Digital Collections Archive

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.

Bath Cancellation 1884 - 1914

A collection of Bath single and double circular postmarks some of which showing arcs. Initially the Maltese cross was used at the base. Later variations had coded numbers

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.

Bath Postal Museum letters

John Palmer

A collection of envelopes and letters from the time of a true postal innovator, John Palmer

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.

Victorian ephemera

A selection of various items from the Victorian period.

Thomas Moore Musgrave

This collection of letters, envelopes, and other various documents is of the time of the post master, Thomas Moore Musgrave. It is said that Musgrave was the first person to send a stamped letter

Telegrams

For over a century telegrams were the fastest method of sending written information over any kind of distance, and Bath Postal Museum has more than 100 examples of various telegrams, dating from Victorian times, in its collection;

Valentines

Frank Staff was a prestigious and respected collector and postal historian. This collection of early Valentines is now available online for the first time.

Frank Staff USA Collection

Frank Staff was a prestigious and respected collector and postal historian. This collection of mail from the USA is now available online for the first time.

Postal Workers

A collection of photographs showing the men and women who have delivered our mail throughout the past century.

Song Sheets

Before the television, or even radio, was introduced beautifully illustrated song sheets like these were extremely popular.

Wreck Mail

Salvaged from ship wrecks, these covers on display are part of the Adrian Hopkins collection, on loan to the Museum.

Frank Staff Postcards

Frank Staff was a prestigious and respected collector and postal historian. This collection of postcards is now available online for the first time.