Postage stamp

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors. People buy these stamps and stick them on letters or packages they want to send. When the postal service sees the stamp, they put a special mark on it to show where and when it was sent. This helps make sure the stamp is only used once.

Stamps usually show the name of the country, a value amount, and pictures that represent the country's traditions or important events. They are printed on special paper and often have sticky backs so they can be easily attached to envelopes or other items.

Because stamps are connected to history and culture, many people enjoy collecting them. This hobby is called philately. On 1 May 1840, the first stamp called the Penny Black was made in the United Kingdom with a picture of Queen Victoria. Soon after, many other countries started making their own stamps, and today they are used all around the world. The United Kingdom is special because its stamps do not show the country name—instead, the picture of the monarch shows that the stamp is from the United Kingdom.

Invention

Throughout modern history, many people tried different ways to show that postage had been paid on mail. Because of this, several people have been given credit for inventing the postage stamp.

In April 1680, William Dockwra, an English worker in London, and his partner Robert Murray started the London Penny Post. This was a mail system that delivered letters and small packages inside London for one penny. They used a hand stamp to show that the postage was paid. Though this "stamp" was put on the letter itself, not on a separate piece of paper, many historians think it was the world's first postage stamp.

In 1835, a civil servant named Lovrenc Košir from Ljubljana in Austria-Hungary (now Slovenia), suggested using special paper stamps to show that postage was paid. But this idea was not used at the time.

In 1836, Robert Wallace, a member of the British Parliament, gave Sir Rowland Hill many books and documents about the postal service. After studying them, Hill wrote a pamphlet called Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability. He suggested using a small piece of paper with a stamp on it, stuck to the back with glue, to show that postage was paid. This idea later became the modern adhesive postage stamp.

Hill's ideas about postage stamps and charging based on weight were adopted in many countries. His brother Edwin even invented a machine to make envelopes quickly.

In 1881, a man named Patrick Chalmers claimed that his father, James Chalmers, had published an essay in 1834 describing a postage stamp. However, he could not prove it existed. The first real evidence of Chalmers' idea came in 1838, when he wrote to the Post Office suggesting adhesive stamps.

Other people also claimed to have invented the postage stamp, including Ferdinand Egarter of Spittal, Austria, Samuel Forrester, a Scottish tax official, John Gray of the British Museum, Samuel Roberts of Llanbrynmair, Wales, Francis Worrell Stevens, a schoolmaster at Loughton, Curry Gabriel Treffenberg from Sweden, and Charles Whiting, a London stationer.

History

The nineteenth century

Postage stamps have helped deliver mail since the 1840s. Before that, people used ink and hand-stamps to mark mail and show that postage had been paid. The first sticky postage stamp, called the Penny Black, was made in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1840. This was part of efforts to fix problems in the postal system, which was messy and full of unfair practices at the time.

Before stamps, people who received mail had to pay for it, which caused problems when they could not or would not pay. Senders also had no reason to limit how much mail they sent. Stamps solved this by letting senders pay up front, making the postal system better and faster. Stamps also became popular because they were pretty and easy to use. By the end of the 20th century, many businesses used other ways to pay for mail instead of stamps.

Stamps became a popular topic for collectors and historians. Studying stamps, called philately, helps us learn about the past because stamps tell stories about the countries that made them. The first stamps did not show the country’s name, but had a picture of Queen Victoria. The United Kingdom still does not put its name on stamps today.

Other countries started making their own stamps soon after the United Kingdom. Switzerland made its first stamps in 1843, and Brazil made theirs the same year. The United States issued its first official stamps in 1847, showing Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Many other countries followed in the 1850s and 1860s.

The twentieth and twenty-first centuries

After World War II, some small countries, especially in Arabia, began making many stamps because they could make a lot of money doing so.

In the 21st century, fewer people used postage stamps because of electronic mail and new technologies. In 2013, the Netherlands started using special codes called Postzegelcodes instead of stamps for some mail. By December 2020, about 590,000 people had sent cards with these codes written on them.

Design

When the first postage stamps were made in the 1840s, they all looked very similar. They were rectangles with pictures of important leaders like queens and presidents. They also showed how much postage was paid, and usually had the name of the country on them, except for the United Kingdom.

Later, stamps started showing many different things. For example, in 1869, the United States began making stamps with pictures of trains and horses instead of just presidents. Some people liked these new designs, while others did not.

Perforations

Perforations are small holes between stamps on a sheet, making it easier to separate them. Early stamps did not have these holes, so people had to cut or tear them apart, which often left rough edges. The United Kingdom was the first to use perforations, starting in 1850. The United States began using them in 1857.

Shapes and materials

Stamps are usually rectangles, but some have been made in other shapes like circles, triangles, and even the shape of fruit. Stamps are most often made of special paper, but some have been made from materials like foil, lace, wood, plastic, and even synthetic chemicals. Some stamps have been made with gold or silver, and one even had a playable record with a national anthem.

Graphic characteristics

Stamps often feature pictures of important people, ships, birds, satellites, historical events, and many other topics. Early stamps were made using a special printing method called engraving, which created very detailed images. Later, other printing methods were used, which were cheaper but often made less detailed pictures.

