Mail

The mail or post is a system for physically transporting postcards, letters, and parcels. It allows people to send messages and items to one another over long distances. This important service has been used for centuries to keep families, friends, and businesses connected.

Since the mid-19th century, most countries have set up national postal systems, often run by the government. These systems usually charge a fee for sending mail, which is shown by a small adhesive postage stamp placed on the envelope. Some larger mailings use a postage meter instead.

Many postal services do more than just deliver letters. In some places, they also help with saving money, issuing passports, and even managing telephone and telegraph services. The Universal Postal Union (UPU), created in 1874, brings together 192 countries to make sure mail can travel safely between nations. It works as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, helping to set the rules for international mail exchanges.

Etymology

The word mail comes from the Middle English word male, which meant a travelling bag or pack. Over time, mail came to refer to the letters themselves that were carried in these bags. In the United Kingdom, letters sent abroad were called mail, while letters for local delivery were called post. The word Post comes from an Old French word, which traces back to a Latin verb meaning 'to lay down or place'.

The term email, short for "electronic mail", began in the 1970s. The phrase snail mail was later used to highlight the slower, physical delivery compared to email.

History

The practice of sending messages through intermediaries dates back to the invention of writing. Formal postal systems developed later. One of the earliest organized courier services was in Egypt, where Pharaohs used couriers to send decrees around 2400 BCE. The oldest surviving piece of mail is also from Egypt, dating to 255 BCE.

The Achaemenid Empire is credited with creating one of the first real postal systems. The Persian king Cyrus the Great organized couriers to deliver messages across his kingdom. Later, Darius the Great improved the system by building the Royal Road to help couriers travel quickly from Susa in Iran to Sardis in Turkey. Couriers would swap horses at stations to keep moving fast.

Rome also had a well-organized postal service called the cursus publicus, started by Augustus Caesar. It used fast horses and light carriages for government messages. Later, a service for ordinary people was added too.

Other ancient civilizations, like the Mauryan Empire in India and the Han dynasty in China, developed their own postal systems. These systems helped rulers send messages quickly over long distances.

Modern mail

Modern mail is organized by national and privatized services, connected through international regulations and agreements. Paper letters and parcels can be sent to almost any country easily and cheaply. The Internet has made sending messages almost instantaneous, leading many to use email instead of letters.

Some countries organize their mail services as public corporations. The worldwide postal system is coordinated by the Universal Postal Union, which sets international postage rates and defines standards for postage stamps. Most countries use codes like ZIP codes to help with mail delivery. The ordinary mail service improved in the 20th century with the use of planes for quicker delivery, with the first scheduled airmail service taking place in the United Kingdom in 1911.

Before the mid-19th century, mail was often sent unpaid, requiring the recipient to pay. Today, the most common way to pay for mail is by buying adhesive postage stamps. Some companies use special machines to create postage-prepaid envelopes, a method known as franking. The U.S. Postal Service introduced a system in 1998 allowing companies to send digital franks via the Internet. The Royal Mail in the United Kingdom introduced its SmartStamp system in 2004, allowing printing on adhesive labels or envelopes.

The privacy of correspondence is important, and in many places, it is protected by law. However, there are exceptions, such as when mail is opened by assistants or when it is checked for hazardous materials. During times of war, military mail is often checked to prevent leaking important information. Newer forms of communication like the telegraph, telephone, and email have reduced the use of paper mail for many purposes, though physical mail is still used for legal signatures and sending small objects.

Postage stamps are popular collectibles, with many people enjoying the hobby of stamp collecting, also known as philately. Postcards are another popular item to collect. Letters can also be studied as literature, with some famous letters being well-known today.

Types

Letters

Letter-sized mail makes up most of what people send through postal services. These are usually documents printed on A4 or Letter-sized paper and placed in envelopes.

Handwritten letters were once very common for sharing messages over long distances, but today, people more often use phones or email. Still, some people prefer writing letters because it feels more personal and thoughtful. For example, someone might write a letter to comfort another person who is sad.

Bills and invoices from companies like utility providers are often sent through the mail. These usually come with a pre-addressed envelope for easy return payment. Though many people now pay bills online, some still receive paper bills.

New credit cards and their personal identification numbers are mailed to customers, but the card and PIN arrive separately for security.

First-Class Mail in the U.S. includes postcards, letters, and large envelopes. Letters must weigh less than 3.5 ounces, and large envelopes less than 13 ounces. First-Class Mail gets priority delivery over other types of mail.

Postal cards and postcards

Postal cards and postcards are small cards sent through the mail without envelopes. Postal cards often come from the postal service with the stamp already printed, while postcards are usually made by companies and need a stamp added. Postcards often show pictures of places or have funny messages and leave space for a short note from the sender.

Postcards are also used by magazines for new subscriptions. Readers can fill out a card inside a magazine and mail it back to get a subscription.

Other mail services

Small packets are usually less than 2 kg (4 lb).

Larger envelopes made of stronger material are used by businesses to send important documents like legal papers that can’t be folded or damaged.

Packages can also be sent through postal services, but they often need extra postage. Postal services have rules about what can be sent in packages, especially for things that could be dangerous.

Newspapers and magazines are also sent through the mail. Some magazines have special barcodes for easy processing, while others are wrapped to protect items inside.

Hybrid mail, also called L-mail, is when mail is sent electronically from a computer directly to a Postal Service. This helps speed up sorting and delivery.

Business model

The business model of modern postal services has four main steps: collection, sorting, transportation, and delivery. Collection means gathering mail from places like homes, post boxes, and post offices. The mail is then taken to sorting centers without being sorted right away.

Sorting organizes mail into groups based on where it needs to go. This can be done by hand or with machines. Transportation moves the mail between sorting centers until it gets closer to its final destination. Delivery is when mail is brought to its final location, such as a letter box. This last step can be challenging and costs a lot, so postal services try to make it more efficient.