During the Second World War, fascists would execute the owners of any house where pigeons were found. Why? Because secret anti-fascist networks relied on pigeons to carry messages. Letters were not only delivered by clandestine couriers and selfless postal workers, but also by pigeons. For centuries, pigeons have served as messengers, and killing them was considered a sin. The reason was simple and fair: the bearer of news should never be harmed.
Even today, pigeons continue to carry messages. In fact, New Zealand was the first country to issue special stamps for “pigeon post.”
The postal service as we know it has many colorful, unusual sides. Humanity is drawn to superlatives—the biggest, the deepest, the most unique. We are used to seeing mailboxes on streets, in squares, or affixed to doors and gates. But in Japan, there is one under the sea. Located 10 meters underwater in Wakayama Prefecture’s Susami town, it is the world’s deepest mailbox, accessible only to divers. Waterproof stationery is used for the letters.
The world’s largest mailbox is in Calvinia, South Africa. Converted from an old water tower, it has been recognized by the Guinness Book of Records. Letters posted there bear a special stamp reading “World’s Largest Postbox.”
In the Maldives, there is a floating post office. Located on a platform above the sea, it allows tourists to send cards stamped “Floating Post Office – Maldives.”
In Costa Rica’s national parks, turtle-shaped mailboxes collect letters. Thankfully, in this Latin American country, the letters and parcels are not carried by live turtles—though the novelty design has become a tourist attraction.
Such unique examples—from turtle-shaped mailboxes to underwater boxes in Japan, to postal funiculars in the Swiss Alps, small postal boats on Greek islands, and camels delivering letters across Arabian deserts—are all part of boosting tourism appeal. For instance, those turtle-shaped boxes are sold as expensive souvenirs to visitors.
All this shows how even mailboxes can make a country more attractive. Consider Canada’s holiday tradition: every year, children write letters to Santa Claus before Christmas. Thousands of volunteers respond to them, turning postal exchanges into a source of joy, holiday spirit, communication practice, and cultural education. Clearly, “post” means more than just post.
These examples illustrate how traditional postal services adapt to modern trends through creative transformation. The post is not just a means of communication; it is an indicator of a nation’s cultural development and social evolution.
The Azerbaijani Story
The first post office in Azerbaijan opened in Ganja in 1818, followed by offices in Baku (1826) and Nakhchivan (1828). Eighty-five years later, in 1903, Jalil Mammadguluzadeh wrote his famous story “The Postbox.” Since then, the service has grown from a single office to more than a thousand branches under “Azərpoçt” MMC. As a popular blessing says: “May you grow into a thousand branches.” Azerbaijan’s post has indeed spread its roots widely.
In the past 20 years alone, 887 new post buildings have been constructed, 126 offices have undergone major renovation, and 11 branches have moved into new buildings. To speed up deliveries, 367 new vehicles were added. Additionally, 1,236 post offices have been connected to a centralized system.
Innovations have also been introduced. Since 2013, Azərpoçt has used the Global Monitoring System, and since 2016, the IPS.Post tracking system. These technologies make tracking parcels more accurate, improve transparency, and boost public satisfaction.
Looking forward, the service plans to integrate artificial intelligence and drone technology, especially for remote areas inaccessible by cars. By 2040, the number of post offices in Baku is expected to reach 181, with nationwide coverage further expanded.
Social Role of the Post
The postal service is not only about logistics—it also carries social weight. As Gabriel García Márquez wrote in “No One Writes to the Colonel”, the delivery of a letter can embody hope and the link between the state and its citizens. In Azerbaijan, the role of the post was vividly seen during the 2020 Patriotic War, when the “Letter to a Soldier” initiative connected society with the army. Today, Azərpoçt plays an active part in the “Great Return” program, helping reconnect the liberated territories of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur with the rest of the country.
Postal workers themselves embody sacrifice, often working in difficult conditions and at personal risk. Their contribution is now better recognized, with the average monthly salary in the sector reaching 674 manats in the first quarter of 2025—a 15 percent increase compared to the previous year. Further rises are planned in the 2026 state budget.
Learning from Global Leaders
Azerbaijan’s postal system is studying best practices abroad. Japan, known for the world’s most punctual postal service, integrates postal and banking services through Japan Post Bank, with widespread use of robot couriers. In China, millions of parcels from platforms like Taobao, JD, and Alibaba are sorted daily through fully automated centers. Singapore’s Smart Postbox alerts recipients via SMS or mobile app the moment a parcel arrives, with robot couriers supplementing deliveries.
By learning from these innovations, Azərpoçt aims to undergo rapid and effective transformation in the coming years, ensuring that Azerbaijan’s postal services remain both modern and globally competitive.
Orkhan Musabeyli, Bizimyol.info
