The First Post Office.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 16, 17 April 1902, Page 29

The First Post Office.

In IGSB, early in the reign of Louis XIV., M. de Vclayer established a private penny post. Boxes were set up at the street corners for the reception of letters. Otlices were opened in various quarters of Fans Collections were made once a day from the street boxes, followed many hotus later by a single deli\er\, and thus the iirst post oflice in the world was established.

M. do Vclayer was so greatly encouraged by the success of Ins enterprise that, in order to develop it still further he printed certain forms of billets or notes which were intended to cover all the ordinary requirements of business in great towns. These forms contained blanks, which were intended to be filled up by the pen with such special matter as might be necessary to complete the writer's object. The idea at once became popular, and the printed forms accompanied the expansion of the postal service throughout the larger cities of France, and it was man3 r years before they fell into disuse.