250 Years of US Postal Service (9 / 12)

In 2025, the United States celebrates a milestone: 250 years of postal service. This collection of postcards have been released one a month. All 12 align to form a timeline spanning from 1775 to 2025.

9.

The ZIP Code system was introduced in the United States in 1963 as the Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) to improve the speed and accuracy of mail delivery.

12.

This final postcard is the culmination and capstone of our year-long series — the piece that brings the entire 250-year story together.

From Benjamin Franklin’s appointment in 1775, through wars, westward expansion, technological leaps, and bold reforms, to the vibrant USPS we rely on today—this 12th card closes the collection with a celebratory view.

It honors the endurance, adaptability, and quiet heroism of a service that has delivered far more than mail: for two and a half centuries, it has delivered for America.

Postcards sent from Bryon (the USA). Still waiting for 10 and 11!

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[1-2, 3, 4, 5-6, 7-8...]

Fancy a Cup of Blue Tea?

Collage on an envelope sent by Laura (the UK).

Women on Postcards | H Is for Hellás (Ἑλλάς)

Postcard sent by Olya (Belarus) through the Postcrossing site.

[Women on Postcards - 2026]

Women on Postcards | V Is for Victoria

Postcard sent by Bryon (Canada), with matching stamps on the back, from the 2023 series Ferries of Canada. 

I received this one on the back of another postcard. Series completed!

[Women on Postcards - 2026]

Official & Unofficial Mail Labels

Austria

Finland

Netherlands

United Kingdom

United States of America

Five European Lighthouses

Boehler / Westerhever

  

Bout de la jetée à Honfleur, 1886
('Harbour Entrance at Honfleur')
George Seurat (1859-1891)

Nazaré

Farol de Santa Marta, Cascais

Sent by Pedro (Portugal), Kamila & Dawid (Germany) and Heleen & Micu (Netherlands).

Iced Letters

Letters sent by Laura (the UK).

Sending Love

Collage on a letter sent by Laura (the UK).

Outgoing Festive Envelopes

Christmas Lighthouse

By Мария Шевцова

Postcard sent by Eduard (Russia) last year, and arrived at the end of January. There is a beautifully matching stamp on the back: a snowy landscape commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Yeniseysk

The back of Eduard's postcards are always interesting!

Festive Reading

Sent By Heleen (the Netherlands).

250 Years of US Postal Service (7, 8)

In 2025, the United States celebrates a milestone: 250 years of postal service. This collection of postcards have been released one a month. All 12 align to form a timeline spanning from 1775 to 2025.

7.

The Inverted Jenny is one of the most famous and valuable postage stamps in the world. Issued in 1918 to commemorate the launch of the first regular airmail service, the stamp features a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplane. Due to a printing error, the airplane appears upside down on the stamps.

This postcard arrived with a "1775-2025" postmark on the back!

8.

The first regularly scheduled airmail service route connected New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The 218-mile route was flown regularly, rain or shine. Banks were among the first major customers, using airmail to send checks and financial papers more quickly.

Postcards sent from Bryon (the USA).

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[1-2, 3, 4, 5-6...]

250 Years of US Postal Service (4)

In 2025, the United States celebrates a milestone: 250 years of postal service. This collection of postcards have been released one a month. All 12 align to form a timeline spanning from 1775 to 2025.

4.

This postcard highlights the Private Mailing Card Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress on May 19, 1898, which marked a significant milestone in the history of postcards.

This legislation allowed private companies to produce postcards that could be mailed at the reduced rate of one cent, matching the rate for government-issued postcards and lower than the two-cent rate for letters.

Sent by Bryon (the USA)

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[1-2, 3*...]

*Not arrived yet

Recent Post Labels

Croatia

Hungary

Italy

Portugal

United Kingdom

Autumn Is Here

Today is the first day of Autumn in this hemisphere. I hope the Autumn mail will arrive safe and sound!

250 Years of US Postal Service (1,2)

In 2025, the United States celebrates a milestone: 250 years of postal service. This collection of postcards have been released one a month. All 12 align to form a timeline spanning from 1775 to 2025.

1.

This postcard commemorates the establishment of the United States Post Office by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 26, 1775, and highlights Benjamin Franklin's appointment as the first Postmaster General. Received 25 March 2025

2.

This postcard commemorates the first issuance of postage stamps by the U.S. Post Office in 1847, marking the beginning of prepaid postage in the United States.

Two stamps were introduced:

• A 5-cent stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin for letters weighing less than 1/2 ounce and traveling up to 300 miles.
• A 10-cent stamp depicting George Washington for deliveries to locations greater than 300 miles or for letters twice the weight of those covered by the 5-cent stamp.

Postcards sent by Bryon (the USA).

Outgoing Summer Mail: Beach

Sent to Germany, Malaysia, PC, USA and UK.

Summer Mail - IV

In Welsch mythology, Dylan the sea god lives under the waters of Cardigan Bay. He envies an old man with three daughters. He calls up a great storm, and sends a huge wave to steal the girls. Their father is heartbroken. Regretting his evil deed, Dylan turns the girls into seagulls, belonging both to the sea and the land. Since that day, when the old man walks on the beach and call their names, three white gulls fly to him from the sea.

Illustration by Daniel Mackie. Sent by Phillip (the USA).

Sunday Stamps | Dreamy Blue Landscapes

Go to Sunday Stamps to enjoy more Blue stamps!