Royal Mail: The History of the Post Office Since 1840

by Martin Daunton

The history of the post office involves many of the most significant themes in the social, economic and political history of Britain. Daunton traces the development of the post office as an institution and as a business in the 19th and 20th centuries and places the debates surrounding its history, performances and failings in a longer historical perspective and in the broader context of British national history.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Martin James Daunton is Professor of Economic History at the University of Cambridge.

Reviews

[JZ Temple · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a history of the British Royal Mail service, this is a thoroughly well researched and detailed story. However, it's not an easy book to read, yet taken in moderation, it can be enjoyable. There are so many interesting facts and details... In the late 1800s, mail was delivered *twelve* times a day in London. Up to the 1920s, the Post Office was the single biggest employer in Britain, with a quarter million working part or full time. Besides delivering the mail, the Post Office also provided a Savings Bank for the working classes. And I learned the differnce between a money order and a postal order. OK, it's not Shakespeare, but it's interesting.