Alvin Fay Harlow wrote on many historical subjects, including mailing services, waybills, the telegraph, stamp collecting and education. Born in Sedalia, Missouri, he attended Franklin College in Indiana and then worked in the coal and timber business, and as a commercial artist, before being able to earn a living as a writer. He wrote for Weird Tales, Complete Detective Novel Magazine, All Story Weekly, and other now little remembered periodicals. In addition, he also wrote for Collier's, Esquire, The Saturday Evening Post, and the New York Times. Harlow was awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters by Franklin College. This new edition is dedicated to Frank McCluskey, scholar and historian who combines philosophy with wit.