This rare children's early transferware mug commemorates an enlightened humanist movement that is mostly forgotten today. Postal reforms of 1840 brought cheap rates to the mail system, but it was still expensive and complicated to write abroad because countries all had different methods of charging postage. In 1846 a campaign for Ocean Penny postage was launched by Elihu Burritt, an American philanthropist who was ahead of his time. He believed that by offering cheap oversees postage, all nations could be linked "in trade and peace" by creating a universal fraternity. The movement was championed in Britain . In 1875 a Postal Union Convention was signed between 22 countries, including the United States and Britain , establishing unrestricted standard rates between participating countries, and laying the foundation for the Universal Postal Union, the agency now responsible for our international postal arrangements.

The mug depicts sailing ships on the shores of England and America , joined together, with mermaids and dolphins swimming in between. At the very top of the mug, two hands, one black and one white, are seen in an embrace.The banner reads: "The Ocean Postage -- Britain, from thee the World expects an ocean penny postage, to make her children one fraternity."

The mug stands 2½" tall and is in excellent condition.