Extra-Special Deliveries

In January 1913 the U.S. Post Office started delivering heavier packages than a letter in the mail. Not long afterwards, a few parents got the idea of mailing their children to relatives for a visit. One newspaper reported that it cost parents fifty-three cents to mail their daughter to her grandparents for a visit. Although fifty-three cents could buy much more in 1913, it was still a cheap way for a youngster to travel.

From the very first, the postmaster general frowned on the idea. He didn't see that mailing children ranked with mailing plants, baby chicks or other small animals. However, there were several such mailings recorded before it was finally stopped. Parents would buy the postage, attach the stamps to their child's clothing, and mail him or her to the destination. Do you remember the children's story about Flat Stanley? Maybe this is where the author came up with the idea.

Although the idea is intriguing and a bit bizarre, not many parents chose to take advantage of the situation. Although railway or city carriers rode along with the children to their destination, not many parents felt comfortable sending their child off like this. Today it might even be considered child neglect or abuse. On June 13, 1920 the U.S. Post Office ruled that it would no longer be allowed. Mailing children came to an end.

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