On July 26, 1775, three months after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress established a postal system for the United Colonies, naming Benjamin Franklin the first Postmaster General. Even before the nation was born, the Founding Fathers recognized the vital importance of a postal system — facilitating rapid and reliable communication between Congress and the Continental Army, as well as helping to unite the country in a common cause.
As the nation grew, so did its postal network.
Between 1790 and 1860, the population grew from 3.9 million to 31.4 million. During that same time, the number of post offices increased 380-fold — from 75 to 28,498. And as the United States expanded its territory, the modes of transport evolved as well. Throughout its storied history, the U.S. Postal Service has delivered the mail by horseback and stagecoach, steamboat and railroad, and later by truck, car, helicopter, subway, bicycle, and, of course, foot.
Every day, the USPS processes and delivers more than 380 million pieces of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses in the country — serving every state, city, and town. That’s a lot of footwork.
For two-and-a-half centuries, the Post Office has played a central role in American life and culture — and along the way, artists have captured priceless moments on the covers of The Saturday Evening Post.
This article is featured in the July/August 2025 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives.
Become a Saturday Evening Post member and enjoy unlimited access. Subscribe now
Comments
Thanks Post editors for identifying each cover’s name, date and artist here. Without it, most assume they’re all Rockwell, when only the bottom one (from 1942) is. The first one by Dohanos looks very real in the rain. Next, naughty Butch chewing what was dropped in the slot, frustrated he’s all alone. The sad eyes say so much.
The postman soaking his feet; I can only imagine. I love the bottom three covers too. Hopefully the letter from overseas is of comfort to this woman. It looks like it is. Midnight, you should write President Trump with these ideas to be assessed and reviewed for practical application. He’ll get the right people on it If anyone will!
One of my subscription giftees got their July/August Post delivered on the 10th in a plastic bag from USPS apologizing for its condition which was smashed and partially ‘eaten’ by the sorting machine. I was actually given the copy when I saw them on the 13th. The good news is I called the (800) number on the 10th, and they got the replacement copy on the 14th, in the normal beautiful condition. I was shocked at how fast it came!
Those last three covers are my favourites. “Letter Home” and “Willie Gillis” are especially good. Nowadays, the costs to mail a letter (or bill) or ship a package is outrageous. I would be in favour of President Trump either privatizing USPS or cutting mail delivery to four days a week, Tue thru Fri. Using AI and more automation might be a cost saver. Rural delivery to given points of secured boxes is another. Closing and consolidation of smaller post offices is yet another. Anyway, something needs to be done, and now.