Post Office Logo PNG
The Post Office logo exemplifies the successful use of color and form. The emblem indicates that parcels and letters are transmitted instantly and are not lost within the Post Office network. Employees are passionate about their work, so life in the branches is in full swing.
Post Office: Brand overview
The British Post Office began on July 31, 1635, when King Charles I opened the royal postal service to the public. Thomas Witherings organized fixed-rate letter delivery between London and the king’s territories. In 1660, Charles II created the General Post Office. A year later, the first Postmaster General was appointed, and dated postmarks appeared. Speed changed in 1784, when the first mail coach ran from London to Bristol in about 16 hours. In 1830, mail moved onto rail with the Liverpool to Manchester route.
In 1837, Rowland Hill proposed penny postage, paid by the sender. On May 6, 1840, the Penny Black became the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. Red street postboxes appeared in 1852, while mail volumes grew fast. In 1870, GPO took control of telegraph networks, and in 1912, it took over telephone lines. The Post Office Savings Bank, founded in 1861, made the service part of daily financial life for millions of Britons.
In 1969, GPO became The Post Office, a state corporation. Telecommunications moved into Post Office Telecommunications, then split off in 1981 as British Telecommunications, now BT. In 1986, the business was divided into Royal Mail Letters, Royal Mail Parcels, Post Office Counters, and National Girobank. Parcels later became Parcelforce. In 2001, the group was renamed Consignia, but public confusion led to its return to Royal Mail Group plc in 2002.
Post Office Limited separated from Royal Mail Group on April 1, 2012. Royal Mail was partly privatized in 2013. From 2019 to 2024, the Horizon software scandal exposed wrongful accusations against hundreds of subpostmasters.
Meaning and History
The company’s official foundation date was 1986, when the Post Office Counters brand appeared. However, its roots went deeper in 1660. Then, the General Letter Office was created, later known as the General Post Office. The GPO had a network of branches and sorting centers throughout the country. At the beginning of the 21st century, this organization provided various services and managed cash accounts.
In 1969, the GPO was disbanded, and the Post Office took over all its branches. After that, the savings bank branch turned into National Savings. The telephone and telegraph division formed the basis for the British Telecommunications Corporation. Post Office Ltd has long operated as part of Royal Mail, but legislative changes allowed it to emerge from the group’s influence in 2012, enabling it to make independent strategic decisions.
Global changes in the organization’s structure were reflected in the identity, which has had at least seven logos (since 1934). They are united by a minimalist style that manifests classic British restraint.
What is Post Office?
Post Office is a postal corporation from the UK. It appeared in 1986 and provides the population with a wide range of services, including banking operations. Its structure includes 11,500 branches located throughout the country.
1934 – 1950
Since Her Majesty’s Government ran the General Post Office, its emblem featured a heraldic crown, which traditionally indicated belonging to the royal court. The crown hung over the letter “P” from the lettering “GPO” and was partially in the white circle. The acronym was set in a thin sans-serif font.
1950 – 1965
The new logo’s crown has changed shape: it resembles St. Edward’s Crown, used at the coronations of Great Britain’s monarchs. This is one of the main attributes of power. The white circle has turned into a black, deformed rectangle with a wide border. The acronym has been dyed white and given sharp and thin serifs.
1965 – 1969
In the last years of its existence, the General Post Office carried out a small redesign. The crown has been enlarged, and the serifs on the letters have become long and rectangular. The bold type was chosen to draw attention to the organization’s name.
1969 – 1975
The Post Office Act 1969 abolished the GPO and made the creation of a new postal corporation possible. After the rebranding, the word “General” disappeared from the name. Instead of an emblem with a crown and a complex geometric background, a monochrome trademark with the words “POST OFFICE” was used. The letters’ design is close to the standard font of printed correspondence.
1975 – 1993
In 1975, the company had a yellow-and-red logo with striped “Post Office” lettering. The basis was a rectangular oval. It had a double outline that matched the text’s style. Each element of the letters consisted of two parallel lines; only the dot above the “i” looked like a single ring. By the way, Royal Mail still uses a design similar to the emblem.
1993 – 2007
When the logo took on an oval shape, it appeared convex due to the gradient. The colors also changed: the base was burgundy, and the outline was painted green. The lettering remained yellow but acquired small black shadows around the edges. The font has been updated to the standard sans-serif.
2007 – today
In 2006, Post Office Ltd. began facing serious financial problems, eventually forcing the company to close 2,500 branches. However, this did not stop her from updating the emblem in 2007, which perhaps should have symbolized the expected exit from the crisis.
Designers have simplified the design to match the canons of fashionable minimalism. As a result, the lettering became completely white, without dark shadows. The oval has lost its gradient and green border, and the red has become brighter.
Font and Colors
Post Office uses a wordmark complemented by only one element: a large red oval. The text within the geometric shape is the classic structure of all company logos, except for the 1969-1975 version, when the lettering was stylized as a newspaper headline and was in the space.
The name of the post office network is Gill Sans. This geometric grotesque appeared in 1926. It is used by various companies and distributed with Adobe products. The Merel Medium typeface, created by The Northern Block in 2006, is very similar.
The base red color corresponds to the official General Post Office palette adopted during the Second World War. The selected shade is close to reddish pink (# DE0127). Against this background, the white inscription is visible.
FAQ
Can I use the post office logo?
Permission must be obtained to use the post office logo. The brand controls its logos to protect its identity and reputation.
You may request permission if you are a partner or organization using the services. Approval is given on a case-by-case basis. You must explain how you plan to use the logo and wait for their decision.
To apply, contact the brand. Provide a clear explanation of the intended use. If approved, you will receive guidelines for proper use.
What is the Post Office logo?
The modern logo is a red oval with the postal service’s name in white. The text is centered and divided into two lines for ease of reading.
Red was chosen because it attracts attention and conveys urgency. The oval shape makes the design unique. The text uses a bold sans-serif font that is clear and readable even from a distance. The white text stands out against the red background, making the brand name prominent.
This logo is used on buildings, vehicles, and uniforms, making the brand easily recognizable. The simple design ensures that it looks good in various sizes and materials.
What is a post office?
A post office is a public facility where mail can be sent and received. It accepts letters and parcels, provides post office boxes, and sells postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. The post office serves as a local hub for essential services.
Post offices offer various services, which vary by country. These services may include banking, money transfers, bill payments, and retail sales. In many communities, the post office plays an important role, offering services that may not be available elsewhere.