CHAPTER I

THE GENESIS OF THE POST 55

The earliest letter-carriers--The Roman _posita_--Princely Postmasters of Thurn and Taxis--Sir Brian Tuke--Hobson of "Hobson's Choice"--The General Letter Office of England--Dockwra's Penny Post of 1680--Povey's "Halfpenny Carriage"--The Edinburgh and other Penny Posts--Postal rates before 1840--Uniform Penny Postage--The Postage Stamp regarded as the royal _diplomata_--The growth of the postal business.