“Receive mail in the country” Rural Post Box

A portable rural post box rectangular in shape and made of tinplate. The box is painted red and has black decorative detailing (on the lid and lock). The box has a horizontal aperture on the lid for depositing letters above the lock. On the front of the box, written in blue on a white strip is the word "CORREIO" (MAIL). Below, in white with black shadowing, is written “Recebe cartas na passagem” (Receive mail in the country). A leather belt with a buckle is attached to the sides for transportation.
Over the centuries, letters addressed to individual people had to be reclaimed at the post office by the recipients themselves. From 1821, door-to-delivery delivery began in Lisbon and was gradually extended to other parts of the realm. In 1880, due to the rural postal service, it finally became possible to send and receive correspondence in rural areas.
This tinplate post box, of which only one example now exists, was carried over the shoulder by rural postmen. When delivering mail, they could receive letters to be forwarded to addresses all over the country. The receptacle is small to make it easy to carry and has a lock that could only be opened by the head of the distribution office.