inspired by a red letter box

The first red post boxes appeared in London in 1874. Before that they had been painted green. Small boxes mounted into walls began to appear in the rural areas during the reign of Queen Victoria, and some very early ones can still be found in use. These are marked with the initials VR. GR on pillar boxes is George V - George VI is GviR. The E11R cipher was not used North of the border because Elizabeth 1 did not rule in Scotland (and our Scottish friends like to get these important details right!)

Lamp post boxes didn't appear until 1897. This one was probably erected early on in George v's reign, so is probably 100 years old. There is something endearing about the rural post box and this is one of three artistic interpretations we own. I would like to be able to say that I embroidered it, but we bought it as a wedding anniversary present to ourselves.

It still gives me a lot of pleasure every time I look at it.