THE BIRTH OF THE DANISH-NORWEGIAN POSTAL SYSTEM
CHRISTIAN IV -
Forordning om Post-Budde.
(Copenhagen, 1624).
4to. Without wrappers, as extracted from a binding. A few marginal stains. Numbering in contemporary hand to upper outer margin of each leaf. 8 ff.
First appearance of this landmark ordinance constituting the birth of the Danish-Norwegian postal system. “In 1624, King Christian IV laid the foundation for what would become Denmark's postal service – kind of a Christmas gift to all Danes, since it was on December 24. Initially, nine postal routes were created, connecting Copenhagen with key towns across the country. This new system introduced a structured method of communication, ensuring timely delivery of letters and parcels in an era when reliable communication was a luxury. For the next four centuries, the postal service became a backbone of society, adapting to Denmark’s growth and modernization. (Postnord, 400 Years of Connecting People: PostNord’s Milestone in Denmark).
The ordinance issued in 1624 under Christian IV, setting out the duties, routes, payment and conduct of post riders. The decree is of seminal importance because it created a regular, organized postal service to replace earlier informal messenger systems. By establishing fixed routes and clear responsibilities it made communication faster and more reliable for the crown, administration and military across Denmark–Norway.
The ordinance marks an early step toward a centralized state administration and is a key document in Scandinavian postal history and early printed legislation.
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