Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Post Offices

I guess the days of monumental post offices are gone, as the U.S. Postal Service looks at closing 2,000 branches nationwide.  By the way,  in case you didn't notice, the cost of sending a postcard went up by a penny a few weeks ago. The rate is now 29 cents.  The cost to mail a one-ounce letter did not go up, and remains at 44 cents.
Here are some classic and monumental post offices.






And here's a not-so-classic mailbox in Portland, Oregon decorated by renegade artists:

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8 comments:

  1. Lisa BApril 26, 2011 at 8:17 AM

    Great postcards, what imposing buildings they are, you definitely couldn't miss them! As a foreigner, I'm not sure I would have believed the last image to be a real mailbox :).

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  2. Archie TechtApril 26, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Love that first image, the people driving in the street look like bumper cars! Chicago P.O. and Fed building is also very impressive- don't know that new P.O.'s need to be that monumental, but I for one enjoy going to a nice building to mail a package or buy stamps, so will actually go to a different branch if I find the one located closest to me boring/depressing. The attitude of the clerks make a difference too, upon moving to Oregon I was stunned to find the staff at the P.O. and DMV were actually friendly, having grow up dealing with cranks at those offices in NY...

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  3. Postcard RoundupApril 26, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    I've always been baffled as to why so many post offices (and libraries) made their way onto postcards. They just seem like odd subjects to me. Maybe I just don't see them as touristy enough!

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  4. Brian PaperSpongeApril 26, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    Nice collection. I've always enjoyed the monumental exploits of old post offices. Just massive and pouring over with architectural elements. I'm sure they were heaven to the pigeons of the day. It also appears in the top postcard that some cars were treated the same as balloons and blimps were as far as being "placed" on postcards when needed to liven things up.

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  5. Brett PayneApril 26, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    I reckon those cars in the first postcard are faked. Well, at least one of the, and perhaps all three. Check the shadows. they look like they've been pasted on.

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  6. Alan BurnettApril 27, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    They were such commanding buildings weren't they, symbols of the importance of the postal services. Sadly, there will be no such physical monuments to the web and the internet, other than perhaps the headquarters of Facebook, Google and the like.

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  7. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 2:45 AM

    Neat.

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  8. Aimee DarsApril 30, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    Fabulous postcards - though I think I like the dinosaur box best! : )

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