The first post office in North America had 
its beginning when the house of Richard Fairbanks 
was made a depository "for all letters which are 
brought from beyond the seas, or are sent thither."

  A Postal service was established in Virginia 
nearly 20 years later.  In 1672 a monthly postal 
service was put in operation between New York and
Boston.  An intercolonial postal service was begun
in 1691 by a private individual, and in 1706 the 
British Government took over the service and made 
it a branch of the general post office of London.

  Benjamine Franklin served from 1753 to 1774 as
Deputy Postmaster General of the British Colonies
of America.  The Continental Congress appointed him
to Postmaster General and gav e him authority to 
establish post offices from Main to Georgia.

  Adhesive stamps came into use in 1847, registered
mail in 1855, Railway Mail Service in 1864, free 
city delivery in 1863, rural delivery in some 
sections as early as 1896...  Money orders were sold 
in 1864, parcel post accepted for mailing in 1913,
and air mail began in 1918...