22 Vintage Photos of Postal Workers in Action

Written by Alina Wang on November 3, 2025

Two vintage black-and-white photos show U.S. mailmen in uniform: one drives an old three-wheeled mail vehicle; the other collects mail from a street mailbox surrounded by snow.

Long before emails and text messages made communication instant, mailmen helped us stay in touch with loved ones far away. From heavy satchels slung over shoulders to long treks through snow-covered streets, these men delivered more than just letters; they brought a sense of connection and familiarity. Rain or shine, nothing kept these hardworking carriers from making their rounds.

1. Mailmen Sort Their Deliveries on a Busy City Corner, 1947

Three mailmen in uniform sort letters on a busy city sidewalk beside an open mailbox, with cars and buildings visible in the background. One mailman sits on the mailbox, while the others organize mail. — sussoutthemoon/Reddit.com

2. ‘Neither Rain, Nor Snow … Mailmen in New York City, 1945’

Two postal workers in uniform walk through falling snow past a building with vintage Coca-Cola and 7-Up signs. Their mailbags are slung over their shoulders as snow blankets the street and truck nearby. — DiosMioMan63/Reddit.com

3. Rural Mail Carrier Crosses a Stream on Horseback in Kentucky, 1930s

A man wearing a hat and long-sleeved shirt sits on a mule, holding a small object, in a wooded area near a stream. The mule carries a large pack. The photo is black and white. — UserDeleted/Reddit.com

4. A French Mail Carrier Delivers Mail on a Bicycle, Circa 1954

A uniformed mail carrier stands by his bicycle, looking down while sorting letters from his bag. A steam train with smoke billowing trails along tracks in the background under a clear sky. — Three Lions/Getty Images

5. ‘Studio Portrait of an Indian Postman From the 1860s’

A man in traditional 19th-century Indian attire stands indoors on a patterned carpet, holding a stick in one hand and a paper in the other. He wears a round hat and is posed beside a draped table against a plain backdrop. — yashrivastava/Reddit.com

6. USPS Worker Doing His Rounds in New York City, Circa 1955

A mail carrier in uniform stands on a brick home's front steps, holding letters and a mailbag, preparing to deliver mail to the mailbox beside the door. — Keystone View Company/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

7. ‘A Korean Postman in 1910’

A historical photograph of a Korean postman wearing traditional attire and a conical hat, shown in black and white on the left and colorized on the right, standing in front of a wooden gate. — Gensis916/Reddit.com

8. A Los Angeles Mail Carrier Dropping Off Mail Via Horse, 1910s

A smiling woman in riding clothes stands beside a saddled horse, holding its head gently. Wooden buildings and trees are visible in the background. The top of the image reads "LOS ANGELES MAIL CARRIER. — eaglemaxie/Reddit.com

9. Mailman Braves the Snow To Collect Letters in Washington D.C., 1922

A postal worker in uniform retrieves mail from a mailbox nearly buried in snow on a city street, with tall buildings visible in the background. — Shorpy.com

10. A Mail Carrier Collects Letters Beside a US Postal Truck, 1915

A vintage black-and-white photo shows a postal worker in uniform collecting mail from a sidewalk mailbox beside an old-fashioned United Mail delivery truck, with houses and trees in the background. — Shorpy.com

11. ‘A Female Postal Worker Delivering the Mail in 1911’

A woman dressed in early 20th-century clothing, including a hat and long coat, smiles while holding letters and a satchel bag, suggesting she is a mail carrier. The photo is sepia-toned and vintage in style. — KindheartednessIll97/Reddit.com

12. A Postman in Paris Recognizes a Love Letter Because of Its Perfume, June 1956

A mail carrier in uniform stands on a city street, holding a large stack of letters and a mailbag. He is licking an envelope, preparing to seal it, with buildings and a parked car in the background. — John Sadovy/BIPs/Getty Images

13. A Rural Mail Carrier on Horseback Passes a Letter to a Family on a Country Road Near Morehead, Kentucky, 1940

Three men on a dirt road; two sit in a wooden wagon while one on horseback hands something to them. Fields, trees, and a cloudy sky appear in the background. — Shorpy.com

14. Two Postmen Wearing Newly-Designed Uniforms Pass By a Road-Sweeper While Doing Their Rounds, May 1952

Three men in uniform walk along a city sidewalk; one sweeps with a broom while the other two, carrying newspapers and bags, pass by under the shade of trees and buildings. Vintage cars are parked on the street. — George Douglas/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

15. An Early Postal Truck Promoting Mailbox Use With a Rolling Billboard in Washington D.C., 1916

A vintage United States Mail truck with a large sign reading "Save time get a mail box" parked on a cobblestone street in front of brick row houses. A driver sits inside the truck. — Shorpy.com

16. Colorized Image of a Postman Delivering Christmas Mail in Chicago, 1929

A smiling mail carrier in a blue uniform walks through the snow, carrying an overflowing satchel and bag filled with parcels and letters on a snowy city street. — Giaguaro2023/Reddit.com

17. ‘My Great-Grandfather as a Postal Worker in Delaware, Ohio, Late 1930s or Early 1940s’

A vintage photo of a mail carrier in an old-fashioned uniform, holding letters and wearing a cap. He has a large mailbag over his shoulder and is standing in front of a studio backdrop. — Buckeye_Monkey/Reddit.com

18. Neither Rain Nor Sleet Nor Pretty Girls Kept This Postman From Completing His Rounds in Cleveland, Ohio, 1954

A smiling man in a uniform and cap walks arm-in-arm with three women in matching white shorts and blouses, all smiling and walking outdoors on a sunny day, with buildings and people in the background. — Bettmann/Getty Images

19. A Mail Carrier Collects Letters by Tricycle, 1912

A vintage photo shows a mail carrier in uniform collecting letters from a U.S. Mailbox while seated in an old-fashioned, three-wheeled mail delivery vehicle on a tree-lined street. "Time Detective Gallery" is written on the image. — The Time Detective Gallery/eBay.com

20. A Mailman Takes a Break To Eat His Lunch in Hays, Kansas, 1951

A mail carrier in uniform sits on the curb, drinking coffee and eating lunch in front of an open U.S. mailbox. His bag, thermos, and lunchbox are on the ground beside him. Trees and a parked car are visible in the background. — GaGator43/Reddit.com

21. An Airmail Carrier Makes the Rounds by Bicycle in Florida, 1950s

A mail carrier in uniform stands beside a black bicycle labeled “Air Mail 6,” holding letters. A basket is attached to the bike. He is in front of a gated house with palm trees and lush greenery in the background. — SuFu Finds/eBay.com

22. Delivering Packages Before Christmas, 1933

A postal worker carries packages through deep snow toward a house, with a vintage U.S. mail truck parked nearby on a snowy street. Snow covers the ground and trees, and houses are visible in the background. — World-Tight/Reddit.com

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