This fabulously quirky archive offers a unique view of the workings of the post office through the ages and ranges from nostalgic 1920s rural images of postmen delivering mail on pony and cart to internal information posters from the 1970s advising workers on suitable 'footwear' and ties for their uniforms. 

'Quiet ties look best with uniform'		A postman consults a bilingual signpost in   Beleek, Northern Ireland, 1938

The BPMA provides a crucial piece of British social history and this collection of images presents an extensive catalogue of over a century of historic photographs, starting from the late nineteenth century. Records in The Royal Mail Archive have been awarded Designated status in recognition of their outstanding national importance.

Postmen with Bicycles, c.1900		River postman George Evans in a boat,c.1900

Available pictures include a  black and white photo of  a river postman from the turn of the century and public information posters urging people to 'Post Early this Christmas.'  Researchers from the BBC television drama Life on Mars recently used the archive to portray a typical post office in the 1970s and Severn Valley Railways has licensed imagery for its recent exhibition on the 1940s.

Post Early this Christmas, printed by Fosh & Cross Ltd., London, 1945		Postman leading a pony and trap, Northern Ireland, 1938

Tony Conder, Chief Executive of The British Postal Museum & Archive has commented: "This is an exciting opportunity for The British Postal Museum & Archive and we're delighted to be working with Bridgeman, a leading source of fine art images, to bring the iconic images from our collections to a wider audience."

Harriet Bridgeman, founder of The Bridgeman Art Library, commented: "This collection shows what an invaluable contribution Royal Mail and its workers have made to British society over the years. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the story of the post over the years including the history of uniforms, the development of transport, changing working conditions and even what the post box has looked like over the years!"

For the first time, these pictures are now accessible and available for licensing and 150 can be viewed on www.bridgemanart.com by putting $PST into the keyword search.

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