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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 → Variants → 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), design variants (e.g. Penfold, dual aperture), 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-style wall box, 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). Pillar Type letters A–P are supported as namespace; A–F and K are in public LBSG material; G–J and L–P may be refined against the LBSG Register. Introduced 1852.

    Types: 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

    Design variants: Penfold, Anonymous, Dual aperture, Airmail blue, Olympic Gold 2012 (e.g. Penfold, Dual aperture: choose Pillar box and select the variant).

    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 (project-level, not a formal national scheme). Introduced 1857.

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

    Types: Type A Wall Box, Type B Wall Box, Type C Wall Box, Type D Wall Box, Type E Wall Box, Type F Wall Box

    Design variants: Airmail blue, Olympic Gold 2012, 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. PostboxMap uses project lamp types A–F (project-level, not a formal national scheme). Introduced 1896.

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

    Types: Type A Lamp Box, Type B Lamp Box, Type C Lamp Box, Type D Lamp Box, Type E Lamp Box, Type F Lamp Box

    Design variants: Airmail blue, Bantam, Olympic Gold 2012

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

  • Victorian Ludlow-type postbox, Malvern

    Ludlow style wall box

    ★★☆☆ 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.

    Types: Ludlow S, Ludlow Type A

    Design variants: Olympic Gold 2012

    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.

    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. Treat physical designs as evolving. Introduced unspecified.

    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: Identify Variants

Optional design variants (e.g. Penfold, Dual aperture, Coffin-style surround, Olympic Gold 2012) are specific designs or installation styles. Select them in the subtype field where they apply.

  • Penfold hexagonal pillar box

    Penfold

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Hexagonal pillar-box design by J W Penfold, cast 1866–1879.

    Applies to: Pillar box

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

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

    Anonymous

    ★★★★ Very rare

    Pillar boxes cast 1879–1887 that omit the VR cipher and the words “POST OFFICE” above the aperture.

    Applies to: Pillar box

    Example photo: windowthroughtime

  • Dual aperture (two slots) pillar box

    Dual aperture

    ★★☆☆ Uncommon

    Two posting apertures (e.g. Town/Country). Aligns with Type C (1899).

    Applies to: Pillar box

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

  • Blue (airmail) postbox, Manchester

    Airmail blue

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Airmail promotion scheme: blue-painted boxes; many later reused as normal.

    Applies to: Pillar box, Wall box, Lamp box

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

  • Bantam postbox (1999), Gloucestershire Airport

    Bantam

    ★★☆☆ Uncommon

    Small cast-iron box introduced 1999; part of lamp/pedestal family.

    Applies to: Lamp box

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

  • Olympic Gold 2012 commemorative postbox

    Olympic Gold 2012

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Commemorative gold paint for 2012 champions; 110 permanent gold boxes.

    Applies to: Pillar box, Wall box, Lamp box, Ludlow style wall box

    Example photo: Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • Coffin-style surround wall box

    Coffin-style surround (installation style)

    ★★★☆ Rare

    Not a box form. A wall box installed within a prominent pitched-top masonry surround.

    Applies to: Wall box

    Example photo: Trish Steel, 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 → Variants → 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.
  • Design variants can be selected in the subtype dropdown when adding or editing a postbox.
  • 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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