Georgia Postal History Society 2016 Annual Meeting Postal History Yesterday and Today - Is postal history so broad that a single, agreed-upon definition is not really possible? - Was postal history different at the turn of the last century than it is now? - Are the contents of a letter postal history regardless of the cancelled stamps, postmarks, and auxiliary markings on the cover? - Is modern postal history even possible because of the abandonment of handwritten letters and first class mail? What is Postal History? - What have been the repercussions for postal history of the changes in technology and mail processing by the USPS? - Did real postal history (at least in the U.S.) end at the conclusion of World War II as many seasoned stamp collectors contend? What is Postal History? Wikipedia: Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and/or the study of the use of postage stamps and covers and associated postal artifacts illustrating historical episodes in the development of postal systems. More precisely, philatelists describe postal history as the study of rates, routes, markings, and means (of transport). Official Definitions of Postal History Postal History Society United Kingdom: Postal History is the story of written global communication in every form. Clay tablets, papyrus and parchment were the forerunners of today'sand world wide web. Because the envelope did not come into general use until the 1840s, and much later in some countries, most early letters were sent as an entire with the address on the outside together with all of the relevant postal markings. Their contents are therefore retained for posterity, unlike envelopes where more often than not the contents have been discarded over the years. Official Definitions of Postal History Postal History Society United States (Doug Clark is the Vice President and a former editor for this Society): Postal history is the study of material carried by and related to official, local, or private mails. It illustrates routes, rates, markings, usages, and other postal aspects. It describes services, functions, and activities related to the history of the development of postal services. Postal history, therefore, tells the story of how mail has been handled, who has handled it, and why. Official Definitions of Postal History Postal History Yes or No? Stamps Postal History Yes or No? Stampless Covers Postal History Yes or No? First Day, First Flight and Zeppelin Covers Postal History Yes or No? First Day AND First Flight AND Zeppelin Cover Postal History Yes or No? Postal Rates and Routes Postal History Yes or No? Postal Markings Postal History Yes or No? Philatelic Souvenir Sheets, Stamps, Covers Postal History Yes or No? Methods of Mail Transport, Carriers and Postmasters Postal History Yes or No? Contents Mysterious 1924 Letter from Savannah Classic Postal History Feb 15 th Dear John You will find me at the Hicks Hotel when you arrive in Savannah. I am enjoying this place so much . Love Mother Postal History Exhibitions and Judging From the APS manual: Postal History Exhibits The emphasis in a postal history exhibit is on means of transport, routes, rates, markings, usages and other postal aspects, services, functions and activities related to the historical development of postal services. Postal History Exhibitions and Judging Postal History exhibits contain material carried by, and related to, official, local or private mails. Postal history includes folded letters, outer letter sheets, postal cards, postcards, envelopes, newspapers, parcel wrappings, parcel tags and any other items that have been handled by a postal system. All such items are generally referred to as covers for convenience. Unused stamps and mint postal stationery items are not usually appropriate for postal history exhibits. Postal History Exhibitions and Judging A Postal History exhibit contains material carried by, and related to, official, local or private mails. Such exhibits generally emphasize routes, rates, markings, usages and other postal aspects, services, functions and activities related to the history of the development of Postal Services. Postal History Exhibitions and Judging Examples of postal history subjects include: Pre-adhesive postal services The development of local, regional, national or international postal services Postal rates Routes for transportation of mails Postal markings Military mail, field post, siege mail, POW mail Maritime mail and/or inland waterway mail Railway mail All kinds of Travelling Post Offices Disaster mail Disinfected mail Censorship mail Postage due mail Automation of the mails Official mail, Free Frank mail Postal History Exhibitions and Judging - Has there been an increasing acceptance of a limited amount of content? - What has been modified or should be modified regarding postal history exhibits and judging criteria given the nature of postal history in the past 25 years? What is Postal History, Yesterday and Today? Stamps Stampless Covers First Day Covers Rates and Routes Markings Methods of Transport Souvenir Sheets Postmasters Carriers Content What is Postal History, Yesterday and Today? Arriving at a universally agreed-upon definition of postal history just may not be possible. It is a very broad topic, to be sure. Possibly the best we can do is to have some sort of agreement not as to what postal history IS, but rather what it IS NOT. That just may be the most satisfactory, and satisfying, approach we can take. Many thanks for your attendance and participation today. Enjoy the rest of the show.