Royal Mail Unveils New Online Postage Service

Royal Mail has launched a new service that allows people to buy and print their postage online for the first time.

The online postage service gives customers more choice and flexibility in the way they access Royal Mail’s services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Customers pay for their postage on the internet by selecting the appropriate amount for their letter or parcel, and paying by debit or credit card or via a pre-pay account. A unique barcode is then printed directly onto envelopes, labels or paper before posting in the normal way.

There is no subscription fee to the service - available from www.royalmail.com - and tariffs are the same as normal postage. Customers can choose from a full range of posting options, from First Class to international services. Customers can also print out a variety of forms online, including a Certificate of Posting and Customs forms for international postings.

Royal Mail’s Marketing Director Alex Batchelor said: "We have launched this service in response to demands from the general public who want to be able to buy and print their postage online, direct onto an envelope or a label.

"Online postage gives customers more choice and flexibility in the way they pay to send their mail. The service is perfect for busy people, but it is also aimed at home workers who post small quantities of mail on a regular basis as well as people who sell goods via auction websites," he added.

A brief history of postage stamps

Royal Mail’s online postage innovation marks the latest in a long succession of changes to the UK’s postage stamp. Here are some key landmarks in its development:

1840 - the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive stamp, was issued for use on 6 May 1840, following a reform paper that suggested postage should be prepaid by the sender. A Two Penny Blue was issued at the same time.

1854 - perforations appear on stamps for the first time. Until this point, stamps had to be cut from their sheet with scissors.

1924 - the first UK commemorative stamp is issued, marking the opening of the British Empire Exhibition.

1966 - special Christmas stamps are issued for the first time. The Royal Mail now prints more than 480 million Christmas stamps per year.

1968 - First and Second Class postage is introduced.

1982 - Royal Mail produces its longest ever stamp - the Information Technology stamp, which measures 72.3mm.

2000 - the first ever customised stamps, called Smilers, are issued in the UK. In 2003, the Royal Mail introduces Smilers Online, which allows customers to upload images to create their own personalised stamps on the Internet.

2001 - the Cats and Dogs collection become the first self-adhesive stamps issued in the UK.

2006 - Online postage allows Royal Mail customers to pay for postage on the web, without the need to buy traditional stamps.