Envelope with canceled stamp (United States, 1858)
Sent from Charleston, South Carolina to New York, New York, 1858 April 3

Envelope with special delivery stamp (United States, 1885)
Sent from Ilion, New York to Boston, Massachusetts, 1885 September 30

L. L. Peltz Collection of Special Delivery Stamps

These two addressed envelopes represent the beginnings of expedited mail services. The message on the envelope of the 1858 correspondence implores the postmaster to have the item ?delivered without a delay.? The 1885 correspondence is the first piece of special delivery mail handled by the Boston post office. It was delivered at 7:15 AM on October 1 .