Special Delivery is a postal service

Mail

Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...

 for urgent postal packets. Its meaning varies among postal services and is different and separate from Express mail

Express mail

In most postal systems express mail refers to an accelerated delivery service for which the customer pays a surcharge and receives faster delivery. Express mail is a service for domestic mail and is governed by a country's own postal administration...

 delivery service offered by many postal administrations. Essentially it means that a postal packet is delivered from a post office to the addressee immediately once it arrives at the post office responsible for delivering it, rather than waiting for the next regular delivery to the addressee.

The United States Postal Service

United States Postal Service

The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...

 offered special delivery from 1885 to 1997 whereby the letter would be dispatched more immediately and directly from the receiving post office to the recipient rather than being put in mail for distribution on the regular delivery route.

Popular culture

• In Return to Sender
  Return to Sender (song)
  "Return to Sender" is a 1962 rock and roll hit single recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music. The song was written by Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell....
  
  , Elvis Presley
  Elvis Presley
  Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
  
   sang about sending a letter to his girlfriend, "I dropped it in the mailbox / and sent it Special D."
• Musician Special D
  Special D
  Special D. is a German DJ and dance music artist who is particularly popular in the Netherlands, where he won the 'Best Dance International' award at the 2004 TMF NL awards. He is also popular among the Euro-Trance scene in North America...
  
  's name is a reference to the Elvis lyric and this service.

External links

• History of USPS Special Delivery
• Special Delivery Primer
• Special Delivery Stamps
• US Special Delivery website multiple articles about Special Delivery