E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Blind Department (The).
In Post Office parlance, means that department where letters with incoherent, insufficient, or illegible addresses are examined, and, if possible, put upon the proper track for delivery. The clerk so employed is called “The Blind Man.”
1
“One of these addresses was “Santlings, Hilewite” (St. Helen’s, Isle of Wight). I, myself, had one from France addressed, ‘A Mons. E. Cobham, brasseur, Angleterre,’ and it reached me. Another address was ‘Haselfeach in no famtshere’ (Hazelbeach, Northamptonshire).”
