On July 1, 1847, the United States Postal Service issued its first-ever postage stamps in New York City. These stamps featured pictures of Benjamin Franklin on the five-cent stamp and George Washington on the ten-cent stamp. Unlike modern stamps, these were not sold in book form, and had to be individually cut and were not perforated. However, they were pre-gummed for easy application to envelopes.
The concept of the postage stamp was first proposed in 1837 by British teacher and inventor Sir Rowland Hill, who suggested uniform postage rates and the ability to prepay these rates. The United Kingdom was the first to implement postage stamps in 1840, with the Penny Black and Two Penny Blue stamps. The United States quickly followed suit, with the City Despatch Post in New York City issuing adhesive postage stamps in 1842.
In 1845, postage rates were simplified in the United States, and postmasters created “Postmasters’ Provisionals” as a way for people to prepay for letters. Prior to the invention of the postage stamp, individuals would need to pay for letters in person at the post office. It was not until Jan. 1, 1856, that the use of U.S. postage stamps became obligatory, and postage rates were determined by the length of the letter and distance it was being sent.
Since the mid-1800s, the material, delivery, and sale of U.S. postage stamps have evolved over the years. In 1893, the USPS issued the first U.S. commemorative stamps, which were larger than normal stamps and featured designs commemorating Christopher Columbus’ voyages. The USPS has since issued thousands of commemorative stamps, honoring everything from sports to historical events. The Elvis Presley stamp, printed in 1993, remains the bestselling of these commemorative stamps.
In 1900, stamps began to be sold in book form, with the first self-adhesive stamp being sold in 1974. In 2007, the USPS introduced the “forever” stamp, a nondenominated, nonexpiring stamp intended for customers mailing First-Class Mail. These stamps are “forever” good to mail a letter, regardless of changes in the price of postage. The history of U.S. postage stamps is rich with innovation and evolution, reflecting changes in mail services and transportation over the years.