Somerset & Bristol Postal History

Firstly, a G.W.R. Memorandum from the Stationmaster's Office, Taunton to the Inspectors notifying them of "Alterations in Post Office Addresses".

Secondly, a refused letter in January 1954 that had been posted without a stamp so was liable for 5d postage due but which was refused so was opened and returned to the sender with 5d postage liable for return to sender.

Thirdly, a Royal Mail Postcode Free Draw card to Win a Mini from Taunton, March 1980.  The card explains "what a postcode is and why it matters".

Finally, to bring the year to an end, here are the last Bath National slogan cancels I have before the introduction of decimal postage.  The first cancel "Remember to use the Postcode" was very early, being in 1968, the first postcodes being issued in Norwich.  It wasn't until 1971 that postcodes were put into general use and people started to get informed of what their postcode was.

These are also the first two National slogan cancels I've shown that are in transformed format - the town cancel is over the stamp while the slogan is in the middle of the envelope.  Local publicity slogans had been in the Transposed position since 1963 (more on this next year !).