Arago: People, Postage, & the Post
The online database of the National Postal Museum which is part of the Smithsonian. It’s got great images and online exhibits related to philately. Gorgeous stuff!
Emily Post is one of the leading authorities on etiquette. Available online is her etiquette book written in 1922 which also has a substantial portion devoted to letter writing. Reading this will not only help you improve your letter writing in general, but might help you avoid mistakes you didn’t even know you were making.
History of the U.S. Postal Service
The U.S. Postal Service’s web site offers a section about the history of their services. Here you can also find the history extended version.
In Egypt there was a tradition of writing letters to dead relatives. The letters were generally written to ask for help with problems. This site gives some details about this ancient custom.
Letter Writing Writing Style of 1775
Royal navy and marine living history reenactor’s have provided information on how to write period-style letters.
Medieval Missives and Letter Writing
A compilation of opening and closings of letters to aid in reproducing period-style letters. This is another page from reenactors.
The web site of the National Postal Museum in Washington D.C.
Victorian Rituals: Letter Writing
A short page on some Victorian letter writing rituals of women including encrypted messages and a recipe for scented inks.
Youth’s Educator for Home and Society, Chapter 19
Chapter 19 of this book published in 1896 explains the benefits of good letter writing as well as what ink and paper to use, how to abbreviate and address, and much more. Be sure to check out the end… “Writing to Strangers”. It explains why young ladies should not write to strange men!
The Origin of the Dear John Letter
We’ve all heard of the “Dear John Letter” (and some of us have received them), but where did that phrase come from?
A little bit of this and that, all related to the topic of postal history. This is a specially good site for collectors as there are many links to dealers and clubs.
