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 | April 1, 1900, Aspen Daily Times (Colorado) |
| 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?.
YOUNG ENGLISH GENTLEMAN (30), tired of the misery of single life, wishes to end same, and with that view desires to correspond with a loving, fond, good-tempered,…
BACHELOR in fair circumstances wishes to correspond with young lady with a view to matrimony; photo exchanged; state age and other particulars—“Lonely,” G.P.O.
A young and handsome widow of education and refinement, possessed of a small fortune, and a stranger in the city, wishes to correspond with a gentleman of some means. No…
WIDOW, 28, wants to meet Catholic gentleman. MRS. MARIE L. BLOCK, gen. del., Pueblo.
MIDDLE-AGED lady would like to meet congenial gentleman; object sociability. Mable Dodge, General Delivery, City.
I WISH to correspond with the party that rode with me to the depot on New Era motorcycle New Year, and helped me to find a room at Majestic hotel. J. J. Reid, Los…
GENTLEMAN of refinement, age 35, wishes to meet lady with means, between 30 and 40 years of age. Object matrimony. C. F. Brooks, Gen. Del., Phoenix, Ariz. 1t
RON would like to see you, much to tell, if still interested, write address to G.P.O. L.
General delivery still exists at many US post offices.
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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
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