UK Postbox Identification Guide
Use this guide to identify postboxes by royal cypher (reign) and type when adding or editing entries on the map.
Identifying by reign (royal cypher)
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.
VRQueen Victoria1837–1901First standardised pillar boxes; often hexagonal, cylindrical, or oval (coffin-top). Penfold and early anonymous designs; Ludlow wall boxes. Green until 1874, then red.
E VII RKing Edward VII1901–1910Cypher E VII R. Many pillar and wall boxes still in use; Type A and later pillar designs; wall boxes Type A–C.
GRKing George V1910–1936Cypher GR (George Rex). Very common on interwar pillar and wall boxes; Type B–K pillars; double aperture and lamp boxes.
E VIII RKing Edward VIII1936Cypher E VIII R. Very rare — only a few hundred boxes made during the short reign before abdication.
G VI RKing George VI1936–1952Cypher 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 RQueen Elizabeth II1952–2022Cypher E II R. Most widespread on current boxes; Type M–P pillars, modern wall and lamp boxes; long reign so many variants.
C III RKing Charles III2022–presentCypher C III R. Newest boxes; current standard designs; still relatively few in place.
Photo: Norphil
Postbox types
Shape and location help you tell pillar boxes, wall boxes, lamp boxes, and other types apart.
Pillar Box
Free-standing cylindrical (or hexagonal/oval) cast-iron postbox. The classic UK pillar box. Design variants include Anonymous (early Victorian), Penfold (1866–1879), and Type A through Type P — e.g. Type K is the familiar cylindrical red pillar still widely used. Check the cypher and any casting marks for era.
Wall Box
Set into a wall; only the front is visible. Often found on street corners or in buildings. Variants include Type A–D Wall Box, Ludlow-style (recessed), and later steel/composite types. Very common from Edward VII onwards.
Lamp Box
Small postbox often mounted on a lamp post or pole; common in rural areas and housing estates. Design variants Type A–F; usually one aperture and a compact front. Often E II R or later.
Ludlow
Recessed wall box (Ludlow style), largely wooden, built into stone pillars or walls. Victorian and Edwardian; often VR or E VII R. Named after Ludlow; “Ludlow S” and “Ludlow Type A” are subtypes. Many survive in historic towns.
Photo: BazzaDaRambler / Ultra7, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
Double Aperture
Oval (or similar) pillar with two posting slots — e.g. “Town” and “Country” or separate collections. Reduces congestion at busy sites. Common from George V onwards; look for GR, G VI R, or E II R.
Coffin Box
Oval-topped (“coffin”) pillar box; Victorian-era style. Early standard design before the domed cylindrical pillar; often VR. Distinctive curved top; relatively scarce compared to later pillars.
Parcel Postbox
Pillar or wall box with a larger aperture for parcels. Victorian and later; some anonymous or VR. Less common than letter-only boxes; often found at main offices or busy locations.
Photo: sludgegulper / Oxyman, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Penfold
Victorian pillar box designed by J.W. Penfold (1866–1879). Hexagonal body, acorn finial, and ornate casting; usually VR. Relatively rare and collectible. Named after the designer; a distinct subtype of pillar box.
Photo: Mike Quinn, Geograph / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Tips for identifying
- Look for the cypher (e.g. E II R, VR, GR) on the front or door of the box — see the images above for each reign.
- 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 (e.g. Type A, Type K, Ludlow S) can be noted in the optional "Design details" 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.