From the earliest times the people of the world have sought means of communicating with each other. Postal systems go back thousands of years, perhaps 3,500 B.C. when the Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia developed the cuneiform system of writing impressed on stone, clay brick and tablets. Such messages have been unearthed by excavations of their ruins and that of their successors, the Babylonians, Assyrians and Persians. The phrase “Neither snow nor rain, nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” which adorns the facade of the general post office in New York City, was coined in 485 B.C. by Herodotus the Greek traveler and historian, in his admiration of the post systems of the Persians.
The early Greek and Roman post systems were carried out in relays by the fleet of foot and by horse. Pigeon posts and carriages were also used in those days. Post systems are known to have been established by the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, Charlemagne, the holy Roman Emperor, King Henry VIII of Great Britain, and the leaders of the Hanseatic League of Towns, etc. The Incas and the Aztecs of the Western Hemisphere used runners for their highly efficient post systems. This was a necessity to maintain authority, collect taxes and tribute, as well as to be alerted in case of insurrection or impending invasion.
As Genghis Khan (1162-1227), the great Mongol Conqueror extended his empire over vast areas of plains, deserts and mountains, he established along his route well organized and efficient posts. Between these went dispatches of army communications and matters of state. His grandson, Kublai Khan, further improved this system, establishing over 10,000 postal and refreshment stations, with riders traveling back and forth day and night with frequent changes of horses. The Venetian traveler Marco Polo mentioned that messages of urgency were forwarded at the rate of 250 miles per day.
Later the merchants of the Hanse towns along the Baltic coast set up their Hanseatic League and employed a postal service for their own convenience and occasionally, as a favor perhaps, a message would be carried for someone not a member of the league. The counts of Thurn and Taxis established a private postal system that covered much of Europe and made their services available to all who would pay their fees. This was the beginning of our modern postal system.
In London in 1680, almost 200 years before the introduction of a modern postal system, an efficient penny post system was established by William Dockwra with over 400 receiving stations. Letters would be collected from the boxes every hour and would be stamped at the branch office with the exact time of their collection. He is supposed to have been the first to have originated the postmark indicating the date, time and place of mailing. Dockwra conflicted with James, Duke of York, and his post office was taken over and incorporated into the government postal service. It continued in operation until 1800 when it became “The Two-Penny Post.” For centuries the old posts served only royalty, the nobility and the church since not so many people knew how to read or write. No one may claim the origin of the postal system. In one form or another it existed all over the globe wherever there were people, in most of the civilizations throughout history.
From https://thephilately.com/stamp-introduction#more-6652
The early Greek and Roman post systems were carried out in relays by the fleet of foot and by horse. Pigeon posts and carriages were also used in those days. Post systems are known to have been established by the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, Charlemagne, the holy Roman Emperor, King Henry VIII of Great Britain, and the leaders of the Hanseatic League of Towns, etc. The Incas and the Aztecs of the Western Hemisphere used runners for their highly efficient post systems. This was a necessity to maintain authority, collect taxes and tribute, as well as to be alerted in case of insurrection or impending invasion.
As Genghis Khan (1162-1227), the great Mongol Conqueror extended his empire over vast areas of plains, deserts and mountains, he established along his route well organized and efficient posts. Between these went dispatches of army communications and matters of state. His grandson, Kublai Khan, further improved this system, establishing over 10,000 postal and refreshment stations, with riders traveling back and forth day and night with frequent changes of horses. The Venetian traveler Marco Polo mentioned that messages of urgency were forwarded at the rate of 250 miles per day.
Later the merchants of the Hanse towns along the Baltic coast set up their Hanseatic League and employed a postal service for their own convenience and occasionally, as a favor perhaps, a message would be carried for someone not a member of the league. The counts of Thurn and Taxis established a private postal system that covered much of Europe and made their services available to all who would pay their fees. This was the beginning of our modern postal system.
In London in 1680, almost 200 years before the introduction of a modern postal system, an efficient penny post system was established by William Dockwra with over 400 receiving stations. Letters would be collected from the boxes every hour and would be stamped at the branch office with the exact time of their collection. He is supposed to have been the first to have originated the postmark indicating the date, time and place of mailing. Dockwra conflicted with James, Duke of York, and his post office was taken over and incorporated into the government postal service. It continued in operation until 1800 when it became “The Two-Penny Post.” For centuries the old posts served only royalty, the nobility and the church since not so many people knew how to read or write. No one may claim the origin of the postal system. In one form or another it existed all over the globe wherever there were people, in most of the civilizations throughout history.
From https://thephilately.com/stamp-introduction#more-6652
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