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Paying the Penalty


By Erik Jensen

If not always then at least since in the 1860’s when all letter boxes were painted red, it has been forbidden to enclose money in ordinary letters. The following is a true story of how bad it may end if the prohibition is infringed.


In 1932, young Harro Jacobsen from the village of Lund near Hammerum applied for a job in a hosiery works in Vigerslevvej in Valby. Being the son of a smallholder who was also a wool huckster he considered himself qualified for the job, which he also got. He even got lodging in Nakskovvej, but before he had had a chance to communicate the address to Jutland, his father had already sent 20 kr. as aid to his son to the address of the hosiery works which he knew.

Unfortunately, the name of the hosiery works was not stated on the letter so the local postman was unable to find the recipient. As the letter was not provided with return address either, it was sent to the returned-letter office where they opened it and found the father’s address as well as – dear me – 20 kr. in cash. The letter-opener wrote immediately "Contains undeclared money – see on the back". There he indicated the size of the amount, 20 kr.

Legally Deprived

In accordance with the words and spirit of the regulations (a fine of 20 % reverts to the postal service) the head of the letter-opening, put 16 kr. back into the envelope and sealed it with glassine wafers with the text "Closed by the Postal Service" as well as an admonitory reference to the Post Office Act. Finally, it was written on the letter "Contains Fine. The letter can be delivered against payment of postage" – that is the 40 ore which has been stated with blue crayon and which smallholder and wool huckster Kr. Jakobsen had to pay in addition to the fine for his misdemeanour. As receipt for the postage Hammerum Post Office has added special postage-due stamps which were used for this purpose during the years 1921-1962. Obviously, the letter was returned to the unfortunate father who had to face the fact that he had been deprived of quite a sum of money without having been able to help his son.

Better Not!

The prohibition of enclosing money in ordinary letters is still valid, but with the foundation of Post Denmark a number of old regulations were modernized and outwardly replaced by friendly recommendations. For more than a hundred years the money prohibition has been painted on the lid of the red letter boxes so that nobody could plead ignorance. Where previously it was written in the best departmental style "Not for letters containing letters", it now says "Letters must not contain money".

In time it has, however, become considerably less expensive to commit this sin, but you’d better not because the postal service do not pay any compensation for lost ordinary letters or missing contents.


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