The postilion was a figure who carried letters and military dispatches across Europe and Italy by carriage or horseback. Often depicted in novels as a person of great personality and a skilled rider, the postilion required specialized footwear to protect against the elements and potential falls. These boots, weighing one and a half kilograms each, are crafted from exceptionally aged leather. Inside each boot is a layer of poplar wood to increase rigidity.

Consider that a military postilion could deliver dispatches from Turin to Rome in just five days—a remarkable feat in an era before cell phones and SMS. It may seem impressive today, but it was truly extraordinary for its time. The postilions were undoubtedly equipped with legs of steel.