Tin Can Mail

Niuafo’ou is an isolated volcanic island in the Pacific with no harbor. Since 1882, it has been getting its mail via “tin can,” i.e. sealed inside a biscuit tin, or other watertight package and either carried to shore by a swimmer or brought in by canoe. Postal fans all over the world have posted letters to Niuafo’ou to garner the coveted “Tin Can Mail” stamp on their envelopes. There’s a marvelous history here, and above, a real photo postcard from the 1930s.

And another wonderful piece.

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This entry was posted on May 21, 2011 at 4:21 pm and is filed under Mail, Postcards . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Tin Can Mail”

Tin Can Mail and the drive to communicate | Angela Savage Says:
January 19, 2012 at 12:03 am

[...] sources: Niuafo’ou from the air, Trans Niugini Tours Photo postcard c 1930, Post Office Postcards Pauline Hoeft, Walter Quensell & Emma Hoeft, Tonga Tin Can Mail History (1882-1983) [...]

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- kihm Says:
  January 19, 2012 at 1:22 am
  
  Thank you! Wonderful piece!
  
  Reply