Edited by Richard Walker, Saturday, 29 Dec 2018, 00:10
One of my Christmas presents was a book about the eccentric W. Reginald Bray (1879 - 1939) whose hobby was testing the limits of the British postal system. Starting modestly at first, he was able to dispatch through the mail articles such as a crocheted postcard, some seaweed, and an Irish turnip sent with the address carved into it with a penknife (turnips were hard to write on).
After this he upped his act, and succeeded in posting his dog, and then himself, both without any wrapping.
According to the book cover, his perusal of the British Postal Regulations had show that it was permissible to send an animal as small as a bee, or as large as an elephant. Bray never explored these extremes. I doubt that an elephant is still possible but a bee is, as per
(Including bees, caterpillars, cockroaches, crickets, destroyers of noxious pests, earthworms, fish fry and eggs, leeches and other parasites, lugworms, maggots, mealworms, pupae and chrysalides, rag worms, silkworms, spiders and stick insects.)
UK & International - Allowed in the mail, see restrictions and packaging guidelines below:
Live animals and reptiles are prohibited, as are any creatures or insects classified as dangerous within the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (including certain venomous spiders).
Must be boxed and packaged to protect the creatures, our staff and our customers from harm.
Use 1st Class as the minimum service.
Items must be clearly marked "URGENT - LIVING CREATURES - HANDLE WITH CARE".
The sender's name and address must be clearly visible on the outer packaging.
Honey, I’m In The Post
One of my Christmas presents was a book about the eccentric W. Reginald Bray (1879 - 1939) whose hobby was testing the limits of the British postal system. Starting modestly at first, he was able to dispatch through the mail articles such as a crocheted postcard, some seaweed, and an Irish turnip sent with the address carved into it with a penknife (turnips were hard to write on).
After this he upped his act, and succeeded in posting his dog, and then himself, both without any wrapping.
According to the book cover, his perusal of the British Postal Regulations had show that it was permissible to send an animal as small as a bee, or as large as an elephant. Bray never explored these extremes. I doubt that an elephant is still possible but a bee is, as per
Live creatures, insects and invertebrates
(Including bees, caterpillars, cockroaches, crickets, destroyers of noxious pests, earthworms, fish fry and eggs, leeches and other parasites, lugworms, maggots, mealworms, pupae and chrysalides, rag worms, silkworms, spiders and stick insects.)