Let's See Your Smallest Covers

I was just wondering how small the smallest covers where??? I have a couple here that in my opinion are pretty small.




This cover still has the contents in which is a "small" letter inviting graduates to sunday morning services at a church in Cushing, Oklahoma

This little 'ladies cover' I posted a week or so ago measures 4.625" X 2.625".

does anyone know if they still allow covers this small to be sent thru the mail today??

No! US Postal Regulations are quite specific on that point these days (Minimum is 5" long by 3.5" high):

https://www.usps.com/send/can-you-mail-it.htm?

It never used to be like that when postal people handled most of the mail,but with modern mailing equipment handling mail at a high rate of speed, size restrictions were mandated so as to avoid mail getting "gummed up" in the system.

Apparently the UK is even more restrictive in size minimums at 5.5" x 3.5", as in the dilemma recited by this grandmother when trying to mail her Christmas Cards:

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/n...stmas-cards/

Back in 1959 (52 years ago), this was the minimum size for envelopes in the US, which I graphically illustrated based on the slogan postmark shown from that period:

This is just about the smallest cover I have. Dated from 1886, the size of the envelope is 4.25" long x 2.5" high:

nice covers and great info Thanks WT

It would be interesting if there was a follow-up article
on whether the cards went through or not.

I like her spunk!

Edited to add: This post was in response to wt1's comment and link about the UK post office.

This is the smallest one I have:





The 2 page letter was still inside:





It reads:

Dear Harriet.
I went to Tom S.....[can't read this word, maybe "Sawyer?"].
Boy it was good.I have some bad news for you Su-Lin, Died.
She died from a twig she swallowed.
hope you are having a good time. Just thing we had to relay [not sure about that word] Johnn and his mule for junior High. Mr. Jack said we could have a track meet.
Tom Mixs is off the air. So I had to listen to Don Winslow.
I sent for the birthday kit.
I just receibed a notice for a Brownie
camp reunion. This is what it said "to whit to whoooo!
every Brownie camper is coming to!
By the way, Tabby's sick. This morning it is 30 out what do you think of that. Mother said that she is going to were her winter
coat what do you think of that.
Sandersons did not find a house.
There are 8 cases of Measles in Louise Van Vleet's room.
With love
Elizabeth

[All mispellings and mistakes are just as written in the letter.]

My smallest cover is from a telegram.
It measures 136mm x 79mm
I'm guessing these were hand delivered though
and not sent through the post.



Steve

I have this "mourning" envelope from 1865 which measures 4inches by 2.5inches (101mm x 64mm). The address must have been done first as the stamp would cover the recipient's name if placed vertically.

Another small cover,complete with invitation, it's not too old but really neat.

one or two of my smallest covers. they are all about the same size from the same period.



And these English mourning covers are ver small too (compare it to the stamp)



I have seen a few Civil War era covers (like pictured above) that are not too much larger than the postage stamp but I do not have the privilege of owning such an example.

compare these small covers to the DL sized envelopes that business mail arrives in.

I'm loving all the tiny covers thanks for sharing them.