Wrapper used in LONDON with a clear date of 18 July 1881, featuring a superb view of Old London Bridge before the houses were pulled down in 1760.

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London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom.Standing on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who named it Londinium.London's vast urban area is often described using a set of district names, such as Bloomsbury, Mayfair, Wembley and Whitechapel. These are either informal designations, reflect the names of villages that have been absorbed by sprawl, or are superseded administrative units such as parishes or former boroughs.

Such names have remained in use through tradition, each referring to a local area with its own distinctive character, but without official boundaries. Since 1965 Greater London has been divided into 32 London boroughs in addition to the ancient City of London. The City of London is the main financial district, and Canary Wharf has recently developed into a new financial and commercial hub in the Docklands to the east. The London General Post Office used a similar naming conventions (e.g. EC= East Central; N = Northern) when it organised its operations from 1840 onwards. The London Post Office Model is well documented historically and was mirrored by many countries around the world. See the following sub categories for postmarks.

The Postal Divisions

London District Office (GB)	London EC (GB)	London NW (GB)	London SE (GB)
London W (GB)\|	London WC (GB)		London E (GB)
London SW (GB)	London N (GB)	London NE (GB)	London S (GB)

London Head Office cancels after the District split

Wrapper used in LONDON with a clear date of 18 July 1881, featuring a superb view of Old London Bridge before the houses were pulled down in 1760.

Wrapper of 1881 reverse.

Parcel Post

London Chief Office Parcel Post cancel on 3d KEdVII

London Postmarks (not covered on above pages)

The first dated postmark known as the Bishop Mark was used in London from 1661 named after the inventor Henry Bishop.	London Inland Service Maritime Mail - The Maritime Mail postmark is primarily used on letters posted from Royal Naval and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.	London Ship Mail - Ship Mail letter from Bengal to Plymouth via London, with Oval SHIP LETTER LONDON receiver.
Philatelic postmarked cover cancelled to order showing the VR 4 portion of the London 'Bickerdike' Machine cancel. The CD portion has been blanked when cancelled by favour.	LONDON, 109 in 1905.

The Square Circle Postmarks of London Please click. The Hoster Machine Postmarks of London Please click.

Foreign Branch & Foreign Service cancels

Undated Foreign Service handstamp LONDON on QEII postcard to Strömsnäsbruk Sweden

London Foreign mail by Sea (1816-1836)

During this period a numbered handstamp was used indicating an F (Foreign Office) and 2 digit year. At right angles to this was a number. It is believed that this was used on ship letters that were assigned a number based on a numerical list (probably made each month) assigned to departure of vessels out of London.

Circular date stamp 1823 F 265 on reverse cover to Bordeaux France. Angleterre straightline in red on arrival in France.	To Bordeaux France. 1823 with the Circular date stamp 1823 F 265
Circular date stamp 1818 F 131 on cover to Saint-Germain-en-Laye