Wish you were here - 112 years ago

EDINBURGH, (Reuters) -- Postmen in the Scottish city of Aberdeen did their very best to deliver a letter from Australia -- even if it was 112 years late.

"The card was posted by a chap called Colin on the 4th of January in 1889 and it arrived in Aberdeen a few days ago. We have absolutely no idea where it's been," said Aberdeen postmaster Pete Smith.

The card does not break any official world records for slow mail -- but only because the category does not exist.

"Whoever has this postcard should get in touch with us because we might start a new category," a spokesman for the Guinness Book of Records said. "We've got a record for a parcel but that's only about two or three years."

When confused 21st century postmen tried to deliver the postcard from Brisbane to a Miss Wardrop at 32 Carden Place, Aberdeen, they discovered it was a dental surgery.

Copyright 2001 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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