WASHINGTON DC, United States — A display of historic US mailbox designs at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington DC. The exhibit features early mailbox models from the mid-19th century, including the 1858 Potts Letter Box and an Orr and Painter mailbox, showcasing the evolution of urban mail collection systems and the challenges faced in their design and implementation.
Image details
Contributor:
David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2XPKG86File size:
130 MB (5.6 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
8256 x 5504 px | 69.9 x 46.6 cm | 27.5 x 18.3 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
4 August 2024Location:
NoMa, Washington DC, District of Columbia, United StatesMore information:
Photograph by David Coleman. The historic US mailbox designs exhibit at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington DC offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of mail collection systems. The display showcases early mailbox models from the 1850s onward, when the widespread use of adhesive postage stamps revolutionized mail posting. Featured prominently is the Potts Letter Box, patented in 1858, which was the first mailbox design approved by the Post Office Department. This Philadelphia-made box, designed to be attached to curbside lampposts, represented an early attempt to balance mail security with public accessibility. The exhibit also includes an Orr and Painter mailbox from Reading, Pennsylvania, notable for its larger capacity and versatile mounting options. These artifacts illustrate the postal service's efforts to adapt to changing urban landscapes and public needs, while highlighting the design challenges faced, such as capacity limitations and aesthetic concerns during the ornate Victorian era. This exhibit provides visitors with tangible examples of how postal infrastructure developed in response to technological and social changes in 19th century America.