Date: 11 August 2025 – A Milestone in the UK’s Delivery Network

Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail have been going through a major transformation this year, working to bring both services together into one unified delivery network. The big day arrived on 11th August 2025, when the new joint network officially launched – along with a refreshed range of products and services.

For everyday customers, this means simpler choices, new delivery options, and the convenience of a single, integrated service. But for stamp collectors, the change brings with it a bittersweet farewell: Parcelforce “OV” (Open Value) stamps from NCR self-service kiosks are no more.

What Has Changed?

From 11th August, all Parcelforce “buy” products have been removed from the NCR self-service kiosks in Post Offices. Instead, they are now only available over the counter. That means customers must go to the counter to pay for Parcelforce services, and the familiar Parcelforce kiosk menu option has vanished.

This also means that from 11th August 2025, Parcelforce “OV” labels – printed live from NCR kiosks – are no longer being issued at all. The last month offered a final window for collectors to obtain these items, and after that date, they have officially joined the list of discontinued modern postal issues.

https://www.parcelforce.com/whats-new

Why This Matters to Collectors

For years, NCR kiosks dispensed Parcelforce “OV” stamps whenever customers purchased Inland and Overseas services at NCR self-service terminals in Post Offices. These labels were distinctive, featuring the service type and live-printed postage value. Many collectors sought out examples from different branches, with variations in overprint data such as:

• Branch code
• Machine number
• Stamp Design
• Session and item numbers

Because they were printed only at the point of sale, no two Parcelforce “OV” labels were exactly alike, adding to their appeal for modern postal history enthusiasts.

With their withdrawal, the surviving examples – especially those from smaller branches or printed on particular special designs – are now part of postal history.

A Shift in the Postal Landscape

The unified network between Royal Mail and Parcelforce is designed to simplify delivery services for customers, and while it makes practical sense, it also signals the end of some self-service OV formats that collectors have enjoyed.

Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see whether the new network’s products generate fresh collectible labels – especially once the next generation of self-service kiosks replaces the NCR machines entirely. Until then, Parcelforce “OV” labels take their place alongside other discontinued Post & Go and NCR-era issues as a snapshot of a specific moment in postal history.