Synopsis

Regardless of weather—rain, snow, searing heat, or the darkness of night—we rely on postmen to bring our letters and packages. The United States Postal Service processes more than 603 million pieces of mail each day. Still, this accounts for only 43% of all mail sent worldwide. From the earliest communications of ancient Sumeria to the Pony Express, from pioneering airmail routes to the advent of email, we trace the enduring story of how messages travel.