Parcel Post: Delivery of Dreams

The National Postal Museum Library has a rich collection of books concerning the history of parcel post in the United States. The establishment of parcel post in 1913 had a tremendously stimulating effect on the national economy; it opened a world of opportunities for both farmers and merchants alike.

In addition, farmers were able to ship eggs and other produce directly to the consumer, saving them both time and money. A staggering variety of goods was mailed by parcel post through the years. Prior to World War I, before the practice was banned, even children were sent parcel post. In 1916, an entire bank – probably the largest and heaviest object ever sent by parcel post – was dismantled and shipped from Salt Lake City, Utah to Vernal, California. This display provides a brief history of parcel post with appropriate illustrations from the collections of the National Postal Museum Library.