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PostboxMap

UK Postbox Identification Guide

Use this guide to identify postboxes when adding or editing entries on the map. Follow the four steps below: Form → Type → Design distinctions → Cipher.

UK postboxes usually display the royal cypher of the monarch in reign when the box was made. The cypher appears on the front or door and is the main way to date it. Identifying form (pillar, wall, lamp, etc.), type (e.g. Type A–P for pillars, or Penfold, Coffin-style surround), and cipher (reign) gives accurate entries and makes the map searchable.

For more background on postbox history and why mapping matters, see our guide to UK postboxes.

Step 1: Identify the Form

First decide the form: pillar (free-standing), wall (set into a wall), lamp (on a post or pole), Ludlow, business box, or parcel postbox. Shape and location tell you which form you have.

  • Type K red pillar box (UK)

    Pillar box

    ★☆☆☆ Common

    Standard design introduced 1859. Classic forms include cylindrical, hexagonal (Penfold), and oval (dual aperture). Introduced 1852.

    Patterns and types:
    • Standard cylindrical: Type A, Type B, Type C, Type D, Type E, Type F, Type G, Type H, Type I, Type J, Type K, Type L, Type M, Type N, Type O, Type P
    • Early Victorian: First National Standard, Second National Standard
    • Penfold: Early Penfold, Standard Penfold, Late Penfold, Reproduction Penfold
    • Fluted: Type F Fluted
    • Pedestal: Type A Pedestal, Type B Pedestal
    • Scottish: Scottish Type 1, Scottish Type 2
    • Irish: Irish Free State, Saorstát Éireann
    • Anonymous: Anonymous Transitional
    • Experimental: Hexagonal Experimental, Early Prototype

    Photo: Kitmaster, Wikimedia Commons (PD).

  • Royal Mail wall box, Salle, Norfolk

    Wall box

    ★☆☆☆ Common

    Set into a wall or sometimes a free-standing pillar. PostboxMap uses project wall types A–F. Introduced 1857.

    Type letters A–F for wall and lamp boxes are PostboxMap project identifiers and not official Royal Mail pattern codes.

    Patterns and types:
    • Early Victorian: First National Standard, Second National Standard
    • Standard cast iron: Type A Wall Box, Type B Wall Box, Type C Wall Box, Type D Wall Box, Type E Wall Box, Type F Wall Box
    • Large capacity: Type E Large, Type F Large
    • Anonymous: Anonymous Transitional Wall
    • Double aperture: Double Aperture Wall Box
    • Coffin-style: Coffin-style surround

    Photo: Sebastiandoe5, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

  • QEII lamp box, Woolton

    Lamp box

    ★☆☆☆ Common

    Small box on lamp posts, poles, or sometimes set in a wall. Introduced 1896.

    Type letters A–F for wall and lamp boxes are PostboxMap project identifiers and not official Royal Mail pattern codes.

    Patterns and types:
    • By LB type: LB201 (Letters above aperture), LB202 (Letters Only), LB203 (EviiR Open cipher), LB204 (EviiR Closed cipher, small tablet), LB205 (EviiR Closed cipher, large tablet), LB206 (GR crown and small cipher), LB207, LB208, LB209, LB210, LB211 (GvR 1935 Pattern), LB212 (1936 revised 1935 Pattern), LB213 (1940 Pattern), LB214 (1952), LB215 (Allied Iron Founders), LB216 (Carron Company), LB216 (Carron Company Stirlingshire), LB217 (Carron Company Stirlingshire 1977 pattern), LB218 (Carron Stirlingshire), LB219 (Lion Foundry Kirkintilloch), LB220 (Carronade), LB221 (Machan Scotland), LB222 (Abbott Engineering), LB223 (Machan Scotland, Royal Mail), LB224 (Type N Bantam), LB3426 (Stainless steel, RM Manufacturing)

    Photo: Phil Nash, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

  • Victorian Ludlow-type postbox, Malvern

    Ludlow

    ★★☆☆ Uncommon

    Recessed wall box with a cast front plate and separate wooden or steel back box. 'Ludlow' is used generically for this family. Introduced 1885.

