Mr. Zip

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Additional Images
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Text on Button MR.ZIP U.S. MAIL
Image Description

Mr. Zip, a cartoon character in blue, with an orange face carrying a yellow postal bag marked "U.S. MAIL" and a postal letter.

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Additional Information

Mr. Zip, or Zippy, was based on an original design by Howard Wilcox of the Cunningham & Walsh advertising agency. The design was purchased by AT&T and given to the United States Postal Service (then the United States Post Office Department) to encourage the adoption of zip codes by the general public in the early 1960s. AT&T had warned the postal service that the public might be less than cooperative, citing their own difficulties introducing area codes.

Sources

Smithsonian. (n.d.). Mr. Zip as a Pop Icon. Retrieved July 28, 2020, from https://postalmuseum.si.edu/research-articles/flashing-across-the-count…

Smithsonian. (n.d.). The ZIP Code Promotional Campaign. Retrieved July 28, 2020, from https://postalmuseum.si.edu/research-articles/flashing-across-the-count…

Catalog ID AD0029