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BROWSE OUR
ARCHIVED COLLECTION
ARCHIVED COLLECTION
DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
Bath Postal Museum's archives hold a vast and electronic range of collections which are rarely seen by the public. Included in our archive are many valuable and rare artefacts that provide us with information for the museum, and exhibitions. Browse one of our collections below or choose from the menu on the left.
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Early Post pre 1712
This small collection contains postal material illustrating the early days of the postal service initiated in the reign of Charles II with Henry Bishop as Postmaster-General. Following a number of complaints from users of this early post, he initiated the dated hand stamp, a “Bishop Mark” showing the Day/Month of posting.
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Palmer 1785 - 1833
A collection of envelopes and letters from the time of a true postal innovator, John Palmer, following his introduction of Mail Coaches in August 1784
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Musgrave 1834 - 1854
This collection of letters, envelopes, and other various documents is of the time of the post master, Thomas Moore Musgrave. We believe that it was Musgrave who organised the early mailing of the worlds first postage stamp, the Penny Black. Included within are items from the collection of Mrs Aubrey Emonet.
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Victoria 1854 - 1901
A selection of various items from the Victorian era, Including exceptional examples of illustrated envelopes typical of the period.
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Air Crash Mail 1921 - 1984
Salvaged from air crashes, the covers on display are part of the Adrian Hopkins collection, on loan to the Museum. Please note all these items were recovered and delivered by the postal service.
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Airmail
This collection consists of items associated with the carriage of mail by air which mark significant periods in the development of the service we know today.
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Bath Postcards with postmarks 1903 - 1914 (front and reverse)
A collection of Bath single and double circular postmarks some of which showing arcs.
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Frank Staff Postcards
The late Frank Staff was a prestigious and respected collector and postal historian. This collection of postcards is now available online for the first time.
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Frank Staff USA Collection
Frank Staff's collection of mail from the USA is now available online for the first time.
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Frank Staff Valentines Collection
Welcome to Frank Staff's collection of early Valentines. This is becoming available once again online with newly enhanced images and information to follow. This is one of only two such collections believed to exsist in the U.K.
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Military
A selection of mail and photographs from 1914 onwards.
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Wreck Mail (shipwrecks)
Salvaged from ship wrecks, these covers on display are part of the Adrian Hopkins collection, on loan to the Museum.
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Song Sheets
Before the television, or even radio, was introduced beautifully illustrated song sheets like these were extremely popular.
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World War II Airgraphs
Airgraphs were used during the Second World War by servicemen stationed overseas and by their families when writing to them. It was a fast and reliable means of communicating. Surface mail was very slow and subject to the ships carrying the mail not being sunk. Airmail was very expensive and the mail often took second place to more important cargos.
