• Address: Hampden, MA 01036 (map)
• Date Posted: 10/02/09

This is an antique brass stick pin worn by the Rural Free Delivery mail carriers.
The first Rural Free Delivery routes were started in West Virginia, then in Farmington, Minnesota in 1896. The pin was discovered stuck into the back of an antique picture frame in an old Hampden, Massachusetts farmhouse.
It is an extremely rare piece of American history.
It is in excellent condition, with incredible detail on the horse and buggy - you can even see the man sitting inside holding the reigns.
The lettering on the buggy is "US MAIL ROUTE," "RURAL FREE DEL'Y," and on the bottom, " R.F.D. U.S.A."
This is a very rare find.