A phrase from historical newspaper personal ads, explained with real examples from the archive.
Mail held at the post office for a person to collect, with no street address needed.
| Type | Historical language |
|---|---|
| Category | Reply and contact |
| Earliest example in the archive | January 10, 1905, New Haven Union |
| Most common | 1850s to the 1920s |
Some writers skipped the newspaper's reply box and asked for letters by name at the post office instead. The 1905 New Haven ad ends Mable Dodge, General Delivery, City.
Sources: USPS, What is General Delivery?.
MIDDLE-AGED lady would like to meet congenial gentleman; object sociability. Mable Dodge, General Delivery, City.
General delivery still exists at many US post offices.
Know a term we are missing? Suggest one.
How this fits into 170 years of personal ad shorthand: From Object Matrimony to LTR: How Personal Ads Learned to Talk in Code.
All dictionary entries · The Personals Archive · How to write a personal ad
The form is still open. Say who you are, what you want, and who it is for, and choose exactly who can see it. Free on iOS and Android.