Forwarding agent (philately)
This article does not cite any sources. (March 2011) |
A forwarding agent was an intermediary who facilitated the routing of international mail before the development of the modern postal system.
History[]
In the early days of postal communications it was often necessary for international mail to pass through a number of hands before reaching its eventual destination. At each stage the agent would add their own mark. For instance, a letter might pass first through the sender's domestic post office's hands, then to a forwarder for a sea journey and then to the post office of the destination country.
The study of the marks of forwarding agents on mail is a popular branch of postal history.
See also[]
Further reading[]
- Rowe, Kenneth. The postal history and markings of the forwarding agents. (1st edition 1966, supplement 1974, 2nd ed. 1984, 3rd ed. 1996. ISBN 0-917528-12-3)
External links[]
Categories:
- Philatelic terminology