Stamps and envelopes did not exist in the early days of postal services. Envelopes during these times were considered to be an additional sheet of paper which caused more to send. This is the reason why, during these times, envelopes were not widely used. When someone sent out a letter, they fold it up and seal it. The person who received the letter has to pay for the delivery costs and because of the high rates at that time, many people refuse to accept letters. Because of this, many developed secret codes (and eventually cheat postal services), which were secret marks placed on the outside of the letter that would convey their message. In this way, the addressee would read the secret message, refuse to accept the letter and best of all, they won’t have to pay for mailing delivery.
It was Rowland Hill, British Postmaster General who introduced the “Post Office Reforms” in 1837 which declared that mails could go anywhere in the British Isles at the same rate at a penny a half-ounce, because at that time, postage was charged by the sheet and the distance traveled. The postage was to be paid by the sender, not the addressee and a small piece of colored paper on the outside of the letter was to be placed as a payment receipt. This piece of colored paper later became the STAMP. Hill was given a two-year contract to run the new system where he ran a competition to identify the best way to pre-pay letters. Unfortunately, none of the 2600 entries were good enough. In 1840, after a series of attempts, Hill launched the service with an envelope and a stamp bearing a reproduction of the profile of reigning British monarch, Queen Victoria, and since the stamp was printed in black, it later became known as the “Penny Black”.
The United States Post Office Department adopted this new system of sending mail and printed its first stamp in 1847, picturing Benjamin Franklin ona 5-cent stamp and George Washington on a 10-cent stamp. Because of its popularity, other countries also adopted this new system, and the first ten countries and cities to issue postage stamps were the following:
·Great Britain on May 1840
·New York City on February 1842
·Zurich, Switzerland on March 1843
·Brazil on August 1843
·Geneva, Switzerland on October 1843
·Basle, Switzerland on July 1845
·USA on July 1847
·Mauritius on September 1847
·Bermuda on January 1848
·France on January 1849
Stamps have changed significantly over the years and have undergone many changes
since its first introduction in year 1840. It has been introduced in many types, formats and design and printed in many different colors. For the past years and up to this day, mails are still a means of communication for the many and stamps are still a means of paying for its delivery.
