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NN16 9UW (just curious if any readers can identify this code)
A Google search reveals that postal code to be from England, specifically:
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Weekley
Kettering, Northamptonshire NN16 9UW, UK
As for the Postal Zones implemented in the US in 1943:
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I was curious about the previous system. The article alludes to it, but doesn't describe the construct of the system. From what I can find from Googling it, it looks like it was a two digit number placed after the city name and before the state name.
Essentially correct. It was either a 1 or 2 digit code, implemented in only 178 major cities in the US. Smaller cities and towns did not have such codes until the introduction of ZIP Codes in 1963. The reason for the 1943 Zone Codes was due to the war effort having taken many of the seasoned postal clerks from their duties and substitute clerks were having trouble identifying the location of certain zones within larger cities, so the plan was introduced.
As I understand it, there were postcards sent out at the time to all citizens and there were zoning maps by city that helped to identify proper zones within a city, but it took quite awhile for the general public to get used to it, so implementation was gradual.
As for the standardized 2 letter State abbreviation, it was introduced in conjunction with ZIP Codes in 1963, but hadn't taken on full use until the 1970's, when computerized mailing equipment was fully implemented. It has been suggested that NY, NC, NJ, etc. were always two-letter abbreviations, but states such as Mass., Conn., Fla., Penna., Nebr., were often extended beyond the two letters for some years after.
I hope this information is helpful.
[edit] It would be too much to provide all of the Postal Zoning Maps, but here's an example published in the Milwaukee Journal from December 7, 1944 that shows the Zones established for that city:
Posted 11/09/2011 01:29 am
