In the era before the invention of adhesive postage stamps, postal services in Scandinavia used feathers affixed to the envelope to indicate that delivery was urgent and should be expedited. The envelope above has a wavy line (known as a meander) with two horizontal lines through it and several stylized "crowns" in the spaces (together known as a Crown Coil or Kronoslinga) indicating that this was to be sent through the Royal Swedish Crown Post
Extra feathers indicated increasing degrees of urgency. The envelope above has both white and black feathers affixed, apparently indicating the need for transport both by day and by night.
The images above are cropped from an online webinar presented today by the Scandinavia Collectors Club. The entire half-hour presentation is available for public viewing with a membership requirement. It should be uploaded to the website by tomorrow.
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