Using the Kindle Reader Format for Documents from the MPHS Website

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Introduction

The Military Postal History Society (MPHS) offers a number of documents in electronic formats. This web page describes how to view the such files on a Kindle device (or software app).

The document formats used by Amazon are unique to that vendor. An earlier format supported by the Kindle was called MOBI or MobiPocket.

Over time, Amazon changed content formats in order to prevent people from “side-loading” books and documents onto their reader devices and apps. A more recent format is the AZW3 and other file formats.

The webmaster for MPHS has expended quite a lot of work, trying to make documents available to users of Kindle devices and apps, but over time, results have become more difficult to achieve and the user experiences has degraded.

NOTE that this situation does not apply to MPHS publications purchased from Amazon, only to e-books hosted on the MPHS website.

Current Situation

While you can find and download AZW3 files from the MPHS website, reading them could be very difficult.

One example is the article Poison Cornflakes for Breakfast by SGM Herbert A. Friedman (Ret.)

You are free to download this file to your phone, tablet, or computer.

You can read the article on these devices, using some software described below.

HOWEVER it seems to be much easier to download the EPUB version of the article and use the “sendtokindle” feature of the Amazon website to recieve it in your Kindle reader or app.

It is recommended that you view and follow the information in the EPUB format writeup to continue.

Reading MOBI and AZW3 on a Computer

When you right-click on the above AZW3 link, you will have the option to “Save As” or “save link as” onto your computer, phone, or tablet drive. Some systems allow you to click directly on the above links, and will provide the option to “Save” the Kindle file.

At this point, you should have one or more “.azw3” or “.mobi” files on your computer, phone, or tablet.

Testing has shown that the Calibre product offers an e-book reader that can easily read, for instance, the Cornflakes article. Calibre is available for a wide variety of computer systems.

Another reader available for many systems is FBReader. So far, I have been able to read the Cornflakes article with no problem.

Conclusion

Again, it appears that the best way to read MPHS documents on the Kindle is to get the EPUB version of the document and follow the information in the EPUB format writeup to continue.

Additional Links

Technical Information

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Mon Jun 22 11:15:18 AM CDT 2026