Do royal mail still franked stamps

A question that takes us back in time!

Franked stamps were a common practice in the UK until the 1980s. Franked stamps were pre-paid stamps that were applied to mail by postal clerks at post offices. The stamps were "franked" with a special handstamp or cancellation mark, which indicated that the postage had been paid.

However, Royal Mail (the UK's postal service) no longer franked stamps in the classical sense. With the introduction of automated postal systems and self-service kiosks, the need for franking stamps has largely disappeared.

In the past, franked stamps were used for various purposes, such as:

1. Pre-paying postage for mail sent from post offices.
2. Marking mail that was sent at a reduced rate, such as for official or business use.
3. Indicating that a letter or parcel had been inspected or processed at a post office.

Today, Royal Mail uses alternative methods to indicate that postage has been paid, such as:

1. Automated postage machines: These machines print a barcode and postage label on the envelope or package.
2. Self-service kiosks: These kiosks allow customers to print their own postage labels and apply them to their mail.
3. Online postage: Royal Mail offers online postage services that allow customers to purchase and print postage labels from their computers.

While franked stamps are no longer used, some philatelists (stamp collectors) may still appreciate the historical significance of these stamps and seek them out as collectibles.