All financial transactions with patrons result in a paper trail. The post office keeps careful accounts and distributes records to its customers for services rendered. Anyone who has misplaced a receipt understands how ephemeral such documents can be. However, many patrons know how crucial the proof of purchase can be for recording, discussing, or disputing a service. These scraps of paper reveal the way business is conducted, the economic importance of mailing services for the public, and the development of those services over time.
