Inked date stamps were at first called 'Bishops marks' after their inventor, Henry Bishop, Postmaster General, 1660-1663. The post office was receiving complaints about late arrival of the post. Bishop claimed: 'a stamp is invented, that is putt upon every letter shewing the day of the moneth that every letter comes to this office, so that no letter Carryer may dare to detayne a letter from post to post; which, before, was usual.' As we now know, this did not actually solve the problem, just provided more evidence that the problem existed.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
First postmarks in the world
Commemorated ati
General Letter Office
Near this spot the General Letter Office stood in Post House Yard, 1653 - 166...
Other Subjects
1 memorial
London Hop Trade
Hops were introduced to England from the Netherlands. They were grown principally in Kent and brought to London via the River Thames and later by rail to London Bridge. By the mid-nineteenth centur...
1 memorial
Henry Charles Stephens
Businessman and politician. Born at 71 York Road, Lambeth (demolished), the son of Dr Henry Stephens. Known as 'Inky', he developed the writing fluid invented by his father. He served as member of ...
2 memorials
Saracen's Head Inn
Mentioned in 1522 as an inn with 30 beds and stalls for four horses. Removed (as shown in the picture) for the formation of Holborn Viaduct and its approaches 1868.
1 memorial
Courage brewery - Horselydown Lane
Founded by John Courage at the Anchor Brewhouse site. The earliest existing building dates from 1871 and was largely rebuilt in 1894 - 1895. Reconstructed, restored and refurbished in 1985 - 1989....
2 memorials
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