    Patterns and types:
    • Wall: Size A, Size B
    • Lamp: Size A Lamp, Size B Lamp

    Photo: BazzaDaRambler / Ultra7, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

  • Business box (meter mail)

    Business box

    ★★☆☆ Uncommon

    Large sheet steel/aluminium boxes for meter mail pouches, per LBSG. Introduced 1994.

    Patterns and types:
    • Modern business: Royal Mail Business Box

    Photo: Sebastiandoe5, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

  • Parcel postbox

    Parcel postbox

    ★★☆☆ Uncommon

    24/7 Parcel Postboxes exist as a Royal Mail drop-off option. Introduced unspecified.

    Patterns and types:
    • Pillar parcel: Parcel Pillar Type
    • Wall parcel: Parcel Wall Type

    Photo: sludgegulper / Oxyman, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Step 2: Identify the Type

Within each form, type refines the design (e.g. Pillar Type A–P, Wall Type A–F, Ludlow S or Type A). Use the subtype dropdown when adding or editing a postbox.

Pillar production dates (selected types)

  • Type C: introduced 1899 (dual aperture common)
  • Type D / E: introduced 1931 (vending machine pillars)
  • Type F: introduced 1968 (steel)
  • Type K: introduced 1980 (short-run)

Step 3: Design distinctions

Notable designs (e.g. Penfold, dual aperture, coffin-style surround) are chosen as the type in the subtype dropdown when adding a postbox. The type list depends on the form and, for some forms, the reign. Select the form first (Step 1), then pick the type that matches what you see.

  • Penfold hexagonal pillar box

    Penfold

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Hexagonal Victorian pillar box. When adding a postbox, choose form Pillar box and type Early Penfold, Standard Penfold, Late Penfold, or Reproduction Penfold.

    Applies to: Pillar box · Example types: Early Penfold, Standard Penfold, Late Penfold, Reproduction Penfold

    Example photo: Mike Quinn, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • Early Victorian (National Standard)

    ★★★☆ Rare

    First or Second National Standard: early Victorian pillar or wall box (1857–1859). Pillar: form Pillar box, pattern Early Victorian. Wall: form Wall box, pattern Early Victorian. Choose type First National Standard or Second National Standard.

    Applies to: Pillar box, Wall box · Example types: First National Standard, Second National Standard

  • Dual aperture (two slots) pillar box

    Dual aperture

    ★★☆☆ Uncommon

    Pillar or wall box with two slots. Pillar: choose type Type C (often dual aperture). Wall: choose type Double Aperture Wall Box.

    Applies to: Pillar box, Wall box · Example types: Type C (pillar), Double Aperture Wall Box

    Example photo: Gerald England, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • Coffin-style surround wall box

    Coffin-style surround

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Wall box installed in a pitched-top masonry surround. Choose form Wall box and type Coffin-style surround.

    Applies to: Wall box · Example types: Coffin-style surround

    Example photo: Trish Steel, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • Anonymous pillar box (no VR cipher or POST OFFICE)

    Anonymous

    ★★★★ Very rare

    Pillar or wall box with no royal cypher or POST OFFICE. Choose the Anonymous pattern and type Anonymous Transitional (pillar) or Anonymous Transitional Wall.

    Applies to: Pillar box, Wall box · Example types: Anonymous Transitional, Anonymous Transitional Wall

    Example photo: windowthroughtime

  • Blue (airmail) postbox, Manchester

    Airmail blue

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Historically blue (airmail) paint. Colour is recorded as a finish, not a type; use Standard Red or Airmail Blue in the finish field if applicable.

    Applies to: Any form · Example types: (Finish, not type)

    Example photo: Mike Peel, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Bantam postbox (1999), Gloucestershire Airport

    Bantam

    ★★☆☆ Uncommon

    Small lamp box (Type N Bantam). Choose form Lamp box and type LB224 (Type N Bantam).

