Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Quiz:
In the 1800s in England some people sent letters sealed with wax and a black feather stuck to the wax.
1. What was the meaning of inserting a black feather under the wax?
2. What was the reason for doing this?
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Feathers under seal.
Took a bit of searching but the explanation is here.
http://www.gavethat.com/2010/12/swedish-fjaderbrev-feather-wax-seals.html
We learn something every day, thanks for stimulating the old grey matter.
This is the site before the above which has more facts about the wax colours used.
http://www.gavethat.com/2013/02/secret-language-of-wax-seals.html
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Mind you in the 1800's there was no airmail so I reckon it probably was something to show contents were probably sad or notice of someone's demise.
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Quiz Correction!!!
The country name should be Sweden.
This is a two part question.
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Ok so here is a better link.
https://www.berryhillsturgeon.com/Archives/Sweden/SE-1774Featherletter.htm
So it denoted a type of letter that needed express delivery.
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Now we know it is Sweden here is a 1984 stamp depicting the letter and feather.
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Not that I am sure what the last 6 posts have to do with coronavirus, but maybe the mods can hive these off into a separate thread.
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Quiz:
Question 1: the feather indicated the missive, or message, was URGENT. CORRECT
Question 2: For what reason was this done? Not Answered.
I am trying to bring some philatelic levity in a time of dire incertitude, fear and pain.
If a moderator chooses to move this item to another thread, so be it. I would welcome it with an open heart.
Please, go to the thread The Weekly Comedy Show for my newest contribution.
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Q2. so the carrier would know that it had to go as fast as possible?
Was there a reason why you stated a black feather rather than just a feather in your original question?
The wave form with a horizontal line meant that it had to go directly.
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Hello,
The answer, according to Prof. David Lank of McGill University, Canada, is that in those days in Sweden--and I surmise other areas, other countries--"post offices" were staffed by many illiterate individuals who neither knew how to read nor write. Thus, these symbols or representations were easily understood by such individuals when handling the postal materials.
Sweden established laws that required Post Offices to have at least two staff members who could read in order to handle the mail.
Dr. Lank's lecture. Every Stamp a Story, can be accessed on YouTube. I wonder how many other signs and symbols--among them the Wave--were used by people using the postal services around the world. These symbols "adorn" covers and often are not easily understood.
Is there a group who studies this topic?
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Ok, so was there a reason you said black feather rather than any colour feather?
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Moved to separate thread.
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re: Questions
Quiz:
In the 1800s in England some people sent letters sealed with wax and a black feather stuck to the wax.
1. What was the meaning of inserting a black feather under the wax?
2. What was the reason for doing this?
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Feathers under seal.
Took a bit of searching but the explanation is here.
http://www.gavethat.com/2010/12/swedish-fjaderbrev-feather-wax-seals.html
We learn something every day, thanks for stimulating the old grey matter.
This is the site before the above which has more facts about the wax colours used.
http://www.gavethat.com/2013/02/secret-language-of-wax-seals.html
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Mind you in the 1800's there was no airmail so I reckon it probably was something to show contents were probably sad or notice of someone's demise.
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Quiz Correction!!!
The country name should be Sweden.
This is a two part question.
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Ok so here is a better link.
https://www.berryhillsturgeon.com/Archives/Sweden/SE-1774Featherletter.htm
So it denoted a type of letter that needed express delivery.
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Now we know it is Sweden here is a 1984 stamp depicting the letter and feather.
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Not that I am sure what the last 6 posts have to do with coronavirus, but maybe the mods can hive these off into a separate thread.
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Quiz:
Question 1: the feather indicated the missive, or message, was URGENT. CORRECT
Question 2: For what reason was this done? Not Answered.
I am trying to bring some philatelic levity in a time of dire incertitude, fear and pain.
If a moderator chooses to move this item to another thread, so be it. I would welcome it with an open heart.
Please, go to the thread The Weekly Comedy Show for my newest contribution.
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Q2. so the carrier would know that it had to go as fast as possible?
Was there a reason why you stated a black feather rather than just a feather in your original question?
The wave form with a horizontal line meant that it had to go directly.
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Hello,
The answer, according to Prof. David Lank of McGill University, Canada, is that in those days in Sweden--and I surmise other areas, other countries--"post offices" were staffed by many illiterate individuals who neither knew how to read nor write. Thus, these symbols or representations were easily understood by such individuals when handling the postal materials.
Sweden established laws that required Post Offices to have at least two staff members who could read in order to handle the mail.
Dr. Lank's lecture. Every Stamp a Story, can be accessed on YouTube. I wonder how many other signs and symbols--among them the Wave--were used by people using the postal services around the world. These symbols "adorn" covers and often are not easily understood.
Is there a group who studies this topic?
Login to Like
this post
re: Questions
Ok, so was there a reason you said black feather rather than any colour feather?
Login to Like
this post