penny post

noun

1. (formerly) any of various postal systems delivering mail for a penny a letter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of penny post¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

The postal system rapidly expanded during Queen Victoria’s reign with the introduction of cheap stamps leading to the “penny post.”

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It had an image of Queen Victoria’s face and led to the introduction of the “penny post,” making letters cheap and easy for the majority of the population, who sent more than 1 billion of them annually by 1875.

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The penny post and railway distribution also played a part.

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Cole was instrumental in setting up the Penny Post letter-delivery system in 1840 and imagining the first Christmas card, which sold for a shilling.

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In 1840, the first year of Penny Post, the number of letters sent more than doubled.

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