History By Mail is a unique monthly subscription that we’re asked about often, and for good reason! It’s one of the most popular history gifts around. We tested it ourselves and have kept up with how it’s changed, including its feature on Shark Tank. In this post we’ll cover all the important things you should consider before you buy.
Reader Summary
- Find out whether History by Mail is a legitimate subscription worth your money.
- Understand what History by Mail is, and whether it suits your household or learning style.
- Review the service’s key features so you know what you’ll actually receive each month.
- Pick up practical tips for getting the most out of History by Mail before you subscribe.
Our Quick History by Mail Review Verdict
History By Mail is a great pick for adults and older kids who love history. Each month brings one high quality replica of a real document, plus a document (usually a one-pager, sometimes two!) that tells the story behind the featured replica. It’s not the cheapest way to learn history, but it feels uniquely special in a way that a book or app can’t replace.
History by Mail Details
- Price: $8.99 a month, or $47.99 for 6 months
- Coupon Code: Use code AYEAROFBOXES for 10% off your first box
- Sign up for History by Mail and check current prices here
What is History by Mail
History By Mail is a monthly subscription service for reproductions of historical letters and documents. Each month they’ll mail you a replica of a real historical letter or document. Each one comes with a separate page that explains the context of the historical piece, including its author, the recipient, and the relevance to the events of its time. Basically, who wrote it, who received it, and why it mattered. When old handwriting is hard to read, they include a typed transcript which is really helpful.
Founder Ari Siegel started the company in January 2019. Most documents come from U.S. history, and the theme changes every four letters.
It’s a great fit for:
- History fans of any age 12 and up
- Teachers and homeschool families
- Grandparents who want a monthly conversation starter with grandkids
- Anyone who misses getting real mail
Is History By Mail good for kids?
A reader once asked us if it would suit a 10 year old who reads at a 7th-grade level. We think yes, and even if they didn’t read at a 7th grade level, with the help of a parent or caregiver, there’s a lot of great discussion that come from experiencing a historical replica each month.
The context pages are written for adults, so younger kids can absolulely enjoy it, but they enjoy it more if it’s read together or explained to them in a simpler way. Some topics may offer a great jumping off point for families and homeschoolers to have their own conversations about war and the history surrounding it.
There are many different options on subscription choices such as a monthly subscription, 6 months subscription or a yearly subscription and would make a great gift for Christmas, an Anniversary or even Father’s /Mother’s Day or even a Wedding gift.
Key Features: What Comes in History By Mail
History By Mail has kindly sent us several sets of letters to review over the years. Here’s a look at six different deliveries and the kinds of historical replicas you might expect to receive in a History by Mail subscription each month. You’ll also get to hear what one of our reviewers, Amy, thought about each one.
Envelope #1: Police Report & Bus Diagram from Rosa Park’s Arrest 1955
When opening the first envelope it was fascinating to read the police report of Rosa Park’s arrest. Rosa Parks was arrested for being a black female sitting in the white section of a bus who would not move back. The document shows where Rosa was sitting on the bus along with a fingerprint card from her arrest.
The information included with this piece of history gives you an overview who Rosa was and a detailedrecap of the bus incident. The story is very detailed and almost feels like you are transported back to1955.
After reading the piece of paper provided you truly get a deep understanding of such a pivotal time in history.
Envelope #2: Check for the purchase of Alaska 1868
Did you know that Alaska used to belong to Russia? I did not, but by reading this informative document I learned that in 1868 the U.S. got a treasury warrant and bought Alaska from Russia. I learned so much from reading this document. Governments use treasury warrants to authorize large payments, and what a large payment it was! Alaska cost a total of $7.2 million dollars and this purchase included 600,000 square miles of territory for less than 2 cents per acre.
With the purchase of Alaska, the U.S. became 20 % larger! Some people did not support the purchase of Alaska, but other believed it was a good decision, especially when gold was discovered in 1896 leading to the gold rush.
Envelope #3: Eisenhower’s “Order of the Day” & Sketch of D-Day Platoon Leader 1944
General Dwight D. Eisenhower issued this “Order of the Day” and 175,000 copies were printed and distributed to soldiers, sailors, and airmen as they embarked on their journey across the English Channel.
The letter enclosed in the envelope is empowering and gave me chills to read. It was message was powerful, hopeful but also stated heading into war was extremely dangerous.
