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V-Mail stationery

National Postal Museum

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Object Details

Description
This blue fiberboard box contains V-Mail stationery produced by the Wessel Company of Chicago, Illinois. The large red “V” and the letter’s “..._” Morse code designation advertise the product’s patriotic association with America’s war efforts.
During the Second World War private companies with postal permits manufactured V-Mail letter sheets meeting strict specifications for printing and paper quality. The 8.5 by 11 inch page had to be of uniform weight, grade, and grain in order to properly work in the microfilm machinery that reduced V-Mail for speedy and lightweight shipping to and from soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen serving overseas. The permit number was generally placed in the bottom right margin; in this case, it is number 1.
Such V-Mail supplies were widely sold in neighborhood stores and helped quickly expand the distribution of the specialized letter writing materials. To further encourage Americans to use V-Mail, the Post Office Department and the military made the stationery available for free to the armed forces and civilians. Patrons could get two sheets per day from their local post office. The Government Printing Office (GPO) produced this free stationery and marked it with the agency’s name.
c. 1942-1945
Object number
2007.2004.78.1-.44
Type
Postal Stationery
Medium
paper; cardboard; ink
Dimensions
Other (.78.1-.43): 23.5 x 14.3cm (9 1/4 x 5 5/8in.) Other (.78.44): 24.1 x 3.2 x 16.2cm (9 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 6 3/8in.)
Place of Origin
Chicago, Illinois
Place
United States of America
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
National Postal Museum
Associated Event
World War II
Topic
World War II (1939-1945)
Customers & Commerce
Record ID
npm_2007.2004.78.1-.44
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm898677ed9-c088-4edd-979f-400ceda81c7f
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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