Page 61 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1926: General Strike in Britain; Chiang Kai-shek becomes leader of China's Revolutionary

Party; Queen Elizabeth II, Fidel Castro, Harper Lee, Miles Davis and Marilyn Munroe born.

At the RPSL: Tea, Toast and Talk 'T.T.T.' informal meetings introduced and are immediately a

great success. Banquet and exhibition held to celebrate acquisition of 41, Devonshire Place.

RPSL President was T. W . Hall. Patron H.M. King George V. Membership 432.

PARIS PNEUMATIC MAIL -

AT SIX TIMES THE NORMAL RATE

From the collection of John G, McEntyre FRPSC.

Member since 2009. Lives in Canada.

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PA & I f

Pneumatic mail used compressed air and partial vacuum to propel cylinders containing mail through

a series of airtight tubes for branch-to-branch transfers. It started in London in 1853 for telegrams.

By 1861 pneumatic tubes linked Euston Railway Station, the General Post Office, and Holborn. The

service was then adopted in other U.K. cities. Paris used it from 1866-1984, along with other

European cities. In the USA, pneumatic mail was set up in Philadelphia in 1893, then in New York

from 1897-1950 at twenty-three post offices in Manhattan, two in Brooklyn, and one in the Bronx,

followed by Boston, Chicago and St. Louis. This card with 'Pneumatique' in manuscript travelled from

P.O.# 54 to P.O.# 38 at a charge of 1 franc SOc, which was six times the normal rate.