In this episode we're diving into our first batch of listener mail (much more to come folks!), as well as a topic of long-standing interest to (at least one) of our hosts: the USPS's iconic Standard Collection Box, aka the "blue box." For well over a century these sturdy steel sentinels (and their many predecessors) have helped move mail around the country's vast delivery network. And though their volume and locations continue to change, they remain a fascinating and ubiquitous fixture of American postal infrastructure—and a small but wonderful symbol of resilience and community.

As always, we'd love to hear from you: write to the show and we may send you a little something in return!

Birth. Stamps. Death.

P.O. Box 26

Grand Central Station

New York, NY 10163

Links:

USPS Postal Facts on Blue Collection Boxes (USPS)

Mail Collection Boxes: A Brief History (USPS)

Background on early mail collection boxes in urban places (Smithsonian)

Evolution of the Post Box (The Postal Museum, London)

I Love Jeb Co. Mailboxes (A wonderful personal blog)

What is a Collection Box? (USPS)

Find some real-life blue boxes on PixPost (@chrispy_stamps)

Episode gallery (including our friend Cole's Chicago snapshot of old mail boxes!)

In this episode we look at an iconic series of U.S. stamps, the so-called "Fourth Bureau Issues"—a quintessential example of early twentieth-century American definitives produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) starting in 1922. This series ushered in major changes in both the speed and scale of stamp production—moving from flat plate to rotary presses—as well as the kinds of images that found their way onto these gorgeous issues. We're also joined by a special guest to learn a little more about the production details.

As always, we'd love to receive some mail from our dear listeners. Write us at:

Birth. Stamps. Death.

P.O. Box 26

Grand Central Station

New York, NY 10163

Note: We've received some wonderful listener mail since the recording of this episode, so if you've sent us something and we don't mention it here don't fret! We're diving into your wonderful missives and a long-awaited answer to our Irish stamp riddle in next week's episode.

Links:

Our Website

Our Instagram

We're very grateful to the band All Good for supplying our intro and outro music, check them out on Instagram and head over to Spotify or wherever you stream your music to give them a listen.

The Fourth Bureau Issues (Smithsonian)

Portrait of Sioux Chief Hollow Horn Bear (Smithsonian)

Close up of the 15c Statue of Liberty Single (Smithsonian)

Close up of the 30c American Buffalo Single (Smithsonian)

$5 Head of "Freedom" Single (Smithsonian)

Our Special Guest's Hipstamp store

Special thanks to Rod Juell's excellent writing and research on the Fourth Bureaus, much of which we relied on for this episode.

The Birth. Stamps. Death. team is joined by Haley Maloney to discuss the USPS's iconic zip code mascot Mr. Zip! Mr. Zip dragged the mailing public reluctantly into the zip code era, improving the efficiency of mail delivery and endearing millions to his cheerful orange visage. We also talk about what Haley collects, what got her into collecting, and the joys of the regional stamp club.

We would LOVE to receive some mail from our dear listeners, write us at:

Birth. Stamps. Death.

P.O. Box 26

Grand Central Station

New York, NY 10163

In our zeal to bring the zip saga to you we misstated a couple of facts: 1) there is no Mr. Zip stamp, a grave injustice 2) the United States has 10 first digit postal regions, not 9.

Links

The Mr. Zip promotional campaign (Smithsonian)

Overview of Mr. Zip's many uses in the 1960s and 70s (Smithsonian)

Mr. Zip as a pop cultural icon (Smithsonian)

Overview of Mr. Zip's origins and trajectory over the years

Haley's Art Insta

Ryan Goldberg's Bird City

Our Website

Our Instagram

We're very grateful to the band All Good for supplying our intro and outro music, check them out on Instagram and head over to Spotify or wherever you stream your music to give them a listen.