Royal Cyphers Guide

UK postboxes usually display the royal cypher of the monarch in reign when the box was made. The cypher is often on the front or the door. This helps date the box and is required when submitting to PostboxMap.

The main cyphers you will see are: VR (Queen Victoria, 1837–1901), E VII R (Edward VII, 1901–1910), GR (George V, 1910–1936), E VIII R (Edward VIII, 1936 (very rare)), G VI R (George VI, 1936–1952), E II R (Elizabeth II, 1952–2022), and C III R (Charles III, 2022–present). E II R is the most common on current boxes.

For photos and detailed notes on each reign, see the Identification Guide. It includes images of each cypher and notes on typical box designs for that period. Use it when you're unsure which reign to select when adding or correcting a postbox.