The Malpost carriage (from the French malle – suitcase, and poste – mail) was a horse-drawn carriage originally designed for transporting dispatches and mail. Appearing in France in 1800, this mail coach replaced a two-wheeled covered cart without springs, drawn by a team of three horses, which had been used for the same purposes a century earlier.
In addition to Malpost carriages, the mail coaches also carried passengers — the heavy, enclosed carriage with wheels on springs made this possible. The front part of the coach was intended for the driver and one passenger seated beside him. The central part, the coupe, accommodated three travelers, while the rear part served as a luggage compartment designated for mail.