John Laurence Busch, an independent historian, will examine how the first- and early-second generations of American and British steam-powered vessels (1807 - 1825) introduced “steaming” the mail from one place to another. Of particular focus will be the geographic factors that influenced where postal steam service was first introduced. Also of import will be the interplay between public and private initiatives to deliver the mail by steam. The presentation will close by suggesting that steam-powered vessels served as the vanguard of a progressive line of technologies, each of which had its own unique effect on the delivery of physical mail.

This presentation was recorded on October 27, 2020 during the 11th Postal History Symposium.

Video Duration: 57 minutes