Skip to content

The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects Hardcover - 2010 - 1st Edition

by John Tingey


From the publisher

The first impression of W. Reginald Bray (1879-1939) was one of an ordinary middle-class Englishman quietly living out his time as an accountant in the leafy suburb of Forest Hill, London. A glimpse behind his study door, however, revealed his extraordinary passion for sending unusual items through the mail. In 1898, Bray purchased a copy of the Post Office Guide, and began to study the regulations published quarterly by the British postal authorities. He discovered that the smallest item one could post was a bee, and the largest, an elephant. Intrigued, he decided to experiment with sending ordinary and strange objects through the post unwrapped, including a turnip, abowler hat, a bicycle pump, shirt cuffs, seaweed, a clothes brush, even a rabbit's skull. He eventually posted his Irish terrier and himself (not together), earning him the name "The Human Letter." He also mailed cards to challenging addressessome in the form of picture puzzles, others sent to ambiguous recipients at hard to reach destinationsall in the name of testing the deductive powers of the beleaguered postman. Over time hispassion changed from sending curios to amassing the world's largest collection of autographs, also via the post. Starting with key British military officers involved in the Second Boer War, he acquired thousands of autographs during the first four decades of the twentieth centuryof politicians, military men, performing artists, aviators, sporting stars, and many others. By the time he died in 1939, Bray had sent out more than thirty-two thousand postal curios and autograph requests. The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects tells W. Reginald Bray's remarkable tale for the first time and includes delightful illustrations of some of his most amazing postal creations. Readers will never look at the objects they post the same way again.

Details

  • Title The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects
  • Author John Tingey
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Pages 176
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Princeton Architectural Press, New York
  • Date 2010-09
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9781568988726 / 1568988729
  • Weight 1.08 lbs (0.49 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.6 x 6.15 x 0.77 in (21.84 x 15.62 x 1.96 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Postal service - Great Britain - History, Bray, Willie Reginald
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2009048612
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

About the author

John Tingey started collecting stamps fifty years ago when his parents gave him his first stamp album and a 6d packet from Woolworths. He is married, with two children and two grandchildren, and lives in England.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

by Tingey, John

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
2
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Hardback. Very Good.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA
Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

by Tingey, John

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Hardback. Good.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA
Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

by Tingey, John

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Like New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Hardback. Like New.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA
Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects, the

by Tingey, John

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Hardback. Acceptable.
Item Price
$2.43
$10.94 shipping to USA
The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

by Tingey, John

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Dunfermline, Fife, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.01
$10.00 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Princeton Architectural Press. Used - Very Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$6.01
$10.00 shipping to USA
The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

by John Tingey

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Like New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.09
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Princeton Architectural Press, 2010. Hardcover. Like New. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.09
FREE shipping to USA
The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

by John Tingey

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.09
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Princeton Architectural Press, 2010. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.09
FREE shipping to USA
The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

by Tingey, John

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.09
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Princeton Architectural Press, 2010. Hardcover. Acceptable. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.09
FREE shipping to USA
THE ENGLISHMAN WHO POSTED HIMSELF AND OTHER OBJECTS
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

THE ENGLISHMAN WHO POSTED HIMSELF AND OTHER OBJECTS

by Tingey, John

  • Used
Condition
Used - very good, pictorial boards (hardcover) light cant to bookblock
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Walpole, New Hampshire, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.00
$4.94 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Princeton Architectural Pr, 2010. HC. very good, pictorial boards (hardcover) light cant to bookblock. B&W and color illustrations. ISBN 9781568988726 Slight cant to the book block. 175pp.
Item Price
$7.00
$4.94 shipping to USA
The Englishman who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Englishman who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects

by John Tingey

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9781568988726
ISBN 10
1568988729
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.92
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Princeton Architectural Press, 2010-09-22. Hardcover. Good.
Item Price
$7.92
FREE shipping to USA