Postal Services
USPS Forecasts Its Own Future
From a 1968 issue of NEW YORK MAGAZINE.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 01, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Internet, 1960s, Postal Services
Mail Yourself
Yesterday, the New Daily paper reported that Australia Post will soon begin offering a service to allow people to mail themselves across country:While those opting for the new AirMale and AirFemale services won’t have to “post” themselves in envelopes or boxes, they will have to fly in the cargo hold of aircraft.
Of course, it was just an April Fool's Day hoax, but had to share it since it touched on a theme (people posting themselves through the mail) recently discussed here on WU.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 02, 2015 -
Comments (8)
Category: Postal Services
The man who posted himself to Australia
On the theme of People Who Have Posted Themselves Through The Mail, so far we have already noted the achievements in this line of activity of Henry Bray, May Pierstorff, and Johann Beck.We can add to our list Reg Spiers, about whom the BBC News recently ran an article. In the mid-1960s, Spiers posted himself from London to Australia as a way to cheaply get back home in time for his daughter's birthday. The cost of a plane ticket was actually cheaper than the cost of shipping such a heavy crate, but Spiers knew that he could send the crate cash-on-delivery, so that payment would only be required once he was in Australia.
His plan succeeded. When he arrived in Australia, the crate (with him inside it) was put in a storage shed from which he managed to escape and hitchhike home. He never had to pay the shipping fees.
Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 09, 2015 -
Comments (6)
Category: 1960s, Postal Services
The Englishman Who Posted Himself
So long as Alex has brought up this theme, I thought I would reference this great book, which I reviewed at the B&N REVIEW upon its release five years ago.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 15, 2015 -
Comments (1)
Category: Eccentrics, Books, Europe, Postal Services
The Return of Weird Postcards
[Click on any of them to enlarge.]
I bought these just yesterday at Raven Used Books in Northampton, MA. Hundreds more awaiting your visitation.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Nov 07, 2012 -
Comments (7)
Category: Humor, Outsider Art, Twentieth Century, Postal Services
Four Weird Vintage Postcards
Click on any image to enlarge.
Be sure to use Number Four in all anti-Romney campaigning.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 06, 2012 -
Comments (7)
Category: Art, Religion, Stereotypes and Cliches, Postal Services
Two Postcards
I just bought these yesterday from my favorite used-book store, Cellar Stories Books, and thought I would share them with you all.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 14, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Stereotypes and Cliches, Sex Symbols, Gambling, Casinos, Lotteries and Other Games of Chance, Postal Services
Zip Code with The Swinging Six
Fifteen minutes to explain adding five digits to your address?!?
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 18, 2011 -
Comments (3)
Category: PSA’s, 1960s, Postal Services
Englishman in the Mails
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 12, 2010 -
Comments (5)
Category: Outsider Art, Europe, Nineteenth Century, Postal Services
The Hope Diamond
But you don't seem to hear about it so much anymore.
For a quick rundown of the tale, visit this site, or check out the Wikipedia entry.
But surely one of the weirdest facts connected with the gem is that it was once sent through the US Mail!
Henry “Harry” Winston, a leading American jeweler and gem dealer, bought the diamond from Mrs. McLean’s estate in 1949. In November 1958 Winston donated the diamond to the Smithsonian Institution, intending it to be the foundation for a National Jewel Collection. With his years of experience in shipping jewelry all over the world, Winston chose to have the diamond delivered by registered mail. He told a reporter for the Washington Post that “ . . . [registered mail is] the safest way to ship gems. . . . I’ve sent gems all over the world that way.”
Just a thought about that curse: since 1958, the Hope Diamond has been owned, in a manner of speaking, by the whole nation. If one chooses to date America's hard times--the end of some mythical Golden Age--from roughly that period, could it be said that the curse is still operative?
Why not sell the Hope Diamond to a rich oil shiek, use the money to help relieve the deficit, and see what happens?
Posted By: Paul - Fri Dec 12, 2008 -
Comments (1)
Category: Museums, 1950s, Natural Wonders, Curses, Postal Services
| Who We Are |
|---|
| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |