On July 1, 1847, the United States Postal Service (USPS) made history by issuing its very first postage stamps. According to the USPS website, these stamps were sold in New York City and came in two designs – one for each denomination. The five-cent stamp featured Benjamin Franklin, while the ten-cent stamp depicted George Washington.
Unlike the book-form stamps we know today, stamps in the 19th century were not sold in this manner. Post office workers had to individually cut stamps using scissors, and the sheets of stamps were not perforated. However, the stamps were pre-gummed, which made them easier to apply to envelopes.
The concept of postage stamps was actually proposed by British teacher and inventor Sir Rowland Hill in 1837. He suggested uniform postage rates for mail within the British Isles and the ability to pay these rates in advance. It wasn’t until 1840 that consumers in the United Kingdom were able to purchase and use postage stamps.
The first postage stamps in the United Kingdom were the Penny Black and the Two Penny Blue, which were sold for different types of letters. The United States caught on relatively quickly, with the City Despatch Post in New York City issuing adhesive postage stamps on February 1, 1842 – just two years after the stamps were introduced in the UK. The USPS acquired the City Despatch Post later that year and used postage stamps for mail within New York City.
In 1845, postage rates were simplified, and postmasters created “Postmasters’ Provisionals” as a way for people to prepay for letters. Prior to the invention of postage stamps, individuals had to bring their letters to the post office and pay for them in person. The postage rate was determined by the length of the letter and the distance it had to be sent.
Before 1855, it was not mandatory to prepay for postage. Instead of a stamp, the postmaster would write “PAID” in the upper right corner of a pre-paid envelope. It wasn’t until January 1, 1856, that the use of U.S. postage stamps became obligatory.
Since its inception in the mid-1800s, postage stamps have undergone various changes. In 1893, the USPS introduced the first U.S. commemorative stamps, which were larger in size and featured designs commemorating Christopher Columbus’ voyages. These commemorative stamps became quite popular, and since then, the USPS has issued thousands of them, honoring a wide range of subjects.
In 2007, the USPS introduced the “forever” stamp, which remains valid for mailing regardless of the price of postage. This nondenominated, nonexpiring stamp is intended for customers mailing First-Class Mail.
Throughout history, postage stamps have evolved in terms of material, delivery, and sale. Stamps began to be sold in book form in 1900, and the first self-adhesive stamp was introduced in 1974.
One of the bestselling commemorative stamps is the Elvis Presley stamp from 1993, according to the USPS website.
The USPS continues to issue commemorative stamps for various themes and events, ranging from sports to eclipses to historical moments.
Overall, the postage stamp has played a significant role in the history of mail services, and its impact continues to be felt in modern times.
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