Index Home
It was Friday on 1st of May 1840, when first postage stamp was born. It was for use five days later, next Wednesday on 6th of May. Credit for this stamp goes to Sir Rowland Hill, initially a teacher by profession, but better known for invention of first postage stamp and postal reforms. I do-not have a penny black, but a few later stamps, that feature the first one.
Born in 1795, Rowland Hill was working for educational reforms in Britain, and later for Administrative reforms in South Australia. It was in 1835, that he really got interested in the postal system.
He noticed that most people was not really using postal system, as it was expensive and quite arbitrary. The letters were charged by number of pages that were posted, and the amount was to be recovered from the recipient, rather than the sender. Many politicians tweaked the system to receive letters for free. Others fashioned some coded messages on the envelope itself, so that they could decline its receipt (and still get the message).
Idea behind Penny Black
Sir Rowland hill put forth a proposal to reform postal system. He wanted to make it cheap, and suggested a flat rate of half penny per ounce of mail. Previously the postal rates were complex, and depended on number of pages that were to be posted and distance it had to travel. Further, he advocated for a “pre-payment” system when a letter is booked, rather than a “post-payment” on reciept. His ideas met with opposition, but were eventually accepted.
A competition was announced, but none of the 2600 entries were acceptable. The stamp had to be such that it would be difficult to reproduce the same. Eventually Sir Rowland hill agreed to have face of Queen Victoria (who was 21 years old then) on the stamp. This tradition continues till date, as the image of reining monarch adorns all British postage stamps. It is only country in the world that does not write its name on the postage stamps, as image of the monarch identifies it so.
The first postage stamp hence created was a one-penny stamp. It was coloured black, and was to be cancelled using a red-ink. Further it had 20 rows of 12 columns each. Hence each row was 12 pennies (or one shilling) and entire sheet was 240 pennies (or one pound at that time). From its inception in 1840, till next 131 years each sheet continued to have 240 stamps. It was only in 1969 that Britain adopted a decimal system. Thereafter since 1971 the number of stamps in a sheet was adjusted to 10 columns and 20 rows.
Life of Penny black was only a year
A total of about 68 million penny black stamps were printed in its first year. These stamps did not have a perforation or a gum. Individual stamps had to be cut with a pair of scissors and then pasted on the letters. Further, red cancellation on a black stamp was tedious. People managed to scrap-off the cancellation and could use the stamp again. In 1841 penny black was withdrawn, and gave way to penny-red.
Penny Red arrives, followed by perforated versions
Penny Red lasted from 1841 to 1879. The cancellation was colored black, and it could no longer be erased. Further, the margins of the penny red carried a reverse code, so that it became difficult for people to paste portions of two stamps (that did not have a post-mark) to create a new one. Till 1850, the stamps were not perforated. Perforations at the edge of the stamps were introduced as an experiment in 1850, and became a regular feature in 1854.
Initially there were 16 perforations in a two-centemeter span, and then in 1855 it was reduced to 14 to make it more sturdy. Different countries often use a slightly different perforation gauge. Almost all stamps use between 11-14 perforations. Some countries such as United States uses a compound perforation (10 and a half in vertical and 11 in horizontal span).
Early stamps from different countries
In 1880, Britain issued Penny Venetian Red. From 1881 to 1901 it was Penny Lilac. British continue a tradition of having monarchs on their stamps. US also had its first postage stamp in 1847, and it bore the image of Benjamin Franklin. First German stamps are from Bavaria 1849, followed by stamps of unified Germany from 1871. These stamps bear numbers, for the value of the stamp. First stamp of Russian Empire came in 1857, and had coat of arms of the monarchy.
France, on the other hand was different. It had its first postage stamps in 1849, bearing Goddess Ceres (Roman goddess of agriculture). Briefly between 1862-1870 the stamps carried the face of Napoleon III. Ceres reappeared till 1876, followed by an image depicting peace and commerce till the year 1900.
We have come a long way
In the beginning of 20th century, we had our first commemorative postage stamps. For more than 50 years we used postage stamps to raise funds, for tuberculosis care, red cross and other charities. We have also had non-postal stamps issued by organizations to raise funds and to promote awareness.
While advent of internet, e-mail, private couriers, and now mobile phone based communication, reliance on postage stamps has declined. However countries continue to issue commemorative and definitive postage stamps to record individuals, organizations, and occurrence of events in living history. While Philatelists (stamp collectors) are a dying breed, yet we all continue to cheer birthday of a postage stamp, in first week of May every year.