The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Originated sometime after the foundation of the Shire in III 1601; well established by the end of the Third Age
Race
Culture
Settlements
Managed by the Mayor at Michel Delving, in his capacity as Postmaster, but there were post-offices throughout the Shire
Other names
Associated with the Messenger Service;1 the Hobbits who delivered messages for the service were known as Messengers or informally as 'postmen'

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About this entry:

  • Updated 11 March 2024
  • This entry is complete

Quick Post

A postal service of the Shire

A service maintained in the Shire for passing urgent or important messages from one place to another. The details of how it worked are unclear, but it seems to have employed 'runners' who could travel quickly between nearby towns and villages, and then pass on their messages in relay to other Hobbits. At the time of Sharkey's takeover of the Shire, the Quick Post was closed to ordinary Shire-folk, but the service was maintained for 'official' business, and the passing of secret messages between the Chief and his ruffians.


Notes

1

The Shire-hobbits had a general Messenger Service working through post-offices across the Shire. The Quick Post must presumably have had some connection to this Messenger Service, but the details are not explained. It may be, indeed, that the 'Quick Post' was simply another name for this Messenger Service, but the fact that it was specifically a Quick Post seems to suggest that it was an arm of that service dedicated to especially urgent or important messages.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 11 March 2024
  • This entry is complete

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