It was incredible to read about the history of WW2 and the detailed history of D-Day. D-Day initiated the Battle of Normandy which allowed the Allies to gain a secure foothold in mainland Europe. The D-Day invasion was a major psychological and military blow to the Axis powers.
Envelope #4: Original Christmas Cards
Did you know the tradition of Christmas cards has been around since 1843? The first set of Christmas cards was commissioned by British civil servant Henry Cole, and designed by painter John Callcott Horsley.
The document included with the set of 5 original Christmas cards explains some history of the British Post, as well as more history of the civil servant Henry Cole. Part of the history states that it was considered impolite in Victorian England to leave a letter unanswered. Cole was receiving so many letters that he was unable to keep up to responding to them all, which is why he had his friend and painter design a card. The printed cards had “To” and “From”, with a generic message stating Merry Christmas. By creating this type of Christmas card, Cole was able to respond to all his fellow letter senders, but saving massive amounts of time.
Interestingly enough, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, in the same week that Cole started sending his cards and more and more people starting sending them, and getting into new traditions.
Envelope #5: Letter from Annie Oakley to President McKinley 1898
I’m sure most people know the name Annie Oakley, but I learned from this envelope that she was one of the most famous Americans at the end of the 19 th century, and some people even consider her to be America’s first female entertainment star. Annie was an exhibition shooter and a sharpshooter and actually would perform around different shows all around the world!
The information included with this envelope goes into detail about the Spanish-American war, and why Annie Oakley wrote a letter to the president offering up her sharp shooting services if they were to go to war.
I also learned a lot about Annie Oakley and that she was part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West travelling show. Not only was Annie a show-women, but what I found fascinating was that she also taught over 15,000 women how to use a gun.
Envelope #6: WWI Rationing Card & Nursery Rhyme 1917 & 1918
When you hear about WWI you hear a lot of ration cards, but I had never had the opportunity to see one first hand, and see all the detail that went into one before opening this envelope.
Along with the ration card, you also see a nursery rhyme which was distributed to the U.S. Public Schools for school children to pledge their support to the war effort.
It was very interesting to read about how specifically Children were really encouraged to do their part to help the war effort. Many campaigns were directed right at children to help them feel empowered that they could help in the war effort.
How’s the quality of the replicas?
The replicas look and feel like the real thing, down to the handwriting. It was fascinating to hold a piece of history, tangibly. History By Mail says they’re printed on archival paper, so you can frame them if you wish. A reader also shared with us that he was “very pleased with the quality” of his first letter.
Keep in mind they’re replicas, not original documents, so they can only print as clearly as the original exists, but that’s not a reflection of History by Mail. The paper is good quality and the envelopes also look historic.
How much does History by Mail cost?
As with most subscriptions, you’ll save with longer term plans. But even still, subscription prices are very reasonable for the type of experience it’s delivering. In the table below, we’ve broken down each plan by price and it’s equivalent cost per letter.
| Plan | Price | Cost Per Letter |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $8.99 / month | $8.99 |
| 6 Months | $47.99 / 6 months | approximately $8 |
| 1 Year | $87.99 / year | approximately $7.33 |
| 2 Years (+2 bonus gifts!) | $164.99 / 2 years | approximately $6.87 |
Shipping is free in the US. You can add a “Keepsake Folio” to store your letters for $34.99. They also offer various add on subscriptions if you want to explore things like National Parks or Urban Legends. We haven’t tried those yet!
Does History by Mail Ship to Canada?
Yes. History By Mail ships to any country using US first-class international mail. This means that letters being shipped outsid eof the US can take up to 21 days to arrive, so plan accordingly if you’re a homeschool family or teacher planning to use these letters in your lesson plans. First class mail usually doesn’t include insurance or tracking either, so keep that in mind.
Is History by Mail Legit?
You bet! History By Mail has been shipping since 2019 and they claim that they’ve delivered over 1 million letters. We’ve received over a dozen personally, and they’re always consistent with the quality and experience.
History By Mail was also featured on Shark Tank Season 16, Episode 15, which aired April 4, 2025. Ari Siegel asked for $250,000 for 10% of the company. On the show, he accepted a joint offer from Daniel Lubetzky (founder of KIND) and Barbara Corcoran. After filming, the final deal closed with Lubetzky and his firm, Camino Partners. Corcoran was not part of it, a company spokesperson told CNBC.
