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Express services began in the 1830s
Express service has been defined as the prompt and safe movement of parcels, money and goods at rates higher than standard freight rates.
Many historians credit William Harnden for starting the business category. In 1839 he began carrying express goods on regular trips between New York and Boston (even though a direct New York to Boston rail line was not yet in service). As business grew he formed Harnden’s First Express and even initiated shipments by steamboat.
An advertisement for Harnden Express, the first express service. (Image: Alphabetilately.org)
In 1845, following Harnden’s death, the company was merged with Adams Express as a new business sector grew rapidly. Its growth was sparked by the ever-expanding railroads. Movement of freight, packages and people that once took days or weeks could now be accomplished in a fraction of the time.