xoB finds this pic, and highlights a section of text, from the
Smithsonian Photography Initiative. It highlights a different time in history, when we didn't know it might be inappropriate to mail certain items.
Quote:
Uniformed Letter Carrier with Child in Mailbag
Unidentified photographer
Black and white photographic print
10.0" x 8.0"
c. 1900
National Postal Museum
U.S. Postal Employees
Accession no. A.2006-22
This city letter carrier posed for a humorous photograph with a young boy in his mailbag. After parcel post service was introduced in 1913, in 1914 a 2 year old boy was sent via Parcel Post from Oklahoma to Kansas (18 cents postage). At least two other children were sent by the service, with stamps attached to their clothing, the children rode with railway and city carriers to their destination. The Postmaster General quickly issued a regulation forbidding the sending of children in the mail after hearing of those examples.
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