(RCSD) Enquiry: Parcel Post Forms

I'm searching for information on parcel post forms (German: paketkarte;
French: bulletin d'expedition; Italian: bolletino pacco). I'm wanting to
know something of the history of these cards - How do such cards "work"?
When were they first introduced? By whom (what country)? Do
international cards differ from those used for internal mail? etc. etc.
I know that at the Congress of the Universal Postal Union in Paris, in
1878, the international parcel-post system was established, but such
cards were in use long before that. I've tried "Google" without much
success, perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place (story of my life!).
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.

--
John Taormina The MIDDLE-AGED one in Australia
To email me you must remove "notme" and "jack"

In a recent message John Taormina wrote:

I'm searching for information on parcel post forms (German: paketkarte;
French: bulletin d'expedition; Italian: bolletino pacco). I'm wanting to
know something of the history of these cards - How do such cards "work"?
When were they first introduced? By whom (what country)? Do
international cards differ from those used for internal mail? etc. etc.
I know that at the Congress of the Universal Postal Union in Paris, in
1878, the international parcel-post system was established, but such
cards were in use long before that. I've tried "Google" without much
success, perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place (story of my life!).
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.


I believe that they accompanied the parcel to the Post Office at the destination,
and were then delivered to the recipient of the parcel to notify them
that it had arrived.

Several Italian ones that I have are backstamped with all the post
offices on the way to the final destination, so are most interesting
in tracing the routes used.

Presumably the detail of their use varied from country to country.

I was fortunate enough to obtain one which has one of the early Italian
parcel stamps on - these are really quite rare.

--
Tony Clayton
Coins of the UK : http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk
Sent using RISCOS on an Acorn Strong Arm RiscPC
.... Wishful thinking on your part doesn't constitute reality on mine.