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BEFORE there were envelopes...

Ogrebait

By Ogrebait
in Paper and Pen Paraphernalia

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Ogrebait Near Mint

Ogrebait

Posted
Posted

...how did people correspond? Would it survive todays modern mail system? Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

Rick

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe--"That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.

 

--Henry David Thoreau

 

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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umenohana Vintage

umenohana

Posted
Posted

They would fold a big piece of paper, fold it into an envelope-sized shape, seal it up, and send it on its way.

 

I've used this format to write to several people, and they all got to them intact. :lol:

 

-Hana

<center>My little website of illustrations<p><img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~umenohana/images/thumbnails/thameline.jpg">

Last updated Saturday, 24 Feb. 2007.<br>(Two new H. P. Lovecraft links have been added.)<br>Wow-- I've 2000 hits, thanks to all the wonderful visitors from over 30 different countries!</center>

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Titivillus Donor Pen

Titivillus

Posted
Posted
...how did people correspond? Would it survive todays modern mail system? Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

Rick

There is a great book called Pen, ink and evidence which traces parts of the history of pens and there is part of a chapter on that. Pretty much you write on one side of a piece of paper then fold and seal it with a wax seal. I remember seeing a painting of a postman trying to read the inside of a letter without breaking the seal!

 

K

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Ogrebait Near Mint

Ogrebait

Posted
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Is there any special way to fold the letter? Did you use a wax seal?

 

Rick

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe--"That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.

 

--Henry David Thoreau

 

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Ogrebait Near Mint

Ogrebait

Posted
  • Author
Posted
There is a great book called Pen, ink and evidence which traces parts of the history of pens and there is part of a chapter on that. Pretty much you write on one side of a piece of paper then fold and seal it with a wax seal. I remember seeing a painting of a postman trying to read the inside of a letter without breaking the seal!

 

K

 

Thanks for the info. :)

 

Rick

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe--"That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.

 

--Henry David Thoreau

 

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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JimStrutton Antique

JimStrutton

Posted
Posted

Rick,

 

Try this site LetterFU

 

Think it was Ray that told me about it, but it is a good way to get into folding and sealing letters without envelopes.

 

Jim

Obi Won WD40

Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert!

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twdpens Collectors Item

twdpens

Posted
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We sent some invitations that were wax-sealed (and then placed in an evelope for protection. They looked lovely.

 

The mail sorting machines crushed all the seals meaning the recipient opened their envelope to reveal a red-stained piece of paper and a pile of red granules! Never mind. Nice idea - but only for hand-delivery!

 

Martin

The Writing Desk

Fountain Pen Specialists since 2000

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Johnny Appleseed Antique

Johnny Appleseed

Posted
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I think Pendomonium was selling some sort of sealing material that you use from a hot-glue gun. It has some flex to it, so it does not get crushed in the mail. Not as authentic as wax, but it seems to work.

 

John

So if you have a lot of ink,

You should get a Yink, I think.

 

- Dr Suess

 

Always looking for pens by Baird-North, Charles Ingersoll, and nibs marked "CHI"

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chud Extremely Rare

chud

Posted
Posted
The mail sorting machines crushed all the seals meaning the recipient opened their envelope to reveal a red-stained piece of paper and a pile of red granules!

Yep, had that experience too. I just bought some flexible sealing wax from Atelier Gargoyle (Web site here), and though I haven't had a chance to use it myself yet, they included a couple of seals, one on the outside of the box, and it survived the mail perfectly intact.

 

They seem quite flexible, almost more like a moderately hard rubber; I could bend one to 90 degrees without breaking it. They look nice, and seem to be pretty close to post-office-proof. They are tough enough though that I would be careful about using them as a seal that the recipient is meant to break -- put them in a place where it's okay to damage the paper it's on, because I suspect you may do so getting the seal off.

 

I'll do a couple of experiments along those lines, and if people are interested I'll post the results.

 

-C

A handwritten blog (mostly)

 

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png

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JimStrutton Antique

JimStrutton

Posted
Posted
I'll do a couple of experiments along those lines, and if people are interested I'll post the results.

 

-C

I would be interested Chud :eureka:

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

Obi Won WD40

Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert!

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Ogrebait Near Mint

Ogrebait

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Rick,

 

Try this site LetterFU

 

Think it was Ray that told me about it, but it is a good way to get into folding and sealing letters without envelopes.

 

Jim

Jim,

 

Thanks for the website.

 

Rick

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe--"That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.

 

--Henry David Thoreau

 

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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umenohana Vintage

umenohana

Posted
Posted

Ogrebait, I've sent you the letter today. :)

 

-Hana

<center>My little website of illustrations<p><img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~umenohana/images/thumbnails/thameline.jpg">

Last updated Saturday, 24 Feb. 2007.<br>(Two new H. P. Lovecraft links have been added.)<br>Wow-- I've 2000 hits, thanks to all the wonderful visitors from over 30 different countries!</center>

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Ogrebait Near Mint

Ogrebait

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Ogrebait, I've sent you the letter today. :)

 

-Hana

Thanks Hana. :)

 

Rick

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe--"That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.

 

--Henry David Thoreau

 

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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chud Extremely Rare

chud

Posted
Posted
I'll do a couple of experiments along those lines, and if people are interested I'll post the results.

 

-C

I would be interested Chud :eureka:

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

I just posted a review over in the reviews and articles forum. :-)

 

Cheers,

-C

A handwritten blog (mostly)

 

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png

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umenohana Vintage

umenohana

Posted
Posted
Ogrebait, I've sent you the letter today. :)

 

-Hana

Thanks Hana. :)

 

Rick

You're welome! Oh, and please rip the seal in two when you get it-- that way, it should do no damage to the paper.

 

-Hana

<center>My little website of illustrations<p><img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~umenohana/images/thumbnails/thameline.jpg">

Last updated Saturday, 24 Feb. 2007.<br>(Two new H. P. Lovecraft links have been added.)<br>Wow-- I've 2000 hits, thanks to all the wonderful visitors from over 30 different countries!</center>

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Patrick Hand Near Mint

Patrick Hand

Posted
Posted

I thought people use to fold the ourside 1/4 (long ways) of a sheet of paper to the center, forming a long almost flat tube,and then folded the end a little more than 1/3, and fold the top edge down, making a flap... then seal it... (Dang... that was as clear as mud...)

I don't know if you can mail it through the Postal system that way tho....

 

I'd have to look it up again, but I read someplace that the postage was by the page, not the size or weight...

 

And I think it was Ben Franklin that stopped the postmen from reading other peoples mail... There was also something about people writting in code so thier mail wouldn't get read by postmen.... .

 

Dang... I read something, then have to remember where I read it...... :D

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