Air letter

Air Letter

An air letter, also known as an aerogram, aerogramme, or air mail letter sheet, is a lightweight piece of stationery that folds into its own envelope and is used for sending written correspondence via air mail.

History

The concept of the air letter was first introduced by the British Post Office during the Second World War. The aim was to reduce the weight and volume of mail transported by aircraft, thus allowing more letters to be sent within the limited available cargo space on military aircraft.

Design and Usage

Air letters are typically printed on lightweight paper and are designed to be folded into a self-contained envelope. This design eliminates the need for a separate envelope, further reducing the weight and volume of the mail. The sender writes their message on the inside of the air letter, folds it up, and seals it with adhesive before posting.

Air letters are typically used for personal correspondence, rather than for business or official purposes. This is because the format of the air letter does not allow for additional items such as cheques or photographs to be included.

Modern Day Relevance

With the advent of electronic mail and instant messaging, the use of air letters has declined significantly. However, they are still used in some parts of the world, particularly in remote or rural areas where internet access is limited or non-existent.

See Also

• Air Mail
• Postal System
• Stationery

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