If you receive a letter from the UK through the post, check the postmark. Starting today and until the end of August, The Royal Mail will be marking envelopes with a special Fringe postmark.
Local postman Stuart Millar and postwoman Katrina Coll joined Kath Mainland, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, to show off the design in Edinburgh yesterday.
Royal Mail postmarks are reserved to recognise significant events, historical anniversaries or support of charity. This is the first time in the company’s 500 year history that a festival of this kind has been featured on a postmark.
Andrew Hammond, Director of Stamps & Collectibles at Royal Mail, said the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has become "an iconic event" on the world stage:
"We wanted to pay tribute to that,” he said.
The Royal Mail was established in 1516. It was a government-run organisation until 2011 when it was privatised.