From way back in history, people sent letters to each other. These were delivered on foot or on horseback by special messengers. From the 17th century, the first national postal systems began springing up in many countries. These were more organized, and many people could use them. Slowly, countries agreed to exchange mail internationally. By the late 19th century, there was a global postal service, but it was slow and complicated. The birth of the UPU in 1874 opened the way for the efficient postal service in existence today. In 1948, the UPU became an agency of the United Nations.
(, Fri 9 Oct 2026, 14:49, archived)