If you were looking for a sign to join the LBSG, this is it (lbsg.org/join).

Which one did you get?

#postboxsaturday

This Scottish post box used to show people where to post their parcels. Now, that can be done at the box itself.

Postal habits are always changing, and solar boxes are the latest adaptation.

#letterboxstudygroup

What's that on top of this Edward VII post box in London?

A Post Office direction sign, often abbreviated to PODS, was once a common sight on our streets. Now, only a small number (like this one) survive. Have you seen one on a street near you?

#postboxsaturday

Why are there Nigerian post boxes in Britain?

So called because they were commissioned for use in Nigeria, these boxes were used in the UK because of their low cost, including these two anonymous versions in Devon. The giveaway is the rimless cap!

#letterboxstudygroup

Sometimes, anonymity is a political decision.

When this post box appeared on the streets of Dundee, its cypher was already ground off. It orignally had the cypher of Elizabeth the second, not used in Scotland due to significant public backlash.

#letterboxstudygroup

Have you seen a post box of this shape? Have a look in a petrol station or TG Jones near you to find one.

Originally, they all had a royal cypher on, but many have worn off. This one in Yorkshire used to have a Scottish Crown by mistake!

#PostboxSaturday

You might have seen this cypherless post box when jetting off on your holidays this summer - it's in Heathrow Airport. The perfect place to post last-minute postcards before returning home!

When was the last time you sent a postcard?

#letterboxstudygroup

You may be familiar with this kind of post box, most commonly found in supermarkets. However, have you ever seen one without any markings? Some were supplied this way, while others lost them from overzealous cleaning.

#letterboxstudygroup

Interestingly, some later post boxes have ended up looking 'anonymous' due to wear and tear.
This wall box in Worcestershire had its door replaced at some point, but can you work out from the body which cipher should have been there?

#postboxsaturday

The same box, decades apart. The high aperture tells us it should have an anonymous door. Instead, the door was replaced - probably in the late 1880s or early 1890s.

#postbox #letterboxstudygroup

Anonymous boxes made it to Ireland as well! This example was produced after the aperture was lowered to reduce the number of letters getting stuck. It’s painted green, the standard colour for letter boxes in Ireland.

Have you spotted a letter box in an unusual colour?

#postboxsaturday

Fancy seeing some beautiful post boxes and other passionate people? Our Autumn Meeting is just one month away, in Warwickshire! New faces are always welcome. Join us at lbsg.org/join for details - we'd love to have you.

#letterboxstudygroup

On a tropical island far away...

This anonymous high aperture pillar box is on Bermuda in the Atlantic ocean. It still bears the maker's name Handyside / Derby & London. It travelled a long way to get there!

#PostboxSaturday

We round off our month-long celebration of Edward VIII's 90th anniversary year with this type B pillar from the North East.

We hope you've enjoyed seeing a selection of these special boxes. What has been your favourite? And what would you like to see next?

#PostboxSaturday

Two icons of the British street.

#EdwardVIII #letterboxstudygroup

The RAREST royal cypher!?

This year marks ninety years since the eleven month reign of Edward VIII, whose cypher is the least common on our streets with only 140 left in use. It's our anniversary too; we were founded in 1976, the same year a late member took this amazing photo #postboxsaturday

Dec 20: Isle of Wight Postal Museum

Our own Arthur Reeder runs this extensive postal museum near Newport, and it is always a favourite. His collection includes over 200 postboxes from all eras. Want to visit? Please contact Arthur to make an appointment.

Website: www.postalmuseum.co.uk/page21.html