Existing comment:
On Land & Sea:
Mail has been delivered in a surprising variety of ways on both land and sea.
The origins of modern postal systems date to the 13th century, when printed couriers carried dispatches for governments, churches, universities, and other institutions. Over time, these private systems opened to the public. As populations grew, people tried moving the mail through a range of transportation technologies.
Sail and Steam Conquer the Atlantic:
Ocean-going ships have transported mail from one continent to another since at least the 1300s. Steamships, introduced in the 1830s, shortened Atlantic Ocean crossings to a little more than two weeks. Over time, more and more steamship companies secured contracts to carry government mail. By the mid-1860s, government mail contracts heavily subsidized the construction and operation of transatlantic passenger liners. |