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Telegraphic message boy
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Telegraphic message boy
Telegraph boy employed to deliver telegrams, holding his leather satchel with an important sealed message, which is probably sent up by a Manchester or Birmingham manufacturer to one of the London merchants in reply to an important inquire sent down, not half an hour ago! Date: 19th century
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Media ID 20140213
© Bubblepunk
1850s 1856 Communication Labour Leather Mail Message Messenger Postage Posts Satchel Telegram Telegrams Telegraph Telegraphic Delivery
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative 19th century photograph, a young telegraphic message boy, dressed in a smart uniform complete with cap, holds a sealed telegram in one hand and clutches a leather satchel in the other. The sense of urgency is palpable as this important communication, likely sent up from a Manchester or Birmingham manufacturer in response to an inquiry from a London merchant, is about to be delivered. The telegraphic message boy was an essential part of the Victorian communication network, a link in the chain that connected people and businesses across great distances. The telegraph, which revolutionized long-distance communication, had been in operation since the late 1830s, but it was the introduction of the telegraphic message boys in the 1850s that made the service truly accessible to the masses. These boys, often as young as ten years old, were employed by the telegraph companies to deliver messages as quickly as possible. They were an integral part of the telegraph system, and their importance cannot be overstated. The telegraphic message boys were the human link between the telegraph office and the recipient, ensuring that important news, business transactions, and personal messages reached their intended destinations in a timely manner. The photograph captures the essence of this vital role, with the boy's determined expression and the urgency of the moment. The leather satchel, slung over his shoulder, is filled with sealed telegrams, each one containing a message that could change the course of someone's life or business. The telegraphic message boy was a symbol of the power of communication, a testament to the human spirit's ability to bridge great distances and connect people in ways that were once thought impossible. This photograph, taken in the 1850s, is a poignant reminder of a bygone era when communication was a precious commodity, and the telegraphic message boy was an essential part of the network that kept the world connected.
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