Great Britain Training Stamps

Below is an image of the QEII Wilding stamps -

Very interesting, the question I ask is why would they use high value stamps and a variety of stamps to train staff. The second question would be what are they training the staff to do as these cancellations seems to be done by machine. Would like to see more on this. Thanks for showing.

I thought I could just clarify a few things here; The stamps with the printed bars are used in training schools still, although they are (as far as I know) now invalidated by a pen or marker. I have modern examples with vertical and diagonal lines. I have not seen commercially printed bars on current or recent stamps. The bars do not serve to cancel the stamps; they are there to prevent use in the post if any of the trainees keep some. They are often cancelled properly using a Reiner D 28b dater as part of the training exercises. All values of stamps are used as all processed are explained to the trainees. This is because they are given a scenarios for each service such as 'A customer wants to post a valuable item to India – what service do you offer'? The trainee then has to prepare the letter (actually just a box on the question paper) by attaching the appropriate postage 'Signed For' label etc. ('Royal Mail Signed For' is the new name for the old Recorded letter service.) I can scan and post some images if anyone is interested in seeing them.

This is an example of a 'Signed For' stamp. This is the first of this type which has now been renamed from 'Recorded Signed For' to 'Royal Mail Signed For'. This particular one is for 'Large' letters there is a smaller one of similar design for standard letters. As you can see it is from a sheet rouletted to allow individual sale.

Right, I've found a standard size Signed For - again a training school stamp.And to answer your question properly, they are to pre-pay the postage and the fee for obtaining a signature on delivery - the fee is currently £1.10 above the postage. The small stamp is for a standard letter, 62p plus £1.10 for the signature and so costs £1.72 for next day delivery with a signature which is available to be checked online.