Game, Post Box

This 'Post Box' game, produced by Holdson in the 1980s, replicates the experience of sending mail. It comes with four fold out cardboard post boxes, approximately 95 envelopes printed with the names of New Zealand towns and cities, and instructions.

Games such as this one were designed not only to entertain but to introduce children to aspects of adulthood. In the 1980s the postal system was still a vital means of communication, although throughout the decade other forms of communication such as fax, email and text message also became popular. The game now seems nostalgic and quaint, and for children in the 21st century would have limited real-world relevance.

The red post boxes replicated in the game are considered a British cultural icon and are found in most nations and territories that were formerly part of the British Empire. Red pillar boxes were introduced in New Zealand in the 1860s, allowing people to post letters at any time.

References

• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. n.d. Pillar letter box, Hardy Street, Nelson. List Entry Information. https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/5116
• Shoebridge, Tim. 2010. Mail and couriers. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/mail-and-couriers
• Wikipedia contributors. 2021. Pillar box. Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillar_box