Stamps issued to mark the 200th anniversary of post box founder
A LIMITED edition of stamps is going on sale to mark 200 years since the birth of Anthony Trollope, who first introduced post boxes to the UK in the 1850s.
The sheet of stamps features images of Trollope and his life and times, including the first pillar box design.
Royal Mail is also marking the bicentenary of Trollope’s birth in 1815 by launching an online “family tree” showing post boxes through the ages.
Famous as a novelist, Trollope is also known as the person who introduced freestanding post- boxes or pillar boxes to the UK during his time working at the Post Office, after seeing them first in France.
The first pillar boxes in the British Isles were erected in Jersey in 1852 as a trial before appearing across mainland Britain from 1853. years that I learned about her. “I never got told about it at school, it was by looking at Harry Benson’s book of photographs of Glasgow, that’s where I learned about Mary Barbour.
“Obviously, the Govan connection stirred a real interest and for me, that great photograph of all the housewives in Govan standing outside the close – that rent man was never getting in – that registers deeply with
Many of the UK’s first post boxes were painted green, to blend in with the landscape, but that was later changed to red to make them more visible to the public.
The new colour was introduced in 1874 and it took 10 years to repaint all post boxes. me, I’ve looked at that photograph many, many times.
“That was the start of my interest in this and I think it’s a great cause too.
“A housewife’s role at that time was to look after the house, make sure the kids got to school and that there was food on the table, and that image shows the strength of the women that they were not prepared to take any more from rent men at that particular time.
“It was a courageous move and Mary Barbour went on to do many great things after that, and she’s well remembered for it.”
Sir Alex takes pride in where he grew up and the people he lived among and hopes the campaign and the statue can lead to more people learning about Ms Barbour’s story.
He said: “Your upbringing is important, I think it’s the foundation of your life.
“I was fortunate that I had good parents who did the best they could possibly do for me.
“Many people have said I came from a poor background but I don’t think that people who grew up in my time thought they were poor.
“You were taught to be the best you can be by not just parents but by the teachers you had at school.
“Education is not just about going to school, it’s about inspiring you, and I was inspired by many people.”