Free Profitable Stamps Search! Enter Your Topic Below:

Chapter 1. Genesis

From earliest times the peoples of the world have sought means of communicating with each other. These efforts may be traced to the very mists of antiquity, and before any means of written thoughts had come into use we may be sure that runners carried spoken messages between tribes. Inca runners carried quipus - a strange collection of cords tied to a stick with the cords knotted so that the runner bearing them could slip each through his fingers and, as in counting rosary beads, recite the messages the knots recalled to memory. The Dak runners of India wore bells around their necks to frighten away the beasts of the jungle as they ran their courses through the night. Darius of the ancient land we now know as Iran had established a vast and efficient system of delivering messages to his governors and military leaders. This great system inspired Herodotus to write of them the words which are presently emblazoned in the stone facade of the great Post Office in New York: "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Everywhere that tribes had formed and the beginnings of civilization had started, the first need was for communication with other tribes, and systems of communication were set up according to the need and the ability of the rulers to maintain them. No one may claim the origin of the postal system. In one form or another it existed in all places on the earth wherever there were people, in all of the civilizations that have preceded our own.

Inca courier

All of these primitive systems existed for the benefit of the rulers. They were maintained at public expense but the runners were permitted to carry only the messages of the tribal chiefs or of later-day kings and emperors.

It remained for Augustus Caesar to establish what most closely resembles our modern postal system. His Cursus Publicus had routes throughout the Roman Empire and the carriers were permitted to carry messages of certain high government officials not necessarily connected with the Emperor's household. It is from this system that we get our present name "post" office. Along the roads traveled by the Roman couriers posts were established to mark the distances each should travel.Often a hostelry would be established at the post and hence we derive the word "post" and later "office".

Franz von Taxis(1450-1517), postmaster general of Austria, the Low Countries, Spain, Burgundy,and Italy

Later the merchants of the Hanse towns along the Baltic coast set up their Hanseatic League and employed a postal service for their own convenience and occasionally, as a favor perhaps, a message would be carried for someone not a member of the league. Still later the Counts of Thurn and Taxis established a private postal system that covered much of Europe and made their services available to all who would pay their fees. This was the beginning of our modern postal system. In addition to the system operated by the houses of Thurn and Taxis, which, incidentally, was dignified by royal grant, there were various other private postal systems that more or less flourished in parts of Europe. One of these was conducted by the universities of France which had found it expedient to have some means available for the students to write home to get money.

In London in 1680 -almost two hundred years before the introduction of a modern postal system-William Docwra set up a "Penny Post" for the collection and delivery of letters within the limits of London City, which is a model of efficiency even to this day. Docwra established letter boxes at designated points throughout the city as well as various branch offices. Letters would be collected from the boxes every hour and would be stamped at the branch office the exact time of their collection. This post proved so popular and so lucrative that Docwra became involved with the Duke of York who claimed royal prerogative for the delivery of mail. In due course Docwra's post was taken over as a government function. It continued in operation until 1800 when it became "The Two-penny Post".

Up to this point the postal systems of the ancients and even of the "moderns" had left no visible trace of their existence except through accounts of historians. There are exactly thirteen examples of Docwra's post known to stamp collectors. Also, there are desultory evidences of some of the previous posts like clay tablets of Sargon's time preserved in the museums. But it was not until the establishment of a truly public system of posts that we have collectible evidence in the form of letters. More particularly, it was not until the introduction of postage stamps that this evidence became of general interest throughout the civilized world.

Stamps did not usher in our present day postal systems. They did, as we shall presently see, inaugurate an idea that was to revolutionize all previous ideas for the carrying of mail.

However, to gain a true picture of the great importance postage stamps have played in developing contemporary civilization, we must inspect the conditions that existed just prior to their advent.

England's postal system was more or less well established along designated postal roads throughout the kingdom. Overseas mail was carried at the sufferance of ship owners and masters. In our own country Governor Lovelace of New York had established regular posts between Albany and New York City (the old Albany Post Road, now U. S. Route 9), and between New York and Boston (the old Boston Post Road, now U. S. Route 1). Such carriers as were employed were abjured not to drink or use vile language. Later Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster for the Colonies and had in operation a considerable postal system.

Benjamin Franklin, first postmaster general of the United States.

All such systems were open to the public and anyone might send a letter, the postal fees for which were "collect on delivery". By adopting simple codes persons could indicate the message within by using a prearranged form of address. Hence when the letter was offered by the courier, the person to whom it was addressed could read the message from the address and would then refuse the letter. The postal service would get nothing for such "deliveries". We need not wonder at these devious methods of cheating the posts when we view the cost of sending a letter. Each letter was charged for the distance it traveled - seldom less than sixpence and often several shillings, a sizable sum indeed in days when in all the land there was not a laborer earning as much as one dollar a day the year around!

Meanwhile James Watts had invented his mechanical monster - the steam engine - that was to change the living patterns of the whole world. And the industrial development of the world demanded establishment of a better postal system.

Sir Rowland Hill, creator of the first postage stamp.

In 1837 Sir Rowland Hill, after having completed exhaustive studies of the postal service then in effect, made public his revolutionary idea. This was, reduced to its simplest expression, merely the fact that it cost no more to deliver a letter a hundred miles than it did to deliver one a few city blocks. After three years of pushing his claims the idea was officially adopted and along with it the means of collecting postage in advance - the postage stamp.

The British Tax Stamp which led to the American Revolution.

Some people claim that the postage stamp was an "invention" but such would not seem to be the case, for stamps had been used for collecting revenues for many years previous to the introduction of their use to collect postage. Indeed, the Stamp Tax Act brought about the "Boston Tea Party" and, eventually, the American Revolution. "Taxation without representation", the ringing words that called a new nation to arms, sprang from the use of revenue stamps.

The world's first postage stamp, Great Britain's famous "Penny Black", did present somewhat of an innovation in that it was gummed on the back. This caused considerable public comment at the time for many considered the idea of slobbering over the back of Queen Victoria's face an affront not to be countenanced. Others objected strenuously to the use of canceling devices, claiming that to smear the Queen's face was even a greater affront.

The "Penny Black" of Great Britain issued on May 6, 1840, is the first government-issued postage stamp.

Simultaneously with issuing of the first adhesive stamp, Great Britain also issued the world's first government-stamped envelope and letter sheet. This, the famous "Mulready Envelope", caused an even greater public expression than did the adhesive stamp. The Mulready Envelope and its counterpart, the letter sheet, resembled nothing even closely approximating the modern stamped envelopes that are so common today. William Mulready, one of the foremost artists of the time, chose as his design an allegorical figure of Britannia dispatching messages to all of the world. The design, now recognized as one of great beauty and meaning, brought forth a flood of derision in the press, and entrepreneurs, quick to see a good thing, quickly made up envelopes caricaturing the Mulready design. Commenting on the new stamps and envelopes the Ingoldsby Legends contained the following ditty:

"The manager rings,
And the prompter springs
To his side in a jiffy, and with him he brings
A set of those odd-looking envelope things,
Where Britannia (who seems to be crucified) flings
To her right and her left funny people with wings
Amongst Elephants, Quakers, and Catabaw Kings;
And a taper and wax,
And small Queen's heads, in packs,
Which, when notes are too big, you're to stick on their backs".

Mulready envelope, symbolizing the far-flung British Empire.

One of the many Mulready caricatures.

The "Queen's heads", of course, were the adhesive stamps.

This furor and ridicule might well have ruined Row-land Hill's whole idea and, in fact, did result in the withdrawing of the Mulready Envelope. But the need for a better postal system was so pressing, and Hill's plan of universal postage proved so completely to satisfy the demand, that the stamp idea stuck and became the basis of every postal system of the world today. For a few cents, or whatever the rate may be, anyone in any civilized country in the world may send a letter a few city blocks or many thousands of miles.

Rowland Hill's universal postage idea worked well within the limits of each country where it was adopted. However, difficulties were encountered when mail was to be transported over international boundaries. This involved the negotiation of separate postal treaties between nations - a cumbersome arrangement which caused no end of confusion and, not infrequently, the stoppage of mail delivery when treaties had expired or could not be negotiated. Dr. Heinrich von Stephan, the first postmaster of the German Empire, labored strenuously for the establishment of some form of an international union that would permit the flow of international mail with the same ease that existed for delivery of mail within a single country. His efforts resulted in the formation of the Universal Postal Union in 1875. All civilized nations have become members and since its foundation, the U.P.U. has insured the rapid and uninterrupted passage of mail throughout the world. The U.P.U. is one of the greatest achievements of history.

Dr. Heinrich von Stephan, father of the Universal Postal Union.

REPUBLIK

Stamps of Nigeria, Indonesia and San Marino commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union.

Stamps of Argentina issued for mailing of recorded messages.

