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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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Butter box

Object Details

Description
This box was used for shipping butter. The leather strap and buckle secured the lid of the wooden outer box, which insulates a smaller metal container. The butter was packed in the metal container. A mailing label was slipped into the metal frame on top of the wooden lid.
The addresses on the label of this box show that it was shipped between Baltimore and Frederick, Maryland, a distance of approximately 50 miles. The box was then returned empty. The introduction of Parcel Post service in 1913 encouraged the sale of farm produce directly to urban consumers.
Data Source
National Postal Museum
Date
c. 1913-1920s
Object number
1992.2002.10.1
Type
Commercial Products
Medium
wood; paper; metal; leather
Dimensions
8.75 x 8 x 11 in. (22.225 x 20.32 x 27.94 cm)
Place
Maryland
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
On View
Currently on exhibit at the National Postal Museum
Topic
The Roaring Twenties (1920-1929)
Customers & Commerce
Record ID
npm_1992.2002.10.1
Usage
CC0
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm817a1bc67-3447-413d-9418-fe5267975505
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.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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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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