Mail trivia III

Did you know that...

the very first mailbox invented in history was created in 1653 by Renouard De Valayer?

He obtained the permission of King Louis XIV to establish a postal system in Paris. He set up a collection of boxes at street corners around the French capital, and announced by handbill that he was prepared to deliver any letters placed in them. Those letters had to be enclosed in the envelopes that he had placed on sale at certain stores. De Valayer's scheme failed, and it is generally thought that it was sabotaged by certain interests who feared its success. It was ruined by an enemy who put live mice into the letter boxes. Naturally, the public would not use such an insecure service and de Valayer had to give up.