This, then, is the genesis of the postal systems as we know them today. We have telescoped the centuries and, perhaps, have not paid too strict attention to the actual chronological order of the events of ancient history. Such exact placement of dates is important only to the pedantic. The struggles that took place prior to Sir Rowland Hill's reformation are of interest only in that they present the background picture. With the adoption, on 6 May 1840, of Sir Rowland Hill's plan the world's first postage stamp was born. From then to the present, the postage stamp has been the effective instrument that has made communication between people a common property of all of the people of all of the world. Wherever someone can read or write, the postage stamp is within his easy reach and because of this no place is too distant to be reached by means of a letter. It is interesting to note that even an inability to read or write is not always a complete barrier to the use of this marvelous system. In 1939 the Republic of Argentina set up a "phono post" especially for the use of the illiterate. For a few extra cents in postage you could dictate your message into a machine that would record your spoken words on a flexible disk. This you mailed to your friend who, to "read" it, merely placed the record in a phonograph and listened.

The means of delivering the mail are being constantly improved, from foot runners to modern airplanes, and even rockets. Indeed all of these methods are in contemporary use at various places. Whatever the means, however distant, the greatest and the smallest are at the command of the postage stamp you purchase for a few cents.

THE FIRST TEN YEARS

Following the appearance of the world's first postage stamp on May 6, 1840, the next ten years saw the postage stamp idea spread throughout the world. Stamp and stamped envelope issuing countries of this period are listed below by year.
1840: Great Britain
1841: None
1842: New York City (Greig's city despatch)
1843: Brazil, Geneva (Switzerland), and Zurich, (Switzerland)
1844: None
1845: New Haven, Conn., New York City, St. Louis, and Basel (Switzerland)
1846: Alexandria, Va., Annapolis, Md., Baltimore, Md., Boscawen, N. H., Lockport, N. Y., Millbury, Mass., Providence, R. I.
1847: United States (First General Issue), Mauritius
1848: Bermuda, Russia
1849: Bavaria, Belgium, France
1850: Austria, British Guiana, Hanover, New South Wales, Prussia, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Spain, Switzerland (Federal Administration) and Victoria

After 1850 the practice rapidly spread throughout the civilized world. Many collectors have the mistaken impression that the older a stamp is the more valuable it is. The stamps and stamped envelopes issued from 1840-1850 are perfect examples of the fact that age has no connection with the value of a stamp. For example of the stamps listed above several can be purchased for less than five dollars, one for less than 25^. Of course, on the other side of the picture a number of those listed above cost well over $10,000.

ORIGIN OF USE OF POSTAGE STAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES

Strangely enough the use of postage stamps in the United States was not inaugurated by the Government but, instead, by a private carrier, one Alexander M. Greig of New York City. Greig established a "City Despatch Post" on February 1, 1842 which covered New York City as far north as 23rd St. (In those days this was very nearly the city limits.) Evidences that a similar "city post" existed before this, albeit without the use of postage stamps, are noted in Greig's circular announcing his new post. Greig issued stamps, bearing a portrait of Washington, printed from line engraved plates.

A few months after founding this post Greig sold out to the U. S. Government and the post became known as the "United States City Despatch Post." The government began operation of this purely local post on August 16, 1842 under an Act of Congress of some years earlier which had authorized such local delivery.

The Act of Congress of March 3, 1845, effective July 1, 1845, established uniform postal rates throughout the nation. But it was not until 1847 that Congress authorized the general use of postage stamps.

Thus there were two gaps in the sequence of events when no postage stamps were authorized by the government but during each of which postage stamps were, in fact, being used by agencies of the government, i.e.:-

1. From August 16, 1842 the government operated in New York City the United States City Despatch Post for which it issued and used postage stamps. (This local post was continued in New York City certainly as late as 1850 and probably longer. It had its counterpart in Philadelphia from 1849.)
2. With the establishment of uniform postage rates effective July 1, 1845, Robert H. Morris, postmaster of New York City took it upon himself to issue his own postage stamps. These bore a portrait of George Washington and were printed from line engraved plates. By arrangement with other postmasters Mr. Morris' postage stamps were generally accepted as evidence of prepayment of postage. Other postmasters, in other cities, followed Mr. Morris' lead and issued their own stamps although few were as elaborate productions as the New York stamp.

Thus the succession of use of postage stamps in the United States would be 1. Greig's City Despatch (soon the United States City Despatch post) from February 1, 1842; 2. The Postmaster provisional stamps (notably New York) from July 14, 1845 and, 3. The first general issue of postage stamps authorized by Congress and which were issued on July 1, 1847.

The first general issue of the United States.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...