
Paris was the first city to adopt a pneumatic post system in 1908, with the first tube stretching from the Gare de Lyon to the Banque de France.
The pneumatic post system allowed for rapid transportation of mail, with speeds of up to 100 km/h.
The system was initially met with skepticism, but it proved to be a game-changer for the city's postal service, reducing delivery times and increasing efficiency.
The network expanded rapidly, with over 60 km of tubes laid across the city by 1914.
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A Love Letter to the Lost World
Paris was a hub for innovative transportation systems, and the pneumatic post was one of its most fascinating creations.
The pneumatic post, also known as the "Pneumatique", was a network of underground tubes that used compressed air to propel mail and packages through the city at incredible speeds.
Built in the late 19th century, the Pneumatique system was a marvel of engineering that connected the city's major post offices and allowed for rapid delivery of mail across the city.
Parisians loved the Pneumatique system for its speed and efficiency, with mail traveling at up to 35 kilometers per hour.
The Pneumatique system was also a precursor to the modern-day postal service, showcasing the potential of technology to revolutionize the way we send and receive mail.
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The Network and Mechanics
The Paris pneumatic post was a marvel of its time, and its network played a crucial role in its success. It spanned over 1,500 kilometers, connecting major cities and towns across France.
The pneumatic post's tubes were made of cast iron, with a diameter of about 1 meter. This size allowed for the efficient transportation of mail.
The system used compressed air to propel the mail through the tubes, reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. This was a significant improvement over traditional postal methods.
The Paris pneumatic post had a total of 2,000 kilometers of tubes, with 1,200 kilometers of them being above ground. The remaining 800 kilometers were underground.
This extensive network allowed for the rapid transportation of mail, with delivery times reduced to just a few hours.
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Postal System and Markings
The postal system in Paris during the late 19th century was a complex network of tubes and pneumatic systems that allowed for rapid transportation of mail.
Each letter and package was assigned a unique number and a colored label indicating its destination, with the colors denoting different postal zones within the city.
The pneumatic tubes were made of cast-iron and were roughly 2 meters in diameter, with the mail being transported through them at speeds of up to 60 km/h.
The postal markings on the letters and packages were an essential part of the system, providing vital information about the sender, recipient, and route taken.
The Postal Markings
The Postal Markings are a crucial part of the postal system, helping to identify the origin and destination of a mailpiece.
Zip codes, for instance, are a specific type of postal marking used in the United States to identify a geographic area.
A zip code is made up of five digits and is usually assigned to a specific post office or postal zone.
The first digit of a zip code represents a group of states, while the next two digits represent a region within that group of states.
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The final two digits represent a specific post office or postal zone within that region.
In the United States, zip codes are used to sort and process mail efficiently, ensuring it reaches its destination quickly.
Post offices and mail carriers use zip codes to determine the correct route for mail delivery.
In some countries, postal markings may include additional information, such as a country code or a specific postal code.
These markings help postal workers quickly identify the origin and destination of a mailpiece.
The use of postal markings has become increasingly important with the rise of international mail and e-commerce.
By including accurate and up-to-date postal markings, senders can ensure their mailpieces are processed efficiently and reach their intended destination.
Letter-Cards
Letter-cards were a type of postal item that evolved over time, with the first example being the 75c Sage modified TELEGRAMME in 1879.
The design of letter-cards changed frequently, with new versions appearing every year from 1880 to 1886.

The cost of letter-cards varied, with the 50/75c rate in 1880 and the 50c Chaplain rate in 1881.
Some letter-cards featured maps of Paris, such as the 50c with map of Paris, blue shading at west in 1882.
Other letter-cards had different inscriptions on the back, such as the 30c Sower in 1907.
The cost of letter-cards continued to change, with the 30/50c rate in 1902 and the 60/1f rate in 1927.
Here's a list of the different letter-card types and their corresponding years:
The cost of letter-cards continued to increase, with the 2f rate in 1938 and the 3f Petain rate in 1942.
Introduction and Overview
Paris, the City of Light, is a hub for innovation and technology, and its pneumatic post system is a fascinating example of this.
The pneumatic post was first introduced in Paris in 1851, making it one of the oldest pneumatic tube systems in the world.
This system revolutionized the way people sent and received mail, allowing for fast and efficient delivery within the city.
The pneumatic post system in Paris was designed to transport mail between post offices, using a network of underground tubes and compressed air to propel the mail containers.
The system was a huge success, with mail being delivered in as little as 30 minutes.
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Sources
- http://www.coppoweb.com/pneuma/book1.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_pneumatic_post
- https://www.messynessychic.com/2021/02/05/a-love-letter-to-the-lost-world-of-the-parisian-pneumatic-post/
- https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamps-postal-history/pneumatic-post-paris-mail-france-postal-history-philately.html
- http://www.coppoweb.com/pneuma/book3.html
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