Guide to the Records held by the Royal Mail Archives (as filmed by the AJCP), 1828-1958

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Summary

Collection number:

M2263 - M2270, M2350 - M2391

Creator:

General Post Office (United Kingdom)

Extent:

303 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Post 34. Selections from minutes 1828-1900 from the Secretary of the Post Office to the Postmaster-General dealing with overseas mail services, including legislation, contracts, rates, international agreements and shipping routes.

Post 44. Reports 1841-47 by Edward D. James and R. Richard Smith of postal services in New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand. Each report summarises the history of postal services in the colony, as well as dealing with current staffing and administration, postal routes, revenue and expenditure, and number of letters sent and received.

M2350-2391:

Post 29. Records 1842-1939 comprising minutes, correspondence and other papers concerning the packet boat service and overseas mail services generally, including mail services to Australia and New Zealand.

Biographical / Historical:

In 1844 the British Government decided that the Australian postal services should be placed under the control of the Postmaster General in London. In March 1844 the Postmaster General approved the proposal of the Secretary of the Post Office, W.L, Maberlay, that two officers should be sent to Australia to obtain information on local regulations, rates of postage, amounts of revenue and expenditure, and general procedures, with a view to establishing a uniform system for the whole or Australia. The officers selected were Edward D. James of the Inland Office and R. Richard Smith, a clerk to the Surveyors. In each colony they were assisted by the local Postmaster General. Each of their reports summarizes the history of the postal services in the particular colony, as well as dealing with current staffing and administration, postal routes, revenue and expenditure, and a number of letters sent and recieved. The appendices include lists of post offices and other returns, specimen forms, and local ordinances.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.