Frederick GoodallEnglish, 1822–1904The Village Post Office
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “The Village Post Office” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
The first regular pre-paid postal service in the world began in England in 1840, and paintings such as this exploited popular interest in sending and receiving letters. In early years, a village post office often had its home in the local inn, which was, (and still is in some places), with the church, the focal centre of the community. The people on the left are reading a copy of the Times which carries the news of victory for Britain in the first Sikh War of 1845/6, another topical reference of the kind the mid-century exhibition audience so much enjoyed, while the other group, a woman with her children, have received a letter - sealed with black wax to indicate a death - presumably with the news that the family have lost their husband and father in the battle.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Details
- Accession number
- 512-1882
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
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