O.H.M.S.
O.H.M.S., an initialism for On Her Majesty's Service or On His Majesty's Service (depending on the sex of the reigning monarch), is an official franking commonly seen on correspondence from government departments in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other countries that share the same monarch as their head of state (now known as Commonwealth realms).
Australian official mail, franked "On His Majesty's Service", crash cover salvaged from the 1935 Imperial Airways "City of Khartoum" aircraft crash at Alexandria during an England to Australia flight.
"On Her Majesty's Service" envelope with OHMS economy "Official Paid" label from 1978
In Canada, O.H.M.S may be written on an envelope instead of using postage stamps for any letters being sent to the House of Commons of Canada or to any member of the Parliament of Canada.[1] Letters sent from Lieutenant-Governors may also bear the O.H.M.S. mark.
In Australia before Federation, letters in envelopes franked with the O.H.M.S. mark were exempt from postal fees.[2]
In popular culture
- O.H.M.S. is a 1937 action comedy film.
- The title of Ian Fleming's 1963 James Bond novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service, along with its film adaptation, is a play on the term.
See also
- Britannic Majesty for the designation On Her Britannic Majesty's Service.
References
- Branch, Legislative Services. "Consolidated federal laws of canada, Canada Post Corporation Act, s.35(2)". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
- "Notice to advertisers – VII. Exemption from Postage Rates". The Age. 12 December 1867. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
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