When did the American "Business Reply Mail" concept begin?
May 3, 2012 12:27 PM   Subscribe

What is the general history of the US postal "business reply mail" ? When did it begin?

I understand the concept as most articles I've found explain, but none of them offer details about when it was first employed. I have been collecting them for a while with intent of using the characteristic "no postage necessary" box and dark black bars there-under for a collage-style art project, and just lately I was reading a 1938 issue of Coronet (a Reader's Digest style magazine) and inside was one such Business Reply Mail card still attached to the spine on the inside front cover. Is there any indication who might have the oldest Business Reply Mail card?
posted by Quarter Pincher to Grab Bag (2 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: It was first implemented in 1928. Start reading at page 66 in the surprisingly interesting HISTORY OF MAIL CLASSIFICATION
AND ITS UNDERLYING POLICIES AND PURPOSES
by Richard B. Kielbowicz a prof at UW.
posted by Lame_username at 12:48 PM on May 3, 2012 [3 favorites]


If you have access to JSTOR, Development of Postal Rates 1845-1955 by Jane Kennedy also has some coverage of the hearings. The actual bill was HR 9296 in the 70th Congress, but I don't think Thomas goes back quite that far.
posted by Lame_username at 12:53 PM on May 3, 2012


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