The Gibraltar Post Office has been running for over 150 years, as in 1857 the Overland Post Office (based in the colonial authorities premises at Secretarys Lane) merged with the Packet Agency (which had offices in Turnbulls Lane). The first stamps went on sale in September and a year later a new building was completed and opened at 104 Main Street. This remains the main post office in Gibraltar today. In 1886 the local colonial authorities took over control of the Gibraltar Post Office and was able to issue their own stamps. Initially they overprinted Bermuda stamps but by December they had their own design. However they still sold Spanish stamps if required and between 1889 and 1898 the post office sold Gibraltar stamps valued in pesetas as this was the currency in circulation. For the first fifty years the Gibraltar Post Office had responsibility for the post office not only in Gibraltar but also for the British postal service in Morocco. This ended in 1907. In 2005 the Gibraltar Post Office was granted the title of Royal by Her Majesty the Queen. Gibraltar is the only Commonwealth or British Overseas Territory post office outside the United Kingdom that bears this title. The post office keeps on providing some traditional services and was still using benefit books after they were abandoned in the United Kingdom. Gibraltar has traditional red pillar boxes and the tops are also frequently painted black. There is also a special philatelic counter to sell the commemorative stamps. Like ,Comment, Share Gibraltar Expat Social Club Gibraltar Souvenirs & Accessories
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 19:03:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015