Stock Letters

Post Office rolls, with a few exceptions, were identified by a stock letter. The letter identified the denomination of the stamps, the number of stamps, and the method of delivery (which implied the intended affixing or vending machine).

Initially letters were allocated sequentially but over time, as some rolls were discontinued and new rolls issued, the allocation became somewhat random. Once all single letters had been used (only 25 as (I) was never used), double letters were allocated: (AA), (AB), etc.

Rolls in Multiples of 500

The first Post Office rolls issued in August 1912 were lettered (A-H). When the postal rate increased to 1½d in June 1918 rolls (JKLM) were issued. These were followed by rolls (QRS) when the rate increased to 2d in June 1920 and, at the same time, rolls (CAJ) were discontinued due to insufficient demand.

	Michelius	POKO	FIXO	Multipost
	1,000	1,000	500	500
½d	C	D	G	H
1d	A	B	E	F
1½d	J	K	L	M
2d	—	Q	R	S

Rolls in Multiples of 240

Rolls in multiples of 240, which seems sensible as there were 240 pennies to the pound, were first issued for sideways delivery in 1920 (PONT). The corresponding (HFMS) rolls were discontinued at the same time. These discontinued letters (CAJ) and (HFMS) were later reused for higher denomination rolls.

When Waterlow took over the printing contract in 1924, the remaining letters (DBKQ) and (GELR) were changed to 960 and 480 stamps respectively.

	Post Office Vending				POKO		FIXO	Multipost
	240	480	960	1,920	480	960	480	480
½d	AA	G *	W	Y	—	D	G *	P
1d	AB	E *	X	Z	—	B	E *	O
1½d	—	—	—	—	—	K	L	N
2d	—	—	V	—	—	Q	R	T
2½d	—	—	—	U †	—	F	—	M
3d	—	AC	AD	U †	—	C	—	S
4d	—	—	—	—	—	A	—	H
5d	—	—	—	—	—	AE	—	AF
6d	—	—	—	—	J	—	—	—

* rolls (GE) were changed from FIXO to P.O. Vending in 1935.
† 3d (U) rolls replaced 2½d (U) rolls in Nov 1957 keeping the same letter.

Stock Letters

The table below summarises the stock letters used by the Post Office. Dates of issue are fairly well known, but dates of withdrawal are more difficult. Often the Post Office would announce that a roll was discontinued but then keep supplying it until stocks were exhausted. This could be a year later, or even a few years for less popular rolls.