The writing appears to be on the wall for lovers of the art of sending letters

Predictions of the demise of letter writing are not new.

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The invention of the telegraph and the rise of the postcard were both seen as potential threats to a more leisurely, reflective form of communication. Yet by the close of the 20th century, more letters were being sent than ever, as social correspondence began to be supplemented by a boom in business mail.

From Europe’s most tech-savvy society, however, comes ominous news. This week, Denmark’s state-run postal service ended all letter deliveries after 400 years. Around 1,500 jobs have been cut, and the country’s beloved red letterboxes are being sold off. It will still be possible for Danes to send a card or a love letter to someone far away, but only via the shops of a smaller private company or a costly home collection.