By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight Observer published on May 25th, 1878 warns of the dangers of not addressing letters and parcels properly. These days it doesn’t seem to matter if they are properly addressed, including with a postcode – many parcels in particular seem to end up on random doorsteps!
CARELESSNESS IN ADDRESSING LETTERS AND PARCELS. – In England we have three market towns bearing the name of Newport, and there are two in Wales: Newport, Isle of Wight; Newport, Salop; Newport Pagnel, Bucks: Newport, Monmouth; Newport, Pembroke. Every year hundred of letters and parcels for these towns are dispatched bearing no indication of the Newport they are intended for. They go the rounds and come to hand after many days. The annoyance to the parties immediately concerned, and the worry to postal officials and carriers this carelessness involves are obvious. Recently a parcel thus carelessly addressed was forwarded from London to Monmouth, thence to Salop, thence to Newport, Isle of Wight, and the demand for carriage was 5s. 1d., instead of 9d.