The Royal Mail Galop
Composer
M C Barter
Publisher
John Blockley
(1800 - 1882)
Date19th century
Object number00027133
NameSheet music
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 364 x 268 mm, 50 g
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis sheet music 'The Royal Mail Galop' was composed in tribute to the British Royal Mail service to Australia. It was dedicated to Captain Triphook and printed in London. The cover features a green tinted lithograph of a paddle steamer leaving a harbour. Military bands commonly played pieces such as this at concerts, dances, processions, recitals and public events.HistorySheet music offers an insight into 19th century popular culture. The widely distributed pieces were fairly cheap to purchase, making them popular with the general public. Music was an integral part of people's social life in the home and at public events such as balls, recitals, concerts and theatre shows.
For over 400 years the British Post Office either managed or contracted the conveyance of overseas mails on commercial ships from Britain. In 1823, to ensure greater security, the British Government began to transfer responsibility for the mail service to the Admiralty. The P&O Company was founded in 1837 under the partnership of Wilcox and Anderson. They secured a contract to carry the mails from the UK to the peninsular ports of Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz and Gibralter. In 1840 the company secured a new contract to extend the service to Alexandria in Egypt, and in 1844 to Madras, Ceylon, Calcutta, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In 1851 the Admiralty awarded P&O the contract to carry mails to Sydney, Australia twice a month via Singapore. During the second half of the 19th century the business of transporting mail between Britain and the colonies became a lucrative trade.
P & O provided a regular mail service between the Far East and England via the Suez Canal. Their first trade route incorporated Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang, Ceylon, Galle, Aden and Suez. The second route visited Calcutta, Ceylon and Suez, with Australia being added on the line after Ceylon. The arrival of mail was greeted with excitement in the emerging colony, happy to have a regular and efficient line of communication with England.SignificanceThis sheet music 'The Royal Mail Galop' was popular in Australia, having been printed in at least 28 editions. It reflects the Australian community's warm welcome of the Royal Mail service and their ship captains, including Triphook.
