British Campaign To Encourage Letter Writing In Wwii

[ralphawilson]

I found the attached postcard with a reproduction of a British WWII poster encouraging letter writing instead of using the telephone. The text reads "Think ahead, write instead." The design is by noted graphic artist Hans Schleger, who went by "ZERO."

 

Presumably, the government meant to reduce the use of telephone lines--a scarce commodity in war time? I wonder if a similar campaign was mounted elsewhere. Also, I wonder if much has been written about government attempts to encourage letter writing. Now would be a good time for one, if only to prop up the sale of first class stamps!

Edited September 21, 2017 by ralphawilson

[Lennart Wennberg]

Interesting indeed!

In the 60s the Royal Swedish Mail had a campaign "Ett brev betyder så mycket!" (A letter means a lot!) They had a lot of pictures going with this slogan, mostly elderly people reading letters from the younger ones.

[ralphawilson]

Interesting indeed!

In the 60s the Royal Swedish Mail had a campaign "Ett brev betyder så mycket!" (A letter means a lot!) They had a lot of pictures going with this slogan, mostly elderly people reading letters from the younger ones.

Thanks, Lennart. I have a long and continuing connection with Sweden--I first got there in the early 70s as an exchange student, so I missed that campaign. I have always loved the Swedish engraved stamps. A little sad to see how now the Swedish "post office" is just a corner of a supermarket that also sells lottery tickets, cigarettes, and snuss!

[AAAndrew]

Cool poster. Thanks for sharing!

Edited September 26, 2017 by AAAndrew

[clazbill]

Just stumbling through here and had a few thoughts. Seems to me that a phone call is over and done the second you hang up the phone. A letter can be held on to to read as many times as you like. Letters would also be a physical connection. I wonder a bit about solders on the front line carrying around mail - how many letters would you carry around before it became a problematic bundle? Probably just keep the most recent and a few favorites.

 

Anyway, interesting to think about.

[ralphawilson]

Thanks for responding. I wonder if there was a government preference for written messages partially because wartime censorship was easier for written than for telephonic communication.

[Kolagnostos]

I adore this idea. Perhaps use our marketing skills to start a campaign ourselves? If only.

I have designed some rubber stamps for my envelopes that encourages written correspondence.

It's my way of championing correspondence to all who see it before it arrives to its untended party.

I had a correspondent tell me he'd buy one if I were to sell them. Hmmm....

 

Apparently from the Australian Post:

Edited September 29, 2017 by Kol288

[ralphawilson]

Thanks, Kol288, for posting that cool Australian ad. And thanks for your one-person campaign. It's been about 10 years since a wonderful person on FPN recruited me to join the epistolary underground. It's been a great way to make friends (and exercise pens).