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________________________
DIRECTORY
CURRENCY SERIES Animals State Bills
COMPLETE SETS
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Home > U.S. Postal Service U.S. Postal Service
First Postmaster (Ben Franklin) Novelty Money Bill # 055
Our First Postmaster bill
commemorates the beginning of the U.S. postal system. When the Continental Congress named Benjamin Franklin the first Postmaster
General in 1775, the United States was a weak confederation of colonies
scattered along the eastern seaboard. The postal system that the Congress
created helped bind the new nation together, support the growth of commerce, and
ensure a free flow of ideas and information. FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S. (International Buyers Must Buy 3 or More Bills For Free Shipping)
Railroad Mail Novelty Money Bill # 057
Our Railroad Mail bill commemorates the use of railroads to move the nation's mail. The Post Office Department recognized the value of using railroads for transportation of mail as early as November 30, 1832, when a contract for railroad mail was initiated on a route from Philadelphia to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After passage of the Act of July 7, 1838, designating all railroads in the United States as post routes, mail service by railroad increased rapidly. In 1930, more than 10,000 trains were used to move the mail into every city, town, and village in the United States. Following passage of the Transportation Act of 1958, mail-carrying passenger trains declined rapidly. By 1965, only 190 trains carried mail; by 1970, the railroads carried virtually no First-Class Mail. FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S. (International Buyers Must Buy 3 or More Bills For Free Shipping)
Pony Express Mail Novelty Money Bill # 056
Our Pony Express Mail bill
commemorates the short but efficient use of the horseback Pony Express riders. In 1850, mail delivery from the eastern U.S. to California
took weeks and sometimes months to reach California. In fact, folks in Los
Angeles did not even know that California had been admitted to the Union until
six-weeks later! In March 1860, William H. Russell, an American
transportation pioneer, advertised in newspapers as follows: "Wanted: Young,
skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death
daily. Orphans preferred." Russell wanted to start an overland express route to
carry mail between St. Joseph, Missouri - the westernmost point reached by the
railroad and telegraph - and California. Inaugurated on April 3, 1860, the
Pony Express ran through parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming,
Utah, Nevada, and California. On an average day, a rider covered 75 to 100
miles. He changed horses at relay stations, set about 10 or 15 miles apart,
transferring himself and his mochila (a saddle cover with four pockets or
cantinas for mail) to the new mount, all in one leap. From April 1860 through
June 1861, the Pony Express operated as a private enterprise. From July 1, 1861,
it operated under contract as a mail route until October 24, 1861, when the
transcontinental telegraph line was completed, and the Pony Express became a
legend. FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S. (International Buyers Must Buy 3 or More Bills For Free Shipping)
Air Mail Novelty Money Bill # 058
Our Air Mail bill commemorates the beginning of mail being transported by airplanes. On May 15, 1918, the Post Office Department began scheduled airmail service between New York and Washington, D.C. using Army pilots and six Jenny training planes of the Army. On August 12, 1918, the Post Office took over all phases of the airmail service, using newly hired civilian pilots and mechanics, and six specially-built mail planes from the Standard Aircraft Corporation. These early mail planes had no instruments, radios, or other navigational aids. Pilots flew by dead reckoning or "by the seat of their pants." Forced landings occurred frequently because of bad weather, but fatalities in those early months were rare, largely because of the small size, maneuverability, and slow landing speeds of the planes. Congress authorized airmail postage of 24 cents, including special delivery. The public was reluctant to use this more expensive service, and, during the first year, airmail bags contained as much regular mail as air mail. By 1920, mail was flown during the day, and carried by trains at night. By 1922, the Post Office Department built radio stations at flying fields for weather reports and mail was flown both day and night. The first commercial airmail flight in the United States occurred on February 15, 1926. By September 1, 1927, all airmail was carried under contract. The Post Office Department sold or transferred its emergency landing fields, radio towers, etc. to the contractors or other government agencies.
FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S. (International Buyers Must Buy 3 or More Bills For Free Shipping)
Modern Mail Novelty Money Bill # 059
Our Modern Mail bill commemorates the beginning of the modern day U.S. Postal Service. In 1970, the Postal Reorganization Act was passed, and on July 1, 1971 the Post Office Department was transformed into the United States Postal Service, an independent establishment of the executive branch of the U.S. Government. The mission of the Postal Service remained the same, "to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people."
FREE Shipping & Handling in U.S. (International Buyers Must Buy 3 or More Bills For Free Shipping)
Complete Sets of U.S.P.S. Bills
Buy All of the U.S.P.S. Bills and Save! Complete Sets of U.S.P.S. Bills
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