The material featured in postal history exhibits includes covers or mails delivered by official, local or private postal services. This type of exhibit either simply shows mail routes, rates, or postmarks, or goes a step farther to classify and present research on postal markings and corrections on stamps or covers.

Philatelic items featured in exhibits of this kind include addressed postcards, covers, letter sheets, cancelled stamps and postal documents. An exhibit can take a relatively balanced approach to postal history or focus on a single aspect of postal history. The following are some examples:

(1)Pre-stamp postal services

(2)The development of domestic or international postal services

(3)Postal rates (including how postage was set and adjusted)

(4)Mail routes for transportation of mails

(5)postmarks

(6)Military mail, including field post, siege mail, POW mail, and civil and military internee camp mail

(7)Maritime mail and inland waterway mail

(8)Disaster mail

(9)Disinfected mail

(10)Railway mail

(11)Censored mail

(12)Mail processed by automation

(13)Postage due mail

(14)Forwarding agent markings

When necessary, the exhibit may include maps, forms, decrees and similar materials. These items, however, must be directly related to the subject and to the postal services described in the exhibit.

After the establishment of the National Post of Ching Dynasty, People's letter Offices (private mail couriers) remained in operation for a period of time. At one point, the two systems worked in tandem to deliver mail.