Edwardian Postboxes of the 1930s

It is not true to say this is a short reign, since technically a monarch only reigns following their Coronation. As Edward was never crowned King, he never reigned. But that did not stop him enjoying the trappings of a reigning monarch, including the fabrication of some 200 post boxes bearing his rather attractive cipher. Many of these were altered following the abdication crisis and had their doors exchanged for replacements bearing the cipher of his brother, George VI. Not to be caught out twice, the GPO continued to use Edward VIII and older George V compenents well into 1937 in case George VI chickened out as well, before finally altering the castings.

Because it was of such short duration, boxes are rare from this reign. However, we do have two interesting artifacts in the collection from this period. These are a replica of the famous Ludlow plate from Bawdsey in Suffolk and a replica E8R Carron pillar.