Scents

Sometimes, stamps are made with a special scent, like coffee or roses. This is done by using ink that contains tiny capsules that release the scent when rubbed. These scented stamps usually only keep their smell for a few months or years. The first scented stamps were made by Bhutan in 1973.

Types

• Airmail stamp – for paying for airmail service. These stamps often show pictures of airplanes or famous pilots. Airmail was once a special way to send mail, but now most mail travels by plane.
• _ATM stamp _– stamps given out by machines with the price printed on them when bought.
• Booklet stamp – stamps made and sold in booklet form.
• Carrier's stamp
• Certified mail stamp
• Cinderella stamp (see also: Poster stamp)
• Coil stamps – stamps that come off a roll, often sold in vending machines or in rolls.
• Commemorative stamp – a stamp made for a short time to honor a person or event. Birthdays and important historical events are common reasons.
• Computer vended postage – advanced postage using special technology with a code to show important details like the address and date.
• _Customised stamp _– a stamp where the buyer can choose the picture by sending a photo or using a computer. Some are not real stamps but labels.
• Definitive stamps – stamps for everyday use, made to match current postage prices. They often have simple designs and can be used for many years.
• Express mail stamp / special delivery stamp
• Late fee stamp – issued to show payment of a fee to send a letter or package after the usual deadline.
• Local post stamps – used for mail within a small area, like a city or along a specific route. These can be run by governments or private companies.
• Make up stamp – a stamp with a very small value, used to cover the difference when postage prices go up.
• Military stamp – stamp for a country’s armed forces, usually using a special postal system.
• Minisheet – a small commemorative group of stamps, often with a decorative border. See also souvenir sheets.
• Newspaper stamp – used to pay for sending newspapers and other magazines.
• Official mail stamp – issued for use by the government or government agencies.
• _Occupation stamp _– a stamp used by an occupying army or its authorities for civilians.
• Non-denominated postage – a stamp that stays valid even if the price goes up. It is also called a permanent or "forever" stamp.
• Overprint – a stamp that has been changed after being made, like changing the price.
• Perforated stamps – stamps with holes around the edges to separate them. Some have special holes with letters or patterns.
• Personalised stamps – let the user add their own picture.
• Pneumatic post stamps – for mail sent using air tubes, only made in Italy.
• Postage and revenue stamps – stamps that could be used for both mailing and collecting taxes.
• Postage currency – postage stamps used as money instead of for mailing.
• Postage due – a stamp showing that the full postage was not paid and the amount owed.
• Postal tax – a stamp showing that extra tax has been paid on top of the postage.
• Poster stamp (see also: Cinderella stamp)
• Self-adhesive stamp – does not need to be wet to stick; it sticks on its own.
• Semi-postal / charity stamp – a stamp with extra money added for charity. Buyers can choose to use these. Countries like Belgium and Switzerland often use these for collecting money for good causes.
• Souvenir sheet – a large commemorative stamp sheet, often with one or more stamps and may have a special design.
• Specimen stamp – sent to postal offices to help identify real stamps and avoid fake ones.
• Test stamp – a label not for mailing, used by postal services to test machines.
• Variable value stamps – stamps from machines that print the price at the time they are made.
• War tax stamp – a special stamp to help pay for war costs.
• Water-activated stamp – the original type of stamp that needs to be wet to stick, often by licking it. These are also called “lick and stick.”

Besides these, there are also revenue stamps (used to collect taxes or fees on things like documents and medicines) and telegraph stamps (for sending telegrams), which are different from regular postage stamps.

First day covers

Main article: First day of issue

Postage stamps are given out on a special day called the First day of issue. A first day cover usually has an envelope, a postage stamp, and a postmark showing that special date. Some places choose a town or city related to the stamp's picture to be where the first stamps are given out. There are two kinds of first day covers. One type is used like any normal mail and is often liked by serious stamp collectors. The other type is made just for collecting, with special designs on the envelope that match the stamp. This kind is easier to find and usually costs less. Covers used just for normal mail, without any special plans, are called non-philatelic and can be harder to find.

Souvenir or miniature sheets

Main article: Miniature sheet

Sometimes, postage stamps come in special groups called souvenir sheets or miniature sheets. These sheets have just a few stamps, and they often have extra pictures or words printed around the edges. The stamps might even form a bigger picture together. Some places make these stamps available both as single stamps and as part of a sheet.

Stamp collecting

Main article: Stamp collecting

Stamp collecting is a fun hobby where people enjoy gathering and trading stamps. It's different from studying stamps, which is called philately. To build a great stamp collection, some knowledge about stamps can be helpful.

Many small countries make special stamps just for collectors, sometimes creating more stamps than they really need for sending mail. Because so many countries make many stamps each year, there are hundreds of thousands of different stamps in the world. Some stamps are made only for collectors and never used for mailing. Others are sold in packs for new collectors to start their collections. These special stamps can sometimes bring big profits to the countries that make them.

Famous stamps

For a more comprehensive list, see List of notable postage stamps.

• Basel Dove
• British Guiana 1c magenta
• Hawaiian Missionaries
• Inverted Head 4 Annas
• Inverted Jenny
• Mauritius "Post Office"
• Penny Black
• Red Revenue "Small One Dollar"
• Scinde Dawk
• Treskilling Yellow
• Uganda Cowries