Aerogrammes royal mail

Aerogrammes! Those were a unique and fascinating way to send letters and messages across the globe, especially during the golden age of aviation.

Aerogrammes were a type of lightweight, pre-paid, and pre-addressed letter that was specifically designed for international mail. They were introduced by Royal Mail, the postal service of the United Kingdom, in the 1960s. The idea was to create a convenient and affordable way for people to send short messages or letters to friends and family abroad.

Here are some interesting facts about Aerogrammes:

  1. Lightweight and compact: Aerogrammes were designed to be extremely lightweight, weighing only about 5 grams (0.18 oz). This made them ideal for sending via airmail, which was faster and more efficient than traditional surface mail.
  2. Pre-paid and pre-addressed: Aerogrammes came with a pre-paid postage stamp and were pre-addressed to a specific destination. This made it easy for senders to simply write their message and send it off without worrying about postage or addressing.
  3. Limited space: Aerogrammes had a limited amount of space for writing, typically around 10-12 lines of text. This made them ideal for short messages, such as greetings, postcards, or simple notes.
  4. Special paper: Aerogrammes were printed on a special type of paper that was designed to be lightweight and durable. The paper was also treated with a special coating to prevent it from tearing or creasing during transit.
  5. Popular during the 1960s-1980s: Aerogrammes were at their peak popularity during the 1960s to 1980s, when international travel and communication were becoming more accessible. They were especially popular among students, travelers, and expats who wanted to stay in touch with loved ones back home.
  6. Discontinued: Unfortunately, Aerogrammes were discontinued by Royal Mail in the late 1980s, as the demand for traditional mail began to decline with the rise of email and other digital communication methods.

Today, Aerogrammes are mostly collectibles and nostalgic items, cherished by those who remember using them to send messages across the globe.