page_title: Postal history
section_title: Geographically based studies
hierarchical_section_title: Postal history / Possible areas of study / Geographically based studies
caption_attribution_description: English: Post Office Road in Lusk is in the northern half of the small town, located off the Skerries Road Gaeilge: Tá Bóthar Oifig an Phoist i Lusca sa leath thuaidh den bhaile beag, suite in aice Bhóthar na Sceirí.
context_page_description: Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of the use of postage stamps and covers and associated postal artifacts illustrating historical episodes in the development of postal systems. The term is attributed to Robson Lowe, a professional philatelist, stamp dealer and stamp auctioneer, who made the first organised study of the subject in the 1930s and described philatelists as "students of science", but postal historians as "students of humanity". More precisely, philatelists describe postal history as the study of rates, routes, markings, and means.
context_section_description: Regional studies are typically based on a geographical area, such as countries of origin, native districts, cities, towns or villages, places associated with family roots, or workplaces. In the past collectors usually based their studies on "mail from," but "mail to" and "mail through" a place expand the postal service story because outgoing mail mainly shows marking associated with the areas of study while incoming mail tells a much broader story and are now more likely to be included. It is best to select a topic to study that is broad enough because narrow geographical boundaries will likely bring frustration due to the lack of material available. Examples are: Postal History of Brünn 1638-1875, and Private and Foreign Post Offices in St. Thomas.
  Postal routes are alternate geographical based study areas that provide great variety due to the many places and services available along a route. For instance; a study of the Thurn und Taxis route from Antwerp to Florence via Mantua would include much of the early postal history of Western Europe and the Postal History of the First Transcontinental Railroad can show a good range of stamps, stationery, and associated marking across 3,000 miles that started in 1869.
  The era for a geographical based study can add dimension depending on the services available or the changes that took place. The period should seek to tell a complete story and not limit the chosen topic.
caption: With the growth of urban centres across the Western hemisphere in the 19th century Post Offices were located on main arterial routes
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