The Postal Museum is the custodian of two main collections: the archive of the Royal Mail, designated as of national importance, and The Postal Museum collection. The vast influence the postal industry has had in shaping British society, and the world, is reflected throughout The Postal Museum’s collections. They include photographs, films, ephemera, weapons, uniforms, vehicles, trains and letterboxes – and artwork, including the works in oil shown here. The subject matter of these oil paintings includes portraits of people who had a significant impact on postal services, such as past Postmaster Generals or Secretaries of the Post Office, as well of those of unnamed postal workers. Specific historical events are depicted, such as the bombing of Mount Pleasant Parcel depot in the Second World War; others are more general scenes of times past, including extensive representations of the Mail Coach era. Changing transport methods, from the seas to the skies, and road to rails, is captured in these works. Landmark buildings – such as the General Post Office (GPO) Tower and the old GPO building in the City of London – sit next to depictions of local post offices and more domestic scenes; the excitement of receiving a letter is portrayed more than once.