    Applies to: Lamp box · Example types: LB224 (Type N Bantam)

    Example photo: Bantam postbox from 1999, Gloucestershire Airport (Facebook)

  • Olympic Gold 2012 commemorative postbox

    Olympic Gold 2012

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Commemorative gold-painted box from 2012. Colour is a finish; use Olympic Gold 2012 in the finish field. Type depends on the underlying form (usually pillar).

    Applies to: Usually Pillar box · Example types: (Finish: Olympic Gold 2012)

    Example photo: Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Step 4: Identify Cipher (reign)

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.

  • VR royal cypher close-up on a postbox
    VRQueen Victoria1837–1901

    First standardised pillar boxes; often hexagonal, cylindrical, or oval (coffin-top). Penfold and early anonymous designs; Ludlow wall boxes. Green until 1874, then red.

    Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

  • E VII R royal cypher close-up, Elsworthy Road NW3
    E VII RKing Edward VII1901–1910

    Cypher E VII R. Many pillar and wall boxes still in use; Type A and later pillar designs; wall boxes Type A–C.

    Photo: Mike Quinn, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • GR cypher close-up, Woodland Ravine, Scarborough
    GRKing George V1910–1936

    Cypher GR (George Rex). Very common on interwar pillar and wall boxes; Type B–K pillars; double aperture and lamp boxes.

    Photo: JThomas, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • E VIII R royal cypher close-up, Broadstairs
    E VIII RKing Edward VIII1936

    Cypher E VIII R. Approximately 200–250 boxes made before abdication.

    Photo: Mike Quinn, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • G VI R royal cypher close-up on a postbox
    G VI RKing George VI1936–1952

    Cypher G VI R. Wartime and postwar designs; Type K pillar and later variants; austerity and standard types.

    Photo: Vclaw / Dan Sellers, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

  • E II R cypher on a postbox
    E II RQueen Elizabeth II1952–2022

    Cypher E II R. Most widespread on current boxes; Type M–P pillars, modern wall and lamp boxes; long reign so many variants.

    Photo: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

  • C III R royal cypher close-up on a postbox
    C III RKing Charles III2022–present

    Cypher C III R. First postbox with this cypher entered service 12 July 2024 (Great Cambourne). Newest boxes; still relatively few in place.

    Photo: Norphil

  • Scottish Crown on a postbox in Scotland
    SCOTTISH_CROWNScottish Crown1953–present (Scotland)

    Used in Scotland instead of E II R on postboxes installed from 1953, after the Pillar Box War; reflects the separate Scottish royal tradition. Select this when the box shows a crown without EIIR lettering.

    Photo: PostboxMap.co.uk

Visual comparisons

Side-by-side examples to compare cylindrical vs Penfold pillar, standard vs dual aperture, and cast iron wall vs Ludlow.

Cylindrical pillar
Penfold hexagonal pillar
Cylindrical pillar vs Penfold
Standard single aperture pillar
Dual aperture pillar
Standard pillar vs Dual aperture
Cast iron wall box
Ludlow wall box
Cast iron wall box vs Ludlow

Colour is not a type

Do not classify by paint colour. Standard colour is red. Other colours show context, not form or type:

  • Airmail blue: promotional (many later repainted red).
  • Olympic gold: commemorative (2012).
  • Green or black: repaints; original type is unchanged.

Tips for identifying

  • Follow the four steps: Form → Type → Design distinctions → Cipher.
  • Look for the cypher (e.g. E II R, VR, GR) on the front or door; see Step 4 for each reign.
  • Use the Visual comparisons section to avoid mixing up cylindrical vs Penfold, standard vs dual aperture, or wall vs Ludlow.
  • Pillar boxes stand alone; wall boxes are set into a wall; lamp boxes are small and often on a post; Penfold boxes are hexagonal Victorian pillars.
  • Type (subtype dropdown when adding a postbox) includes design distinctions like Penfold, dual aperture, and Coffin-style surround; choose the type that matches the box.
  • When in doubt, take a clear photo of the cypher and the full box. You can note "Unknown" and ask the community.

Classification aligned with LBSG conventions and Royal Mail historical patterns. Project type codes (e.g. A–F for wall and lamp) are used where official pattern codes do not exist.

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