Another way you can check the legitimacy of a subscription is to look for reviews. History by Mail shows 4.9 stars from over 800 reviews on its own site, but if you’d like to look outside of their own site, you can also read reviews on Uncommon Goods and Trustpilot.
History by Mail Complaints, Pros & Cons
Of the dozen or so History by Mail deliveries we’ve had, our experiences have been positive. The biggest complaint we’ve heard from the subscription box community is mostly around the mail delivery itself, not the letters. Unfortunately, companies don’t have any say on how long shipping will take or how a product will arrive after it leaves their hands.
Since History by Mail is shipping via US First Class, they have even less control of what happens to the mail they ship. But, in the off chance that something arrives damaged or doesn’t arrive at all, reach out to them and give them the chance to replace it. We’ve found that most subscription box companies (especially small businesses) want to do the right thing and will take good care of their custoemrs.
Outside of the post office and their delivery, here are the biggest pros and cons to consider when thinking about joining History by Mail.
Pros:
- Replicas look real enough to frame or keep (this is why they make such a great gift for history buffs!)
- The context page makes every letter easy to understand which adds to the value of the experience and makes it accessible to all ages
- Tangible experience to enjoy off of a screen. Reduces screen time for kids and who doesn’t love getting a letter in the mail?
- Free US shipping, and you can cancel anytime
- Flexible gift options
Cons:
- Just one letter a month, which may not feel like enough for the price or for someone who wants more than one per month
- Replicas are mostly US history based (which may not be a con if you’re in the US!)
- Even though it’s out of their control, Firstclass mail can be slow, and letters sometimes go missing
I personally don’t feel like it would feel as valuable to receive a digital replica – so getting something in the mail feels like it would be more likely to be read, discussed, and studied, than if it was a digital delivery.
History by Mail vs. Letterjoy
If you’ve been looking for a historical subscription experience, you may have bumped into Letterjoy – History by Mail’s biggest competitor. Here’s a quick look at the differences between the two:
| History by Mail | LetterJoy | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery frequency | Monthly | Weekly |
| Price | From approx $6.87 / letter | From approx $4.78 / letter |
| What you get | Replica documents, a context page, and a transcript | Replica letters from famous people, with a researcher’s note |
| Themes | Change every 4 letters | Change monthly |
| Best for | A slower, deeper read; gifts | People who want more letters more frequently |
The biggest difference comes down to frequency and volume. If you’re not sure, try both to see which one you prefer!
Final Verdict: Is History by Mail Worth It?
Yes, if you love history or know someone who does. Seeing real handwriting on documents that shaped history is something a textbook just can’t do. The context pages turn each letter into a short, fascinating story as well. And even though The Library of Congress and National Archives have many documents available online for free, with History By Mail, you’re paying for someone to find the good stuff and bring the story to life. That’s the biggest perk! Being able to hold it in your hand is the cherry on top.
History By Mail is a great gift idea for a history junkie, or for yourself! The documents you’ll receive are perfect to keep as a keepsake, to use as learning materials in classrooms or homeschool, or even keep as collectible items.
It’s so interesting to see actual documents, with people’s exact handwriting, and exact written words on such important pieces that literally shaped our history. I really valued the pages of context that were included with each replica because it helps gain a deeper appreciation for the historical document.
Many people think learning about history is mostly done by reading a book, but by subscribing to History By Mail’s service you actually get to learn about history by seeing REAL historical replicas.
Expect to see a new theme every four months which is expertly curated by their team.
I can’t wait to share the knowledge I learned while reading their documents at my next family dinner. If you are curious about history I highly recommend you check out History By Mail.
-Amy
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how much mail you want to receive. History By Mail sends one detailed document a month. Letterjoy sends a letter every week.
Yes. The final deal closed with Daniel Lubetzky and his firm, Camino Partners.
Log in to your account on their website, click “Subscriptions,” then “Cancel.” You can also email support@historybymail.com. You’ll still get any letters you already paid for. They also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and say they’ll refund the rest if you’re unhappy.
Yes. It ships worldwide via USPS First Class mail. Letters outside the U.S. can take up to 21 days to arrive so plan accordingly.
We think so! They say that it’s best for ages 12 and up. We think yuounger kids can absolutely still enjoy it with a parent or caregiver to help explain some of the more advanced components of the replicas. What’s better than learning from the real thing?!
History by Mail is a great option for adults who are interested in US history. For other interests, check out our roundup of the best letter subscriptions for adults.