently named after another Windwhistle inn (Facebook link) which opened in 1954, was replaced in 1963, and later demolished for more modern housing.   (We visited a Windwhistle west of Christchurch in New Zealand; that one is a gorge rather than a ridge, used for white water sports.) 

Windwhistle self-inking datestamp 30 DE 24

Windwhistle post office from Google Streetview 2024

Fore Street post office in Taunton, Somerset, is located in T G Jones, ex W H Smith, so it may not be in this location for much longer.  JF obtained s copy of the self-inking datestamp dated 12 MY 26.

Fore Street Post Office self-inking datestamp 12 MY 26

Fore Stret Taunton from Google Streetview

There are many semi-anonymous postmarks in this blog, and MANOR STORES joins them as another one.  This seems to actually be LOCKING post office, Somerset, which is located in a Spar Shop and which is quite difficult to see on the limited Google Streetview images.

Self-inking datestamp for Locking post office inscribed Manor Stores.

This Google Streetview snap from 2024 shows the Post Office sign quite clearly but only if there are no cars parked in front of the sign!  In 2017 the logo on the building was higher, but the introduction of the Spar put a stop to that!  

Locking (Somerset) post office, aka Manor Stores.

 

---

It can't have escaped your notice that this year marks the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America.  They have a number of different nationwide slogans.  RW has sent this example from Wichita KS, of the 'Freedom 250' slogan.

USPS Freedom 250 slogan Wichita KS, June 2026.

 

 

 

 

---

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

A reminder of what these monthly listings are for.  

For each month I record the different slogans in use, plus the default slogan that is used when there is nothing else.

For each of these I try to record only one of each of the basic two types, plus any that are reversed on square envelopes, which normally only gives three or four.  

Occasionally a slogan appears with different line spacing in the same format. 

I do not record multiple versions of the same as any of these unless I later get a much better example of one that I showed purely for the record, but which is otherwise not very clear.

The only exception to this, which doesn't seem to happen much these days, is when a slogan is used well out of time.  

I mention this only to avoid readers unnecessarily duplicating what has already been provided.

---