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ZIP code poster featuring Dick Tracy

Postal Museum

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International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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Object Details

Printer

Government Printing Office

Description

This poster featuring cartoon character Dick Tracy promotes ZIP code use. Iconic Mr. ZIP with his letter carrier’s uniform and satchel appears on Dick Tracy’s "2-WAY WRIST TV." Dick Tracy clearly gets the message about ZIP codes, and the Post Office Department hoped the public would too. Unlike promoting a new service or announcing a regulation, bringing ZIP codes to the public’s attention centered on the difficult task of changing people’s behavior by asking them to learn and add five digits to every address. The U.S. Government Printing Office printed the poster for the Post Office Department in 1970. Chester Gould created the Dick Tracy character, which was licensed to the Chicago Tribune.

Date

1970

Object number

2002.2003.7

Type

Archival Material

Medium

paper; ink

Dimensions

Height x Width: 14 × 11 in. (35.56 × 27.94 cm)

Place

District of Columbia

See more items in

National Postal Museum Collection

Data Source

National Postal Museum

Topic

The Cold War (1945-1990)

Metadata Usage

Usage conditions apply

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8f4c53c9b-52c5-49a8-bb64-64401ff69601

Record ID

npm_2002.2003.7
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