Posted: Sunday, October 9, 2016. 11:23 a.m. CST.
By BBN Staff:Today, October 9, is celebrated as World Post day.
The exchange of mail across country lines was complicated before the Universal Post Union was created in 1874.
Historical records indicate mail may have been delivered as early as 255 B.C. in Egypt—yet it took millennia before even uniform postage rates were introduced (in 1840).
The first known picture postcard was mailed in 1840.
The Universal Post union has been responsible for maintaining a global mail network for more than 140 years.
In commemoration of World Post Day, the Belize Tourism Board wants to breathe new life into the tradition of the picture postcard. At the peak of paper correspondence, in 1951, some 4.5 billion postcards were received in the United States. That number was just 838 million in 2015.
Belize’s Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans said in a statement that “Nothing beats the excitement of opening the mailbox to find a handwritten postcard from a far-flung place.”
The Belize Tourism Board promises to respond to any postcard they receive between World Post Day and November 9 with a handwritten postcard from Belize. Locals will include in their penpal-style note fun facts about the country and tips for visiting.
A lucky person will receive a second postcard, congratulating them on winning a four-night trip to Belize, round-trip airfare included.
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