New Books in History Rachel Midura, "Postal Intelligence: The Tassis Family and Communications Revolution in Early Modern Europe" (Cornell UP, 2025)
Jan 17, 2026
Rachel Midura, a historian of information and communication, dives into the pivotal role of the Tassis family in revolutionizing postal systems in early modern Europe. She explores how postal services became essential for state governance and foreign diplomacy. Midura reveals insights into how postal networks functioned like early social platforms reshaping politics. The Tassis family's influence extended from Italy across Europe, showcasing the complex interplay between public and private mail and the significance of surveillance in communications.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Paper Turned Communication Into Bureaucracy
- Paper technology multiplied administrative life by making business and diplomacy readable and portable.
- Rachel Midura shows new papermaking and widespread paper use drove demand for reliable long-distance message carrying.
Relay Stations Made Fast Mail Possible
- Postal systems relied on relay staging posts to enable much faster long-distance delivery.
- The relay model (change horses, alert next rider) made reliable, scheduled mail possible across Europe.
A Family Firm Built Europe’s Postal Bureaucracy
- The Tassis family professionalized the role of postmaster-general by staffing networks with kin across Europe.
- Their family-firm model let them manage complex accounts, reimbursements, and constant contact across nodes.
