Masters of the Post: The Authorized History of the Royal Mail

the first complete history of the Royal Mail up to the present day, based on extensive research at the BPMA.

Economic journalist and researcher Duncan Campbell-Smith presents the whole story of Britain's postal service – how it was built, how it led the world for two hundred years and how it has struggled to survive in the face of mounting odds since the arrival of the internet.

In 880 pages with rich illustrations, Campbell-Smith tells the fascinating history from the origins of the royal monopoly to the Great Train Robbery - whilst also recounting several hitherto strangely neglected stories.

In addition to a reappraisal of many aspects of earlier centuries, it includes the first detailed account of the past half-century of Britain's postal history

Source: British Postal Museum & Archive

Another excellent account of the history of the Royal Mail at the Guardian.

How to Reduce your Junk Mail? The Mailing Preference Service

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. 

Here's a nice easy one for you that reduces Junk Mail:

The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is a free service set up 20 years ago and funded by the junk mail industry to enable consumers to have their names and home addresses in the UK removed from lists used by the industry. It is actively supported by the Royal Mail and all directly involved trade associations and fully supported by The Information Commissioners Office.

Registering your address and opting out of junk mail with the MPS is easy, it's free and it works.

MPS: The Mailing Preference Service

BBC iPlayer - Panorama:  Why hate junk mail?

Further reading:

The Information Commissioners Office: Stop Junk Mail 

Guardian - Comment is Free: Junk mail – the facts

Roy Mayall: Going Postal

Happy Birthday Woman's Weekly - 100..!

Happy Birthday..!

• OUR FABULOUS CENTENARY ISSUE!
  A celebration marking 100 years of your favourite magazine...
• Our first-ever issue from 1911 to pull out and keep
• Fashion trends through the decades - and how you can wear them now
• Spectacular four-tier cake to make for your own celebration
• A look back at 100 years of WW health advice
• Centenary story from The Robin Family - back for one issue only!
• Exquisite wedding-ring shawl to knit
• A century of ads - fantastic and funny adverts we've carried over the years