The Evolution of Franked Mail

Franked mail has a long history – the “franking privilege” dates back to the 17th century, while franking machines were first sold commercially in the UK in 1922. Today, franking is simply a cheaper, more efficient way for businesses to send post than stamps, with Royal Mail discounts applied to every item.

The franking privilege

In 1660, the UK Parliament created the General Post Office. This is where a limited version of the franking privilege originates. Many lawmakers wanted a special form of postage that let eligible people sign for their outgoing mail instead of paying standard rates – a benefit that largely favoured the upper class.

By 1772 the General Post Office was losing a significant share of its revenue to franked letters, and by the early 19th century the losses were large enough that lawmakers had to significantly reduce the use of the franking privilege.

Categories of franked mail

The franking privilege is rarely used today, though it still exists in some parts of the world. Internationally, franked mail is governed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which recognises four kinds of franked mail:

• Postage Franking
• Franking Privilege
• Official Business
• Business Reply

A bit more franking history

The word “franking” comes from the Latin francus, meaning “free”. Franking machines were first sold commercially in the UK in 1922, and before the industry went digital, businesses had to take the whole machine to the Post Office to reset their postage.

Do you send franked mail?

If your business doesn’t yet frank its mail, the potential savings are significant and your mailroom becomes far more efficient. To get a franking machine, or to upgrade to a Mailmark machine with even lower rates, view our franking machine range or call us on 01543 572 776.

Mailcoms is a Royal Mail Authorised Independent Inspector & Maintainer of postal franking machines (since 2008), and we’ve serviced and supplied over 40,000 customers, from small businesses to some of the largest organisations in the UK, with our own range of models.

FAQs

Where does the word franking come from? From the Latin francus, meaning free.

When were franking machines first sold in the UK? Franking machines were first sold commercially in the UK in 1922.

Is franked mail cheaper than stamps? Yes. Royal Mail applies a discount to franked mail, and Mailmark franking carries the lowest rates.