The world might be going digital, but letters have not lost their prominence over the years. Letter writing still holds its significance, to this modern day. This infographic presents how letter writing became popular.
In an effort to preserve their rich culture and traditions, people in the past involved in activities such as story telling, singing songs and celebrating different occasions. In order to convey the information to others, stone markings, clay indentations and knotted cords were used.
Babylonians used clay tablets to record the astronomical observations. The first letter in history is said to be written by the Persian queen Atossa, in 500 BC. People started writing on leaves, tree barks and papyrus scrolls. It is evident from the scrolls unearthed from ancient libraries.
“Necessity is the mother of invention”, goes the saying and this is what can be said about the introduction of new writing methods: Vellum and Parchment, as a result of papyrus shortage. Sharpened wood, metal, bone, reed and quills were used as writing tools, before the introduction of lead pencil.
Later when cotton paper and paper made from linen rags became popular, people came up with different ways of delivering information to distant places. Carriers, Horse riders and even pigeons were used as a means to send letters.
Great Britain introduced the postal delivery service in 1940. The post office came into existence from 1860, which made sending and receiving letters, to and from near and dear ones, very easy and interesting.