The renewing system

Looking through the postal services folder was most interesting when i came across a series
of postal charges booklets (price lists). They were interesting in considering how the
constant updating of price lead to new editions and design. These objects reinforce
ideas of type in New Zealand Print History as an agent for order, categorization and
administration. Typefaces live forever if they are continued to be used - their system
(the alphabet) will never be outdated. However, the postal pricing list as a document
will change - its is ephemeral. Like the typeface, the postal pricing list is an agent for
order, categorization and administration, but it needs to be ephemeral to maintain
function, system and relevance. Ideas of time, scale and consumption are brought into play. They function as an unprecious
utilitarian object. This system of renewal highlights a nature of ephemera. And raises
questions as to the possible scales of time for objects, hourly, daily, weekly, yearly that could be employed in re-assessing ephemera in a contemporary context.