Frequently Asked Questions
Sneak Peek
Nixon Sample Letter
Curious about what to expect from our subscription? Download a sample letter featuring the Nixon resignation letter—an iconic piece of history.
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What is History By Mail?
History By Mail is a monthly subscription service for reproductions of historical letters and documents. Each letter comes with a separate document explaining the context of the letter including its author, recipient, and relevance to the events of its time, as well as a transcription when necessary.
History By Mail makes an excellent gift for history buffs of all shapes and sizes.
How do I purchase a History By Mail subscription as a gift?
Simply click the "Gift a Subscription" button on the selected subscription page and fill in the recipient's details. An email will be sent to the recipient on the date set on the "When should we tell the recipient about their gift?" field. You can choose the number of renewals you would like to gift the recipient by choosing from the "Gift Amount" options. Multiple renewals will be billed up front in a single charge. You can also add a message in the "Gift Message" section for a personalized touch.
The gift recipient will be notified via email on the chosen date, and they can easily redeem their subscription by following the instructions in the email. Sharing the gift of history has never been simpler.
The subscription recipient will receive a welcome letter with his or her first replica, explaining the History By Mail subscription. Click "View Sample Welcome Letter" below to view and download a sample welcome letter that is included in the first envelope of each new subscription. Feel free to give this welcome letter to your gift recipient.
When does the first letter arrive?
We aim to send out the first letter within 5 business days after a customer signs up. Each subsequent letter is mailed in the middle of the month. For example, if you sign up on November 2nd, your first letter would be mailed the following week, and your second letter would be mailed on December 15th.
All letters are mailed via United States Post Office First Class Mail. Letters in the United States take up to 7 to 10 business days to arrive. Letters outside the United States can take up to 21 days to arrive.
History By Mail Topics
What topics do the letters cover?
Our primary focus is on United States history, but we have included some documents from outside the US which are relevant to our themes.
Recent themes have included:
Transfer of Power: Explores the history of the transfer of power of presidents and other political leaders.
Inventions: See Einstein's improvements for wartime torpedoes and the attorney general’s consideration of patent applications from slaves.
Foreign Diplomatic Relations: How have foreign leaders, such as the King of Thailand, related to US presidents over time?
The stamps below show artistic representations of our current themes.
How are letters selected?
Our team of curators searches historic archives worldwide for interesting letters that touch on relevant historic themes, or that are written by or to historic figures. Our team verifies the authenticity of the documents and then produces a replica of the original document to deliver to you.
How do I manage my account and cancel my subscription
You can cancel your subscription at any time by logging into your customer portal found via the "login" link at the top or bottom of any page of www.HistoryByMail.com. Enter the email used during sign-up and a one-time code will be sent to your email or sms. Once logged in, click "subscriptions," and then "cancel." Canceling will not affect your current subscription, and you will still receive the letters you purchased. Canceling will only affect future auto renewal.
You can also contact us via the form below to request a subscription cancellation or email us at support@historybymail.com
Do you mail internationally?
Yes! We mail to any country in the world using United States Postal Service First Class International stamps. Shipping times vary by country since the mail relies on the coordination between the postal services of two countries.
How do I change my address?
Simply fill out the contact form below or email us at support@historybymail.com to
request the change. Contacting us directly is the only way to ensure our fulfillment team knows about the address change.
Does the History By Mail e-book contain any of the same documents and stories as the paid subscriptions?
All of the documents and stories mailed out in the subscription are unique and are not found in the e-book. We want to make sure that when people pay for a subscription, they are getting unique and exclusive content. The e-book History By Mail Presents - 20 Fascinating Documents From American History can be downloaded here.