Postal Services Collection (#2)

A clear road for His Majesty's Mails (colour litho)
8649472 A clear road for His Majesty's Mails (colour litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: A clear road for His Majesty's Mails)

New Zealand, 1890s: Post Office (b/w photo)
8662603 New Zealand, 1890s: Post Office (b/w photo) by New Zealand Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Post Office)

The Post Office, Wickhambreaux, Kent, The West End (b/w photo)
8647633 The Post Office, Wickhambreaux, Kent, The West End (b/w photo) by Davie, William Galsworthy (1841-1915); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Post Office, Wickhambreaux, Kent, The West End)

Interior of a travelling post office (b/w photo)
8635397 Interior of a travelling post office (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Interior of a travelling post office)

King George IV of England (1762-1830) boarded Lightning, the postal service's first steamboat
MMM5458991 King George IV of England (1762-1830) boarded Lightning, the postal service's first steamboat, bound for Dublin (Ireland), August 12, 1821 by Huggins

1870 advertisement for the New York - Chicago Express Train used by mail, making the journey in 24 hours
AIS5345475 1870 advertisement for the New York - Chicago Express Train used by mail, making the journey in 24 hours and replacing the horse postman from 100 years ago.; © Iberfoto

The interior of a French sorting office, 1850
3478530 The interior of a French sorting office, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the interior of a French sorting office in Paris. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

At the Pneumatic Tubes (colour litho)
8633166 At the Pneumatic Tubes (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: At the Pneumatic Tubes)

Birmingham, near, Lea Marston, Quaint Letter Box at Post Office (litho)
8633634 Birmingham, near, Lea Marston, Quaint Letter Box at Post Office (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Birmingham, near, Lea Marston)

Deciphering the "Blind" Letters (colour litho)
8633165 Deciphering the "Blind" Letters (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Deciphering the "Blind" Letters)

Canada: Toronto Street and Post Office, Toronto (litho)
8625093 Canada: Toronto Street and Post Office, Toronto (litho) by Canadian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Toronto Street and Post Office, Toronto)

Advertisement for Isaac T Lloyd, Chelsea (b/w photo)
8626983 Advertisement for Isaac T Lloyd, Chelsea (b/w photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for Isaac T Lloyd, chemists and post office, Chelsea)

Post Office wireless detector vans, 1931 (b/w photo)
8626566 Post Office wireless detector vans, 1931 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Polly is forwarded by express service (litho)
8649487 Polly is forwarded by express service (litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Polly is forwarded by express service)

Packing foreign parcels, Mount Pleasant (litho)
8649485 Packing foreign parcels, Mount Pleasant (litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Packing foreign parcels, Mount Pleasant)

Old age pensioners drawing money (litho)
8649484 Old age pensioners drawing money (litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Old age pensioners drawing money)

"Blind" parcels, Mount Pleasant (litho)
8649483 "Blind" parcels, Mount Pleasant (litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Blind" parcels, Mount Pleasant)

Foreign Mails, Mount Pleasant (colour litho)
8649470 Foreign Mails, Mount Pleasant (colour litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Foreign Mails, Mount Pleasant)

Girl with hoop posting a letter (litho)
8649505 Girl with hoop posting a letter (litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girl with hoop posting a letter)

Exchange of mail bags at Wayside Standard (colour litho)
8649481 Exchange of mail bags at Wayside Standard (colour litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Exchange of mail bags at Wayside Standard)

Sealing packages (colour litho)
8651459 Sealing packages (colour litho) by Somerfield, Thomas (1876-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sealing packages)

Burma: Strand Road, Rangoon, Post Office, Imperial Bank of India, Custom House in distance (b/w photo)
8646114 Burma: Strand Road, Rangoon, Post Office, Imperial Bank of India, Custom House in distance (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Strand Road)

New Zealand, 1890s: Post Office, Napier (b/w photo)
8662407 New Zealand, 1890s: Post Office, Napier (b/w photo) by New Zealand Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Post Office, Napier)

London, England in the 19th century, 1890 (print)
8617991 London, England in the 19th century, 1890 (print) by Unknown Artist, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London, England in the 19th century)

The Letter Carriers, c.1770-1959 (print)
3673000 The Letter Carriers, c.1770-1959 (print) by White, Smith & Company (19th-early 20th century); Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois

My Parcel Post Man, 1913 (print)
3672982 My Parcel Post Man, 1913 (print) by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. (early 20th century); Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois

The Old Postmaster, 1901 (print)
3672972 The Old Postmaster, 1901 (print) by Joseph W. Stern & Co. (late 19th-early 20th century); Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois

