Uniformed Letter Carrier with Child in Mailbag

I had a stamp on me but I ated it.

Let a career in the postal service put a smile on your face.

I'm Idaho

as u can notice this case is just perfect for selling fine babys frommall the town *scarcasm* O.o

hand says: im tired of yanking uughhhh

are these Gucci?

black face and white hands? very strange.

Haha

this probably is ur great great grandfather!

여기에 노트를 추가하십시오.

I was wandering where his legs were!

wow, they actually did dat?

Add your note here.

how wonderful!

mehdi

There is a note down here...

His face is probably sunburnt!

Very nice poto :)

GR8!

is that greenish swirl a signature?

Notes are annoying!!!

I agree.

I agree

I agree.

Will be a bit hard stuffing this in the letter box!

Is very nice (:

They're in the bag...

What is that rock doing there?

Pobre bb ese ahi.

Hmmm the black face white hands... was he wearing gloves?

What it is???

Newman!!!!

this is very sad to me. i love this,.

Love the little hands tucked into the bag the way they are

I agree.

Child-proof buckle.

Do not need child care, but this boy so cute

Uniformed Letter Carrier with Child in Mailbag by Smithsonian Institution.

Description: This city letter carrier posed for a humorous photograph with a young boy in his mailbag. After parcel post service was introduced in 1913, at least two children were sent by the service. With stamps attached to their clothing, the children rode with railway and city carriers to their destination. The Postmaster General quickly issued a regulation forbidding the sending of children in the mail after hearing of those examples.

Creator/Photographer: Unidentified photographer

Medium: Black and white photographic print

Culture: American

Geography: USA

Date: 1900

Collection: U.S. Postal Employees

Persistent URL: http://photography.si.edu/SearchImage.aspx?t=5&id=2001&q=A.2006-22

Repository: National Postal Museum

Accession number: A.2006-22

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Comments

< Prev 1 2 Next >

(176 comments)

Michael J. Tuttle says:

Looks like a good way to beat the extra baggage charge by todays Airlines
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

dcscooterboy says:

Looks like one more stork on the unemployment line to me!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

sigmaman says:

Amazing. Another wonder of the PUBLIC DOMAIN!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

satocharlie says:

the inventor of the baby bjorn?
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

macfixer says:

Gee, who's having less fun in this picture?

//k
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

_overanalyzer says:

ha!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Ian Tindale says:

Here's your order - three stuffed crust peperoni piz…
…doh!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

- [ ..::n z r t h::.. ] - says:

go figure!!!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

miradaperdida says:

Is that in the USA ???
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

a1exandra says:

:=)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Goggla says:

Special delivery! :)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

°Clò° says:

This is WONDERFUL!! :)))
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Redacted says:

return to sender.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

teach311 says:

Great picture!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

The World's Gaze says:

Greetings!
Using the "blog this" function above your picture, we have linked your picture to our not-for-profit blog [THE WORLD'S GAZE] in which we are showcasing some of the GEMS found in Flickr.
Should you object, we will remove the link immediately.
In anticipation, please receive our best wishes.
Cordially yours,

The World's Gaze
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

Pamelapixel says:

You've got mail.....
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

Gale Franey says:

Just wonderful !
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

Zzzzt!Zzzzt! says:

amazing image!! what a treasure.
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

silverbirdmoon says:

haha this is cute .
I laughed a lot with that note that says "I had a stamp on me but i ated it "
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

terry.mallison says:

Male service in it's infancy
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

sophie.z.j. says:

What can the poor man do - in those days there wasn't things like parental leave or kindergartens...
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

*Joyce's little square..♥ says:

really nice shot
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

rferranter says:

Carrying the future
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

giumaiolini says:

Special delivery!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

CRASH:candy says:

this is so very wonderful...the child's expression is priceless!!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

J Centavo says:

Love this one!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

mang_kiko : ) says:

this is gorgeous
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

bofferbings says:

The mail must go through!
Heavens, what else was sent parcel post I wonder?
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

toiatoya says:

cute!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

Rod Pavez says:

Two words: Fed EX
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

Karin Kamor Seigle says:

The mail man looks pooped, the child has probably pooped...they simply look exhausted :)
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

clairegrenade says:

very charming & yet very raw, just plain awesome
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

NoXstar (...in italy) says:

awesome, very nice.
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

gadjoboy says:

i'm a mailman...i wish this was our uniform....
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

eks4003 says:

I am a mail man...I am glad this is not our uniform...I like shorts and a short sleeve shirt and my ball cap...although carrying a kid in my satchel might be amusing
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

artland says:

wonderfulllllllll !!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

TheGypsie says:

Amusing and funny!!!
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

c.boterman says:

really beautyfull (:
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

.Lily of the Valley. says:

