City letter carrier cap badge, number 518

U.S. Post Office Department City Delivery Service cap badge, number 518, with eyelet and cross pin on verso. Spread eagle supporting U.S. shield surmounts elliptical medallion with upper portion marked "U.S. POST OFFICE" and lower portion "PHILADELPHIA, PA" in japanned raised block letters.

Shown is a service badge that met department specifications and was worn by a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, letter carrier after 1922. The badge is made of German silver, a metallic element containing copper, zinc, and nickel. The Post Office Department chose this metal because of its hardness and resistance to corrosion, an important consideration since the letter carrier's work constantly exposed the badge to harsh and fluctuating weather conditions.

The last letter carrier to use this badge described its use in a letter that accompanied this donation in 1961: "Philadelphia Station 'C', 19th and Oxford Streets had 41 carriers and number routes ran from 500 to 540. For some time in that station my route and badge number was 518 and later, when some routes were consolidated... mine was wiped out and, as the number was of no value, I kept the badge....the badge and the route were inseparable and you wore the number on your cap till you were transferred..."

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