Before early technology such as the telegraph and telephone, which were only used in emergencies or by the wealthy, messages were sent via letters. Of course, unless an individual knew how to write, even letter writing was not possible. It wasn’t until after 1870 when education was required, that the next generation learned the skill of reading and writing. Even the working people of society could correspond with family and friends.

If an inexperienced writer did not know how to accept an invitation, engage a servant, announce the death of a loved one, or even refuse an invitation, manuals existed to assist in this duty.  In fact, letter writing manuals contained numerous samples of letters providing the language to complete any necessary correspondence.

One book that included household forms was entitled "The Ladies Letter Writer: A Guide to Correspondence on all Subjects". Such manuals recommended that phrases such as "You Know" and "You See" should be avoided. A writer should also use clean, quality paper. The reason behind such detail was that a writer’s "character and habits are judged by the appearance of his letter."

It is interesting to note that before the Penny Post (prior to 1840, see below for more detail), letters were charged by the number of sheets of paper used. In order to economize, a letter writer would write on every open space, including writing across the page to save money.

Announcements on the death of a loved one or notice of a funeral was written on white paper edged with black.

The first Christmas card was sent in 1843. By the time 1900 came, sending Christmas cards was a common occurrence.

With the introduction of the plain postcard by the Post Office in 1870, letter writers had an inexpensive option. For the cost of a halfpenny (half the price of a letter), messages could be sent via the Post.

By 1894, the Post Office permitted privately printed postcards to be sent in the mail. This created an avalanche of interest in collecting postcards. Young ladies actually collected postcards and placed them into an album. By the end of the 19^th century, 1/3 of the mail sent was postcards. Nearly 860 million postcards were sent in 1908!  Can you imagine? 

Before the Penny Post

Prior to the Penny Post, the cost of sending a letter varied. The cost depended on where the letter was being sent and how many sheets of paper comprised the letter. Also of note is that postage was typically paid by the individual who received the letter.

Also of note is that envelopes were not used at this time. In place of envelopes, the sheets of paper were folded and sealed with wax.

Delivery of a letter was typically slow and only forwarded to major towns. Because the letter-carrier had to collect the funds upon delivery, he never just left a letter on the doorstep.

After the Penny Post

Rowland Hill created a new system in 1840 which became known as the Penny Post. The cost of postage was based on weight. No matter where the letter was being sent within the United States, the cost was still one penny. The cost was also now an expense of the sender. By purchasing a postage stamp and sticking it on the letter, the correspondence could then be sent off.

The Penny Post became extremely popular as mailing letters was now affordable for everyone. Deliveries were first only made to the major cities, but by the end of the 19^th century, deliveries included the most remote villages.

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