Age Group: Young Adult

  • Allen, Judy. Guide to Stamps and Stamp Collecting. Twickenham, UK: Tiger Books International; Tulsa, OK: Published in the USA by EDC Pub., c1998.

  • Bowyer, Mathew. They Carried the Mail: a Survey of Postal History and Hobbies. Washington, R.B. Luce [1972]
    About the book:
    Publishers Weekly
    "All you want to know about mail except why stamps won't stick."
    Book Description
    The postal system, from its beginnings in the 17th century, has been a matter of both aggravation and dependability to every man and woman in America. In They Carried the Mail, Mathew J. Bowyer presents the fascinating history of these bearers of ill and joyous tidings.

  • Graham, Richard. United States Postal History Sampler. Sidney, OH: Linn's Stamp News, c1992.
    About the book:
    The book is an introduction to many different U.S. postal history topics. It consists of 15 chapters based on approximately 60 Linn's columns created by Graham between 1982 and 1991. Corrections and updates published in subsequent Linn's columns have been incorporated into the text where appropriate. Some of the topics covered include train wreck covers, fancy cancels APO markings, campaign covers, flag cancels, Intelex markings, Dead Letter Office markings, early railroad markings, factured first-day covers, free franks, advertising covers and Navy ship post office markings.

  • Harness, Cheryl. They’re Off! The Story of the Pony Express. Aladdin Library, 2002.
    About the book:
    Ingram
    Provides a factual, exciting account of the American postal system in the 1860s, covering the origins and history of the Pony Express, its daring riders and their struggles, and the tale of the first East to West connection ever made.

  • Savage. Jeff. Pony Express Riders of the Wild West. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 2002.
    About the book:
    Savage, Jeff. Pony Express Riders of the Wild West. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1995.
    School Library Journal
    An interesting, if not exhaustive, look at the people who settled the West. With personal accounts and colorful portraits of some of the better known (and rowdier) individuals, Savage creates a cursory overview of the time. He gives the perspective of Native Americans as well as the prospectors and miners. Pony Express tells the story behind the expression, "The mail must go through!" The riders, thieves, bandits and settlers are portrayed in vivid narrative and accounts. The author describes the origins of the Pony Express and its role in spreading the news of the first cannon shots at Fort Sumter, as well as its demise with the advent of the telegraph. Neither title presents new information, but each provides an interesting glance at the period. Black-and-white photos and reproductions appear throughout.

  • United States Postal Service. Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps. New York: HarperCollins, c2000.
    About the book:
    Newly revised and updated, The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps is just the delivery you've been waiting for!
    The only fully illustrated, four-color guide to U.S. stamps, this official publication provides the most comprehensive information available about the U.S. stamp program and its vivid history. Beginning with the first stamps released in 1847, The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps covers nearly 4,000 stamps issued up to the present.


Please send comments, questions or suggestions to libmail@si.edu