The excitement of a mail delivery (1853)
The arrival of the post in rural villages was treated with great excitement during the 19th century. The mail was the only way people would receive news of faraway friends, family and business ventures. This oil on canvas called ‘The Village Post’ by William Frederick Witherington shows a messenger arriving on his pony with a mailbag. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy, London in 1853 and purchased by Royal Mail Chairman Sir Bryan Nicholson in 1992. It is currently housed in the BPMA collection.
