Victory Mail, of V-mail for short, was a communication system developed during World War II to expedite mail service between American civilian and service members around the world.
In 1942, Eastman Kodak entered a contract with the U.S. War Department to use Recordak machines to process V-mail. According to the National Postal Museum. This process converted letters, after being censored, to thumbnail-sized images in negative microfilm. Upon arrival at their destination, the negatives would be blown up to 60% of their original size, 4 1/2 inches by 5 3/16 inches and printed.
Vmail_Letter Vmail Letter: Wes Eastman to Webster Dennison
According to the National Postal Museum, “V-mail ensured that thousands of tons of shipping space could be reserved for war materials. The 37 mail bags required to carry 150,000 one-page letters could be replaced by a single mail sack. The weight of that same amount of mail was reduced dramatically from 2,575 pounds to a mere 45.”
More:
“Operating V-Mail.” National Postal Museum. Smithsonian Institution.
“V-mail” Wikipedia.
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