Nearly a year ago we published on Flashback Friday the story of a familiar Fayetteville St. landmark — Raleigh’s downtown United States Post Office. This week we revisit that theme, but with a historical twist, and present to our readers — ‘A Tale of Two Post Offices.’

In 1906 long-time Raleigh postal clerk Louis T. Yarbrough sent this card addressed to “Mailing Clerk, Seattle, Wash.” It bore Yarbrough’s official stamp and the simple request:

Please exchange

Ever curious, I set out to find a vintage postcard depicting the Seattle Post Office and came across the one seen below. The building was far grander and much larger than Raleigh’s post office, and was brand new in 1906 when Louis Yarbrough sent his request to the Seattle ‘Mailing Clerk.’

The message written on the reverse side notes that:

… This is a fine building. We were all through it last week when we were in Seattle. …

I discovered this description of the building on the Northwest Digital Archive website:

The first permanent home of the Seattle Post Office was the Beaux-Arts inspired building constructed between 1903 and 1909 at Third Avenue and Union Street. Also known as the Federal Building, this ornate structure originally also housed the United States Federal Court and Department of Customs, though the Post Office soon outgrew its space and took over the entire building. This building, which had become too cramped and had also begun to deteriorate, was demolished in 1958 and replaced by the modern three-story facility still used today.

Fortunately for Raleigh, our post office, renamed Century Postal Station in 1978 to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of its opening, has been beautifully preserved. In 2006, the federal government spent $8 million* to restore the building’s historic interior. The project included the refurbishing of the bronze mail boxes, brass writing desks, lobby fixtures, and the restoration of the 1912 second floor courtroom. Guided tours of the restored building are offered to the public every Friday at 2pm.

Now, I haven’t a clue as to why Louis Yarbrough made his request to his fellow postal clerk in Seattle so many years ago. Being a postal clerk himself, perhaps he collected images of post offices across the country. If that is so, I can only imagine how many of his postcard queries could be out there — I’ll have to keep an eye out and see what others may turn up.

*Readers may be interested to know that although millions of federal dollars had been invested in the restoration of Century Station, the US Postal Service proposed closing the post office just last year. An outcry from the citizens of Raleigh and public officials thwarted the move, and Raleigh’s downtown post office will remain open — for now.

Our featured postcard this week is an early example of a ‘collotype’ (a type of continuous tone photomechanical print) and was published by The Rotograph Co. of New York City.

The Rotograph Co.   1904-1911
684 Broadway, New York, NY

A major printer and publisher of postcards. They acquired the National Art View Company in 1904 and republished many of their images under the Rotograph name. A wide variety of card types were issued in 19 letter series plus many other miscellaneous cards and printed items, but they are best known for their view-cards in color rotogravure.

Many postcards were printed in the Rotograph style without their logo on them. These early cards may have been private contracts made with the Rotograph Company or from orders placed directly with their printers in Germany.

Style A – Black & white views printed in sharply defined collotype. Their titles were printed during a separate press run in letterset.

“Flashback Friday” is a weekly feature of Goodnight, Raleigh! in which we showcase vintage postcards depicting our historic capital city. We hope you enjoy this week end treat!