Stamp Collecting - The First Stamps by Kevin Bauer

Most stamp collectors agree that the first adhesive postage stamps were the world famous Penny Black and Twopence Blue issued in Great Britain. They were in use from the 6th May 1840 and changed the face of the postal business. Until stamps were available, all letters were handed in over the post office counter where the correct postage was assessed. This would depend on the distance the letter was to travel and the number of sheets of paper that were used in the letter. Remember that envelopes were rarely used at this time - letters were generally folded and sealed with wax.

The architect behind the changes in the postal system was Rowland Hill. He pushed for tranformation in the postral system from 1837 and two years later his ideas were accepted and put into effect in 1840.

His reforms included the idea that letters could travel anywere within the United Kingdom for a basic charge of one penny up to 1/2 oz weight; two pence up to 1 oz and more postage for heavier mail.

This changed the way that post offices managed mail in the United Kingdom and soon other countries were to follow.

The first was the Swiss Canton of Zurich. It issued two stamps in march 1843. A 4 rappen and 6 rappen stamp.

Next came Brazil in August 1843 with a 30, 60 and 90 reis selection of stamps.

America finally joined in the postal transformation in July 1845. They produced a 5 cent stamp with a portrait of George Washington. Originally intended for use in the state of New York only, other cities experimented with the idea. In July 1847 a 5 cent and 10 cent stamp was produced for general use through the USA.

The island of Trinidad was the first British colony to use an adhesive postage stamp. David Brice was the owner of the steamer S.S.Lady McCleod which plied along the coast between Port of Spain and San Fernando carrying letters either way. He issued a 5 cent stamp on the 24 April 1847. The stamp carried a picture of the Lady McCleod making it a double first -the first adhesive stamp in the British Empire and the first pictorial stamp to be used. Previous stamps had figures of value or portaits.

Although postal stamps were becoming more common, each stamp's validity was limited to it's country of origin. Britain's stamps were only recognised in the British Empire, Zurich's within the Canton of Zurich and of course the stamps issued by David Brice were only recognised on the Lady McCleod.

This changed in 1874 with the estabishment of the General Postal Union which recognised all postal stamps issued by it's member nations.