why are post boxes red?

Question

what is the history behind it?

Answer 1

As noted, the colour of the post box varies from country to country. The are various reasons for that difference. In Britain, the post boxes are painted red to increase their visibility.

However, this was a standardisation that only occurred in 1874. Prior to that, post boxes were different colours (as well as having various designs). This occurred because the individual postal districts were responsible for setting up their own post boxes.

See sources for a history of the British Post Box

Answer 2

It comes from a madman that started years ago choping peoples heads off and all the towns people cold not find the people and they were worried so the guy thought it would be clever to put up boxes on sticks in front of peoples houses and drop their heads in it so the towns people would know what happend to them so the fraise was born hand your head out so they just kept them red and the legend was born of the red box murders

Answer 3

In England, they made the post boxes red because red is an easy color to spot.

Answer 4

Red in Canada, blue in USA - sorry, don't know the history

Answer 5

I think to make them noticable for public. Some are blue tho. I know they have army green ones here that the mail carriers store their bags in I think thats so people leave them alone.

Answer 6

Anthony Trollope's popular shade, perhaps? (He invented them). To cause them to stand out so that they could be obtainable? to furnish a sparkling which potential to the expression: "pink letter day"!

Answer 7

ours are blue...never actually seen a red one...

Answer 8

mine are blue