Establishment of the Universal Postal Union Foundation created by the Treaty of Berne of 1874
7279564 Establishment of the Universal Postal Union Foundation created by the Treaty of Berne of 1874 by Unknown Artist, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Pigeon post of the future, Lightness of style is demanded (colour litho)
7181031 Pigeon post of the future, Lightness of style is demanded (colour litho) by Echau, Joaquin Xaudaru y (1872-1933); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pigeon post of the future)

Mail Coach in thunderstorm (colour litho)
7180809 Mail Coach in thunderstorm (colour litho) by Pollard, James (1797-1867) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mail Coach in thunderstorm)

The Old Post-Office, Trevena (engraving)
7182674 The Old Post-Office, Trevena (engraving) by Hemy, Charles Napier (1841-1917); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Old Post-Office, Trevena)

Picking up the Mails (colour litho)
7180331 Picking up the Mails (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Picking up the Mails)

New York: City Hall Park, from the World Building (b / w photo)
7190399 New York: City Hall Park, from the World Building (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: City Hall Park, from the World Building)

New York: Post Office (b / w photo)
7190396 New York: Post Office (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Post Office)

Adelaide: King William Street, showing Town Hall and Post Office (colour photo)
7188993 Adelaide: King William Street, showing Town Hall and Post Office (colour photo) by Australian Photographer (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: King William Street)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Bureau (de poste); Post-office; Postamt (engraving)
7195082 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Bureau (de poste); Post-office; Postamt (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bureau (de poste); Post-office; Postamt

Ipswich: Town Hall and part of Post Office (litho)
7160825 Ipswich: Town Hall and part of Post Office (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Town Hall and part of Post Office)

"A Time for Cricket, "But not when "On the Queens Business"(engraving)
7188290 " A Time for Cricket, " But not when " On the Queens Business" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: " A Time for Cricket)

French Mail Coach (colour litho)
7180804 French Mail Coach (colour litho) by Adam, Victor (1801-66) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: French Mail Coach)

Sheffield: Post Office and Haymarket (b / w photo)
7190692 Sheffield: Post Office and Haymarket (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Post Office and Haymarket)

Animation in a government hostelry and posting station in Roman Britain (litho)
7183113 Animation in a government hostelry and posting station in Roman Britain (litho) by Forestier, Amedee (1854-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Buster Brown at the post office (colour litho)
7201232 Buster Brown at the post office (colour litho) by Outcault, Richard Felton (1863-1928); Private Collection; (add.info.: Buster Brown and his dog, Tige, at the post office (part 2 of 2)

Post Office (b / w photo)
7199043 Post Office (b/w photo) by South African Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Post Office. Illustration for Grocott & Sherrys Album of Johannesburg (1898)

The Great Mail Contractor (engraving)
7178074 The Great Mail Contractor (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Great Mail Contractor)

Paris Letter Post, 1855 (engraving)
976376 Paris Letter Post, 1855 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Paris Letter Post, 1855.); © Look and Learn

This French postman finds his bicycle very useful (b / w photo)
2814144 This French postman finds his bicycle very useful (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: This French postman finds his bicycle very useful)

Hanging up mail bags for the train to pick up as it flies by (colour litho)
2814129 Hanging up mail bags for the train to pick up as it flies by (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The whistling postman (colour litho)
2814137 The whistling postman (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The whistling postman)

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

The establishment of the Universal Postal Union Foundation in 1874, through the Treaty of Berne, marked a significant milestone in the history of postal services. This international organization aimed to promote cooperation and standardization among postal systems worldwide. Looking towards the future, one can only imagine what advancements await us in the realm of postal services. Perhaps we will witness a modern-day version of pigeon post, where these incredible birds deliver our mail with precision and speed. In terms of artistic representation, a lightness of style is demanded when depicting this essential service. Color lithographs capture the vibrancy and energy surrounding mail coaches as they brave thunderstorms on their journey to deliver letters and packages. The Old Post-Office at Trevena stands as an engraving that portrays both elegance and functionality. It serves as a reminder that even amidst progress, there are timeless elements that remain constant in postal services. Picking up the mails becomes an enchanting scene depicted through color lithography. The hustle and bustle at post offices showcases how this institution connects people from all walks of life. New York City's iconic City Hall Park is captured beautifully in black-and-white photography from the World Building's vantage point. Adjacent to it stands New York's Post Office building, which has witnessed countless stories unfold within its walls throughout history. Adelaide's King William Street proudly displays its Town Hall and Post Office side by side in a vibrant color photograph. This image reflects how these structures serve as beacons for communication within communities around the world. Le Vocabulaire Illustre presents engravings showcasing different depictions of post offices across various languages: Bureau de poste (French), Post-office (English), and Postamt (German). These illustrations highlight how language may differ but our need for efficient communication remains universal. Ipswich's Town Hall alongside part of its Post Office comes alive through lithography techniques. This artwork captures both architectural beauty and the importance of these structures in facilitating communication.