The purpose of this book is not only to recall some of the main events in postal history but also to suggest some topics for further reflection on recent transformations and concerns about the future of the postal sector in the context of a European continent that is constantly striving toward further integration.

The cursus publicus, established by the Roman Empire to connect all its conquered territories, may be considered to be the ancestor of all modern post offices. Therefore, mail service networks are part of an organization, dating from Antiquity, which is common to the entire European community. From the 18th century onwards, the French mail service network may be divided into three successive phases. First, the consolidation of the transportation system that was being set up. Second, the development of the system's ability to deal with increasing traffic (through broader human resources). Thirdly, the diversification of its operations and the development of its technical modernisation. What was the situation in other European countries? Are there similarities and differences in how their networks were set up and organized? Finally, how did European Post Offices cooperate with each other in spite of their differences?

Autorentext

Muriel Le Roux is a senior researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France. Having been at the Maison Française d Oxford (UK), she is based at the Institut d histoire moderne et contemporaine (CNRS ENS Paris 1). A specialist in the history of science, technology and business, she has been in charge of research programmes for the Committee for the History of the Post Office (CHP) for many years.

Inhalt

Contents: Michèle Merger: The Post Office: From Past to Future - Sophie Morlot: The New Research Guide to Postal History directed by the Comité pour l'histoire de La Poste. The Post and its Correspondence - Bruno Crevato-Selvaggi: Research Centres for the History of Postal Services. The Italian Case - Gaspar Martínez Lorente/Pedro Navarro Moreno: The Spanish Postal History. Historiography and Research, the State of the Art - Armando Serra: For «Archaeology of the Equestrian Postal Services». Cases of Post Houses in France and Italy - Cristina Badon: Tuscan Postmasters in the 18th Century - Natalia Platonova: Russian Postal Service in the 18th Century - John Willis: The Scales of Postal Communication in New France in Context - Éva Ring: The Hungarian Post Office and Travel Narratives in the 18th and 19th Centuries - Anne Bretagnolle/Nicolas Verdier: Expanding the Network of Postal Routes in France 1708-1833 - Klaus Beyrer: The Revolution of the German Mail Coach System in the Early 19th Century - Gaspar Martinez Lorente/Pedro Navarro Moreno: Comparative Evolution of the Post Service in Spain and Europe during the Second Half of the 19th Century - Élisa Le Briand: Pneumatic Post Networks in Europe - Robert Dalton Harris/Diane DeBlois: The Wiener Rohrpost. A Case Study - Anne Conchon: Cost Economics of Carrying the Mail by Postal Services and Messageries in France (Mid-17th Century - Late 18th Century) - Marie-Françoise Berneron-Couvenhes: French Packet Boats. The Concession of Postal Routes to Private Navigation Companies 1835-1914 - Marie Cartier: PTT Labor Management 1946-1974: the State as Father? The Case of Mail Deliverers in the Paris Region - Sune Christian Pedersen: Postal Espionage in the 18th Century Denmark - Jesús Garcia Sanchez: From the Kaiser to Tony Blair. Postal Censorship in Europe - Marie-Cécile Thoral: The Post Office as an Instrument of Administrative Centralization? Its Role in the Local Administration of Isère from 1800 to 1840 - Sébastien Richez: Sunday Mail Service in France and Europe. A Different View of the Role of the Post Offices from the Early 19th Century to 1920s - Bernard Allaire: Formal Procedures for Sending Official Correspondence to and from Canada During the Colonial Period (17th to 18th Century) - Antonio Aguilar Perez: The Organization of Postal Services in the Border Areas between France and Spain - Olivier Bataillé: European Influence on Postal Reform in 19th Century France - Olivia Langlois: The English Impact on the Adoption of a Unique Tax in France and Other European Countries - Iwona Wierzchowiecka: The Basic Premise of a Universal Postage Tax. The 1892 Project - Benoit Oger: Postal Savings Banks in Europe before 1945. A Lost Opportunity for Cooperation - Léonard Laborie: A European System for a New Network. The Airmail Service with no Surtax in the 1930s - Patrick Fridenson: The Strengthening of Competitiveness on the Agenda. French Corporations over the Last 25 Years - Eric Godelier: The «Change», between History and Management - Christian Kozar: Management and Adaptation at La Poste Group - Andrea Giuntini: From Service to Business. A Brief History of Italian Postal Reform - Albert David: One of the First Experiences of «Change». The Case of the RATP - Michel Margairaz: The Paces of «Change» at the RATP - Muriel Le Roux: «Change» in La Poste. A New Idea?