·原天津海關(guān)大樓

清同治五年十一月(1866年12月),中國海關(guān)總稅務(wù)司赫德與清政府總理衙門達(dá)成協(xié)議，由海關(guān)兼辦郵政。同治六年正月二十八日 (1867年3月4日),海關(guān)總稅務(wù)司將《郵政通告》寄給津海關(guān)稅務(wù)司，確定了郵件封發(fā)時刻表和郵寄資費(fèi)；規(guī)定除收寄使館、海關(guān)公文外，還有私信。這是海關(guān)在天津籌辦近代郵政的開始。
清光緒二年(1876),總稅務(wù)司赫德進(jìn)一步請?jiān)O(shè)送信官局，并擬在北京、天津、煙臺、牛莊(今營口)、上海5處海關(guān)，仿照歐洲辦法開辦。赫德受命后，指派津海關(guān)稅務(wù)司德璀琳以天津?yàn)橹行?，?處海關(guān)先行開辦，于是近代送信機(jī)構(gòu)——“海關(guān)書信館”應(yīng)運(yùn)而生。
光緒四年二月二十日 (1878年3月23日),德璀琳在天津發(fā)布公告： “海關(guān)書信館”對外開放。由此，官辦的近代郵政機(jī)構(gòu)，開始收寄華洋公眾信件，標(biāo)志著中國近代郵政正式發(fā)端。而天津是近代郵政的發(fā)祥地。
為了讓公眾知曉郵路、資費(fèi)等情況，光緒四年三月二十九日 (1878年5月1日),海關(guān)書信館向外發(fā)布了 《郵政通告》,并由當(dāng)月15日起實(shí)行。
海關(guān)書信館設(shè)于天津海關(guān)大公事房內(nèi)(今營口道與張自忠路交口)。但是，中國商民多年習(xí)慣于向民信局交寄郵件，海關(guān)書信館建立后，民間用之者甚少。為了與民信局競爭，德璀琳委托天津大昌商行經(jīng)理，于光緒四年六月(1878年7月)初，在天津三岔河口 (今獅子林橋附近),開辦了第一個郵政代辦機(jī)構(gòu)——華洋書信館。
光緒五年十一月十日 (1879年12月22日),總稅務(wù)司赫德向各地海關(guān)發(fā)布通令，說明郵務(wù)總辦事處暫設(shè)天津，所發(fā)純屬郵遞業(yè)務(wù)性質(zhì)的指示，各海關(guān)應(yīng)予照辦。天津遂成為海關(guān)郵政之總匯。光緒五年十一月三十日 (1880年1月11日),海關(guān)書信館改名為海關(guān)撥駟達(dá)局(英語譯音，意即郵政)。
光緒二十年(1894),津榆(山海關(guān))鐵路全線竣工。轉(zhuǎn)年，天津至牛莊間的陸運(yùn)騎差郵路，跑行了17年之后，其中的津榆段改用火車運(yùn)送。這是全國最早利用火車運(yùn)郵之始。
光緒二十二年(1896)初，由于郵政的迅速發(fā)展，使撥駟達(dá)局又相繼推廣到沿海、沿江的19座城市。郵政局所的網(wǎng)路初具規(guī)模。
光緒二十三年正月初一日(1897年2月2日),天津海關(guān)撥駟達(dá)局改名為大清郵政局(簡稱大清郵政津局),設(shè)在撥駟達(dá)局原址(今解放路111號),仍由天津海關(guān)稅務(wù)司負(fù)責(zé)。當(dāng)時，大清郵政局有郵政專職人員14人?，F(xiàn)在，大清郵政局大樓除了東南角破損重修外，整個樓基本完好。這是我國現(xiàn)存歷史最早的大清郵政局辦公樓。
In ancient China,communications mainly dependedon post horses. Modem post began to develop in Chinawith the influence from overseas. In December 1866,General Taxation Department of China`s Customs andPrime Minister Yamen reached an agreement,allowingthe customs to manage post services. Post offices wereset up in Tianjin,Shanghai,Zhenjiang and Beijing. Thiswas the beginning of modern post service in China. OnMarch 4,1867,General Taxation Department of China`sCustoms mailed Post Service Notification to TianjinTaxation Department of Customs,which specified theschedule of mail deliverance and postage. Besides mailsfrom embassies and customs,the services also coveredindividual letters. This is the beginning of post servicein Tianjin by the Customs.
In 1876,Robert Hart,head of General TaxationDepartment,applied for setting up the Mail ServiceBureau. PM Yamen forwarded the application toLi Hongzhang,who was in charge of on-goingwesternization campaign in Tianjin. Li approved andsuggested that Robert Hart took charge to build fivebureaux affiliated to the customs of Beijing,Tianjin,Yantai,Niuzhuang and Shanghai in European style. Inthe spring of 1878,Robert Hart left China for businessin Europe and with permissions from Li Hongzhang,entrusted the issue to Dertring,head of Tianjin TaxationDepartment of Customs. Dertring built five bureauxaround Tianjin,which was the birth of "Mail ServiceBureau of the Customs".
On March 23,1878,Dertring issued a notice inTianjin about the operation of these bureaux,whoseservice including mails from the public. This was thestart of modern post service in China,which originatedin Tianjin.
To let the public understand the post roads andpostage,post bureaux issued the Post Notice on May 1,1878,which was implemented on May 15.
Modern post offices in Tianjin were named the"Customs Mail Office" located in Tianjin Customs,later relocated to Zizhulin of French Concession (thecross of Jiefangbei Road and Yingkou Street). Chinesebusinessmen were used to mailing via Civil Mail Bureauand seldom via Customs Mail Office. For competition,Dertring entrusted the president of Dachang shop toopen the first post agency "Huayang Mail Office" inJuly,1878 at Sanchakou,Tianjin (near Shizilin Bridge).
On December 22,1879,Robert Hart ordered eachcustoms to continue post business in northern seaportsand Beijing and to extend business to other seaports. Theheadquarter was located in Tianjin headed by Dertring.All customs must follow directions about post servicefrom Taxation Department of Tianjin. On January 11,1880,Customs Mail Office changed its name to CustomsPost Office.
In 1894,a railway from Tianjin to Shanhaiguanwas completed. In 1895,post services from Tianjin toJiuzhuang by horses for 17 years were changed by train,which was also the beginning of posting by train in China.
In the beginning of 1896,Customs Post Officespred business to the cities along rivers and coast.Besides the above-mentioned five cities,post officeswere set up in 19 cities including Chongqing,Yichang,Shashi,Hankou,Jiujiang,Wuhu,Zhenjiang,Suzhou,Hangzhou,Ningbo,Wenzhou,Fuzhou,Xiamen,Shantou,Guangzhou,Qiongzhou,Beihai,Mengzi andLongzhou. The post service network was praised by thegovernment and the people for its efficiency.
On February 2,1897,the Customs Post Officewas renamed as Post Office of Qing Dynasty withoutlocation change and still charged by Tianjin Customs.

·大清郵政津局