Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
Washington, 1914. "Post Office Department, parcel post." Don't forget to include your Postal Zone. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
This is at the rear loading dock of the Post Office Department building at 12th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. Parcel Post was added as a mail class a year earlier, in 1913.
Frank R. Scheer
Railway Mail Service Library
Less IS more. There really is a charm about brown paper packages wrapped with string. Bet they used red string at Christmas.
The package Great-Grandmother sent to me in 1914, and just arrived yesterday. She should have opted for first class.
Being something of a luddite, I occasionally still ship packages wrapped in brown paper, and tied with string. The post office never complains, and everything gets where it's going unharmed, so I have to wonder if it really is a no-no...
I actually just mailed several packages earlier today, which were wrapped in brown kraft paper and tied with parachute cord. (I'm out of twine, doh.)
I notice the packages are wrapped with string, in today's automated postal system this is a big don't.
...tied up with string. These are a few of my favorite things!
Col. Klink: The early years.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5