History
The postal stamp as it is known today did not exist until 1840. Previous to that time, letters were postmarked in ink and the recipient paid upon delivery of the letter. Postmarks came about in 1661, thanks to Henry Bishop. Bishop first used the concept of postmarks at the London General Post Office. The "Bishop mark" included the day and month the letter was mailed. This term eventually came to be called postmark.
Time Frame
In 1837, British schoolmaster Rowland Hill invented the first adhesive postal stamp. Hill received a knighthood for his invention. Hill is also credited with developing uniform postal rates, which gave rise to prepayment for mailing letters through the postal service.
The postal stamp as it is known today did not exist until 1840. Previous to that time, letters were postmarked in ink and the recipient paid upon delivery of the letter. Postmarks came about in 1661, thanks to Henry Bishop. Bishop first used the concept of postmarks at the London General Post Office. The "Bishop mark" included the day and month the letter was mailed. This term eventually came to be called postmark.
Time Frame
In 1837, British schoolmaster Rowland Hill invented the first adhesive postal stamp. Hill received a knighthood for his invention. Hill is also credited with developing uniform postal rates, which gave rise to prepayment for mailing letters through the postal service.
Penny Black
The first adhesive postal stamp to be released was Great Britain's Penny Black on which the profile of Queen Victoria was engraved. It was released on May 6, 1840. This was the first issue of a sheet of stamps; there were 240 stamps to a sheet and each stamp had to be cut out. Queen Victoria's profile remained on all the British stamps for the next 60 years.
Perforation
In a parliamentary session of 1851, one Mr. Archer issued perforated stamps in the House of Commons. The British government, recognizing a good thing when it saw one, paid Mr. Archer 4,000 pounds for the patent. The first officially perforated stamps were issued in January 1854.
Global
After the establishment of the stamp in the British realm, Brazil issued its own stamp in 1843. Other countries followed suit, and stamps were used globally, but not internationally. Stamps were used for internal postal exchange, so the names of their respective countries were not imprinted on the stamps. The Universal Postal Union, established in 1874, set out requirements for the production and distribution of stamps, and one of those requirements was that the name of the country of origin be included on the stamp. This regulation, however, did not apply to Britain's stamps. The portrait of the reigning monarch was considered sufficient identification.
Influence
The Panama Canal was built in Panama due to an artist's license. The U.S. government in 1900 planned to build a canal through Nicaragua. Unfortunately, a stamp issued out of Nicaragua showed the potential location as being inhabited by an active volcano. The volcano was inactive, but the artist had taken liberties and showed the volcano belching fire and lava. After seeing the stamp, sent by Panamanian lobbyists, the United States declined to put the canal in Nicaragua and opted instead for Panama.
The first adhesive postal stamp to be released was Great Britain's Penny Black on which the profile of Queen Victoria was engraved. It was released on May 6, 1840. This was the first issue of a sheet of stamps; there were 240 stamps to a sheet and each stamp had to be cut out. Queen Victoria's profile remained on all the British stamps for the next 60 years.
Perforation
In a parliamentary session of 1851, one Mr. Archer issued perforated stamps in the House of Commons. The British government, recognizing a good thing when it saw one, paid Mr. Archer 4,000 pounds for the patent. The first officially perforated stamps were issued in January 1854.
Global
After the establishment of the stamp in the British realm, Brazil issued its own stamp in 1843. Other countries followed suit, and stamps were used globally, but not internationally. Stamps were used for internal postal exchange, so the names of their respective countries were not imprinted on the stamps. The Universal Postal Union, established in 1874, set out requirements for the production and distribution of stamps, and one of those requirements was that the name of the country of origin be included on the stamp. This regulation, however, did not apply to Britain's stamps. The portrait of the reigning monarch was considered sufficient identification.
Influence
The Panama Canal was built in Panama due to an artist's license. The U.S. government in 1900 planned to build a canal through Nicaragua. Unfortunately, a stamp issued out of Nicaragua showed the potential location as being inhabited by an active volcano. The volcano was inactive, but the artist had taken liberties and showed the volcano belching fire and lava. After seeing the stamp, sent by Panamanian lobbyists, the United States declined to put the canal in Nicaragua and opted instead for Panama.
