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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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Four-dozen egg crate

Object Details

Description
This Parcel Post crate is designed to hold forty-eight eggs for shipment. The crate is constructed of ferrous metal and contains two removable cardboard shelves, each holding twenty-four separator compartments. The compartments are arranged in four rows of six collars formed by cardboard that is reinforced with metal rims. An open window in the lid displayed the address card, and to its right, the small, slotted indentation held a card for postage stamps. A metal rod that slides through hollow hinges fastened the lid to the silver-painted crate marked “Fragile.” Farmers used such egg crates to mail their product by Parcel Post directly to consumers in cities.
Data Source
National Postal Museum
Date
c. 1913 - 1950s
Object number
1986.0674.1
Type
Commercial Products
Medium
metal; paper (cardboard); paint
Dimensions
6 x 9 x 13 in. (15.24 x 22.86 x 33.02 cm)
Place
United States of America
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
Topic
Customers & Commerce
Record ID
npm_1986.0674.1
Usage
CC0
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8df87c19c-fd8c-4cdd-82cd-fe99b84a6d69
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Visit »

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Admission is always free!

2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

The museum's main entrance is located on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE. Other entrances have variable hours.

street map of Postal museum

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