1953 U.S. Post Office Department Oak Mail Sorting Desk With 84 Cubbies

Details

Description

An exceptional and documented 1953 U.S. Post Office Department oak mail sorting desk, retaining its original government property markings and … Read more An exceptional and documented 1953 U.S. Post Office Department oak mail sorting desk, retaining its original government property markings and Federal Equipment Co. identification.

The original ink stamp on the piece reads “PROPERTY OF POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,” “FEDERAL EQUIPMENT CO.,” and “1953,” providing unusually strong provenance and an exact date for this piece of American postal history.

Manufacturer/Contractor: Federal Equipment Co.
Original Owner: U.S. Post Office Department
Date: 1953
Country of Origin: United States
Material: Oak with metal hardware
Dimensions: 61.5” W × 23.5” D × 71” H
Depth: 23.5”
Individual Cubbies: Approx. 5” W × 6” H
Number of Cubbies: 84

Constructed in beautifully figured oak, the station features an imposing bank of 84 individual sorting cubbies, each approximately 5” × 6”, positioned above a large integrated sorting/work surface. Many of the cubbies retain remnants of their original identification labels. A single center drawer with metal cup pull provides additional storage.

The substantial oak base is built as a separate structural component, reflecting the heavy-duty institutional construction required for daily postal use. The upper sorting unit and broad work surface create a highly architectural piece while preserving the straightforward functional design of mid-century federal furnishings.

The oak displays particularly attractive grain across the apron, drawer front and sides, with a warm aged finish and authentic patina developed through decades of use. Original government stamps and markings remain visible and should be considered an important part of the piece’s history.

At more than five feet wide and nearly six feet tall, this is an unusually commanding example of vintage American postal furniture. Beyond its collectible value, the 84 compartments make it remarkably functional as a library or home-office organizer, retail display, hotel or restaurant station, studio storage piece, mudroom organizer, collector’s cabinet, or dramatic Americana statement piece. See less