Early US Postage Stamps Through the Years

The early days of the US postal system are fascinating, and it all starts with the first postage stamps. In 1847, the US issued its first postage stamps, featuring George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, which cost 5 cents and 10 cents respectively.

The first stamps were printed in sheets of 100, with the 5-cent stamp featuring a portrait of Washington and the 10-cent stamp featuring a portrait of Franklin. This was a significant development in the history of US postage.

The stamps were an instant hit, and by 1848, the US had issued a new set of stamps featuring a portrait of Franklin on the 5-cent stamp and a portrait of Washington on the 10-cent stamp. These stamps were also printed in sheets of 100.

As the years went by, the US postal system continued to evolve, with new stamps being issued regularly.

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The first adhesive postage stamp in the United States was issued by a private New York City mail service, Alexander M. Greig’s City Dispatch Post, on February 1, 1842. However, the first government-issued U.S. postage stamps weren’t sold until five years later, on July 1, 1847, in New York City.

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They were represented by two denominations: five cents featuring Benjamin Franklin and ten cents featuring George Washington. These early stamps paved the way for the modern postal system we use today.

Before the advent of postage stamps, mail was customarily hand-stamped or inked, but the introduction of stamps simplified the process and made mail delivery more efficient.

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Before the introduction of postage stamps, mail was marked with postmarks or hand-stamped. In 1661, Henry Bishop created postmarks, known as Bishop's Marks, which were used by the London General Post Office.

The postal system at that time was quite different from what we know today. Mail often consisted of a simple folded sheet of paper with the address on the outside and the message within.

In the mid-1800s, mail delivery was expensive, leading people to use codes and tricks to avoid paying delivery charges. The recipient typically paid the postal rates, which were exorbitant.

The first adhesive postage stamp in the United States was issued by a private mail service in New York City on February 1, 1842.

In 1888, special delivery stamps were introduced to ensure swift delivery at most times of the day.

These stamps were initially used in 555 post offices, but as the postal service expanded, so did the use of these stamps.

The wider use of special delivery stamps made it quick and easy to recognize what kind of mail post offices were dealing with.

The introduction of special delivery stamps marked a significant improvement in the efficiency of the postal service.

In 1913, a significant innovation was introduced with the "Aeroplane Carrying Mail" stamp, which was used for packages and parcels going longer distances and cost 20 cents.

This was a notable milestone, as it marked the first time an airplane was featured on US postage.

The "Aeroplane Carrying Mail" stamp was a pioneering effort in using air travel to expedite mail delivery.

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The evolution of postage rates in the US is a fascinating story. Starting from three cents per half ounce in March 1863, the rates surprisingly decreased to two cents per half ounce in October 1883.

This trend continued until July 1885, when the cost to mail a letter became two cents per ounce. This change effectively doubled the volume of mail you could send for the same price.

The first perforated stamps were introduced in the US in 1857, three years after their introduction in England. This innovation made it easier to separate stamps from the sheet.

Prepaid postage and weight-based postal rates led to an increase in the use of envelopes and stamps. This is evident in the growing demand for envelopes and stamps during this period.

The Hill family made significant contributions to the postal system. Sir Rowland Hill's brother, Edwin Hill, invented an envelope-folding machine to meet the growing demand.

Today, postage stamps have evolved into collector's items and come in various colors, shapes, sizes, and denominations.