This is so cute! I LOVVEEEE old photographs- this program is awesome!
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

tboard says:

what a wonderful photo
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

cwdiaz says:

This is a great photograph. I just wonder what the thought process was going into this. Spur of the moment, or thought up over some beers the night before?
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

Yummy S says:

haha
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

60'70'80'♥ says:

awesome picture, and the baby is gorgeous *.*
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

{~YATIMAT~ALRoo7~} says:

cute
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

!"·$%&/ mOtTa! says:

wooooooow
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

GiveMeNovacaine says:

Haha, i love the expression on the little boy's face, so cute...
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

asdfdfghj says:

Nice city letter carrier
Awesome picture
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Juniper Juniper says:

Cute story about the kids being mailed. Ha!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

[o] Marc says:

The same kind of humor which turned Buster Keaton into a stone-face for the rest of his life.
Very funny, therefore.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Point Lobos Girl (busy at home) says:

Great picture! I have only one old one, turn of the century of my grandparents, from Poland.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Mijonju (will be in Hong Kong on the 9th to the 13 says:

haha cute :D
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Gerty ♣ says:

cool *-*
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Symbolizer says:

Cool. Always a good way to hold ;-)

Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

biggiechinx says:

Willy Tyler & Lester (circa 1900)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

toddlertoes says:

amazing that there were actually children sent? Very interesting, I love that you are publishing online - learning something new about history everyday. Thank you.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Hotaskim II says:

Interesting picture and work
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

striatic says:

This image has been used in the indicommons.org post: Delivering the Mail

Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

fri_da_lic_ious says:

This is so cute!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

LuigiArt says:

Good...
My photos

Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Benjamin Page says:

what a bitter sweet picture!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

vytusia says:

absolutely wonderful
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

DuX_LaiR_ says:

es una foto maravillosa!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Swissan says:

CC
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

<~eddie m says:

from the thumbnail, looked like the kid had no legs and thought omg..
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

draymon10 says:

: )
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

shweoo says:

Oh... amazing
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

mtlicq says:

Special Delivery !
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

mitkuto says:

this is so good~
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Luca Napoli says:

a piece of history. To be saved for next generations.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Herbert West says:

I lke this image very much and I've tried a little restore.
I hope you enjoy it

--
Found in a search. (?)
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

www.ngoxuanphu.com says:

the models have a stranger impression , look so cute
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

shannon~K says:

Shouldn't the wee one be marked..."FRAGILE?" ; )
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Paulina58 says:

Fantástica
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Enric Martinez says:

Well, the whole thing is artistically not quite so impressing; the compo is... well, is there any compo at all?

The models aren't quite expressive either and this ape-like alien creature in the bag really gives me the shivers... and it's also a bit overexposed too.

But well, it's intereseting from an historicla point of view ;)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Brenda Anderson says:

It's a documentary photo... I doubt the photographer was worried about being artistically impressive. :)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

eks4003 says:

Thank you Brenda
you took the words right out of my mouth
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

striatic says:

have to agree with Brenda there. i'm sorry you don't like the "compo", and would like to see you try to make a properly exposed image using circa 1900 camera equipment, film and development techniques.

i hope you're being sarcastic when you jump in with a lightweight, camera club style critique on what is clearly "historicla" photo.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

gianfre88 says:

woowowooo is beautiful!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

nicksartworld says:

there was time wen this was love
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

xurbia_xendless says:

Industrial Rev.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

thewritersays says:

one of my fav.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

charbalboa says:

WOAH :]
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Jeffrey is...Witchdoctor....... says:

That kids head is enormous!.. almost as big as the mailman's.

get a creepy vibe from it all:(
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Barbara Sena says:

Great picture
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

theSarge00 says:

It really is slightly disturbing...
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

heroes always lie says:

I love this!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Phantomy says:

abslutely fantastic!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

bignlarge says:

I wonder if the child would get served complimentary nuts and drinks on their travel?
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Lú_ says:

This image has been highlighted on Indicommons.org as among the Commons' Most Commented. Check out the rest!

Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

r3sisti says:

amazing!!!!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Kul Chip says:

so 9 :x
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

agent marmalade says:

I like it!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Fernando de Noguera says:

Felicidades, congratulations.. Maginfique ;)
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

JennyFoto says:

Nice!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

..::Chloé_8::.. says:

so cute!! lool
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Alexander Bodnarchuk says:

Good job

Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

immortalfriendstotheworld says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called the funnist flickr group in the world, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

immortalfriendstotheworld says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called just4laughs, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

immortalfriendstotheworld says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Natural Children's Best Pictures, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

reeeid says:

i love thiss
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken on May 14, 2008

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