Over the decades, postal services worldwide have handled some truly extraordinary packages. From sending priceless artifacts to transporting fragile life forms, people have trusted mail services to deliver unique and peculiar parcels. Today, thanks to tools like Delhivery’s tracking, recipients and senders alike can now track Delhivery orders in real-time, following even the most peculiar parcels on their journeys. But long before these digital conveniences existed, history shows that the postal service was a trusted, if sometimes surprising, partner in delivering the unexpected.
A Unique Parcel: A Cathedal Stone
In an ambitious architectural project in the late 1800s, a congregation in the U.S. decided to mail stones for a cathedral from Indiana to Wyoming. The stones were individually wrapped and labeled as parcels, allowing them to arrive one at a time. Each stone needed careful handling and precision to ensure that it arrived intact and ready to be assembled. The trust placed in postal services to deliver parts of a structure shows just how reliable mail systems were considered, even back then.
Exotic Pets and Plants
Sending live plants or exotic animals was surprisingly common among collectors and scientists in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Botanists frequently mailed tropical plants, cacti, and other rare species to researchers worldwide, packed meticulously to survive long journeys. On the animal side, it wasn’t unheard of for collectors to send reptiles and birds to one another. While risky, postal services often managed to deliver these delicate live packages, sometimes accompanied by instructions on their care. Today, shipping restrictions on live animals are much tighter, but this practice is a testament to the adventurous spirit of early collectors and scientists.
Transporting Artwork Across Continents
Another unusual practice involved the transportation of high-value artworks. Museums and galleries would ship massive paintings or delicate sculptures through the mail, trusting postal workers to handle them carefully. In 1947, a priceless sculpture by Picasso was mailed to the U.S. for an exhibition. The staff took immense care to ensure it arrived safely, packaging it in reinforced wooden crates. Today, valuable shipments like these are tracked closely, making it easier to confirm the safe arrival of priceless items like these.
Letters with Unusual Postage
During the Victorian era, “letters with a twist” were popular. People would send coins, pressed flowers, and even strands of hair embedded within letters to make them unique. In some cases, these items created fascinating, sentimental keepsakes that recipients treasured. This postal trend speaks to the creativity and personal touch people brought to mail. Today, while sending unusual items within letters is less common, the charm of old-fashioned mailing remains, especially when it’s an unexpected surprise.
Sending an Entire Car
While shipping cars may be common today, mailing them in pieces was a rare concept. However, there are records from the early 20th century when manufacturers or enthusiasts would dismantle an entire vehicle, shipping each part individually. This was typically done for vehicles that were difficult to obtain in specific countries or regions. Postal workers handled each part with the precision required for reassembly. This practice highlights the adaptability of the postal service in managing shipments of any size.
Frozen Fish and Perishables
Shipping fresh or frozen food may seem impractical, yet sending perishables was more common than expected. Fishermen from coastal towns would ship fresh catches, and certain areas specialized in mailing regional produce like oysters, smoked salmon, and cheeses. Using salt or ice packs for preservation, these food parcels needed quick and careful delivery. Fresh seafood shipments still take place today, but services like Delhivery’s platform allow customers to track perishable items closely, ensuring they arrive on time and in good condition.
Large-Scale Textile Shipments
Textiles were another unconventional cargo, often mailed for international trade. Traders and tailors would send fabric rolls, sometimes across vast distances, so that customers in remote regions could access fine textiles. These rolls were often packed in lightweight crates or heavy burlap, making them ideal for shipment over long distances. Textiles are still shipped today, but tracking systems provide peace of mind for customers, particularly when high-value orders are involved.
Miniature Rail Engines
In a truly unique example, miniature rail enthusiasts once sent entire miniature engines through the post. Packed piece by piece, the engines required intricate reassembly upon arrival. With great trust in the postal system, customers would often receive highly complex items sent via standard mail. Today, while such shipments might be managed by freight, tracking systems help ensure timely, safe delivery for intricate shipments.
Transcontinental Medical Samples
During early medical research, doctors and researchers would often send tissue samples, preserved organs, or even entire specimens to one another. These medical parcels allowed groundbreaking research to be conducted across continents and provided critical materials for study. Packed in careful protective layers, these samples required special handling and urgent delivery. Today, tracking technology ensures sensitive medical shipments reach their destinations swiftly and safely, continuing to support scientific and medical advancements.
Postal Services and the Human Imagination
The mail has carried more than just letters and packages. From cathedrals and cars to art and exotic animals, postal services have been a reliable partner in transporting items that were as valuable as they were unusual. While modern tracking technology, like Delhivery’s tracking system, adds a layer of transparency and security, the history of unusual parcels reflects human creativity and the incredible trust placed in the postal system.