Postage stamp may also refer to a formatting artifact in the display of film or

video: Windowbox.

The main components of a stamp:

1. Image
2. Perforations
3. Denomination
4. Country name

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item
of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are printed on special custommade paper, show a national designation and a denomination (value) on the front, and have a
gum adhesive on the back. Postage stamps are purchased from a postal administration or other
authorized vendor, and are used to pay for the costs involved in moving mail, as well as other
business necessities such as insurance and registration. They are sometimes a source of net
profit to the issuing agency, especially when sold to collectors who will not actually use them for
postage.
Stamps are usually rectangular, but triangles or other shapes are occasionally used. The stamp
is affixed to an envelope or other postal cover (e.g., packet, box, mailing cylinder) the customer
wishes to send. The item is then processed by the postal system, where a postmark, sometimes
known as a cancellation mark, is usually applied in overlapping manner to stamp and cover. This
procedure marks the stamp as used to prevent its reuse. In modern usage, postmarks generally
indicate the date and point of origin of the mailing. The mailed item is then delivered to the
address the customer has applied to the envelope or parcel.
Postage stamps have facilitated the delivery of mail since the 1840s. Before then, ink and handstamps (hence the word 'stamp'), usually made from wood or cork, were often used to frank the
mail and confirm the payment of postage. The first adhesive postage stamp, commonly referred
to as thePenny Black, was issued in the United Kingdom in 1840. The invention of the stamp
was part of an attempt to reform and improve the postal system in the United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Ireland,[1] which, in the early 19th century, was in disarray and rife with corruption.
[2]
There are varying accounts of the inventor or inventors of the stamp. [3]
Before the introduction of postage stamps, mail in the UK was paid for by the recipient, a system
that was associated with an irresolvable problem: the costs of delivering mail were not
recoverable by the postal service when recipients were unable or unwilling to pay for delivered
items, and senders had no incentive to restrict the number, size, or weight of items sent, whether
or not they would ultimately be paid for.[4] The postage stamp resolved this issue in a simple and
elegant manner, with the additional benefit of room for an element of beauty to be introduced.
Concurrently with the first stamps, the UK offered wrappers for mail. Later related inventions
include postal stationery such as prepaid-postage envelopes, post
cards, lettercards, aerogrammes, postage meters, and, more recently, specialty boxes and
envelopes provided free to the customer by the U.S. postal service for priority or express
mailing.
The postage stamp afforded convenience for both the mailer and postal officials, more
effectively recovered costs for the postal service, and ultimately resulted in a better, faster postal
system. With the conveniences stamps offered, their use resulted in greatly increased mailings
during the 19th and 20th centuries.[5] Postage stamps during this era were the most popular way
of paying for mail; however, by the end of the 20th century were rapidly being eclipsed by the
use of metered postage and bulk mailing by businesses.[6][7]
As postage stamps with their engraved imagery began to appear on a widespread basis,
historians and collectors began to take notice.[8] The study of postage stamps and their use is
referred to as philately. Stamp collecting can be both a hobby and a form of historical study and
reference, as government-issued postage stamps and their mailing systems have always been
involved with the history of nations.[9][10]
Contents
[hide]

1 Invention

2 History

3 Design
o

3.1 Perforations

3.2 Shapes and materials

3.3 Graphic characteristics

4 Types

5 First day covers

6 Souvenir or miniature sheets

7 Stamp collecting

8 Famous stamps

9 See also

10 References

11 External links

Invention[edit]

Rowland Hill

Throughout modern history, numerous innovations were used to apply or indicate that postage
has been paid on a mailed item, hence the invention of the postage stamp has been accredited
to several different people.
William Dockwra
In 1680 William Dockwra, an English merchant in London, and his partner Robert
Murray established the London Penny Post, a mail system that delivered letters and small
parcels inside the city of London for the sum of one penny. The postage for the mailed item was
prepaid by the use of a hand-stamp to frank the mailed item, confirming payment of postage.
Though this 'stamp' was applied to a letter instead of a separate piece of paper it is considered
by many historians as the world's first postage stamp. [11]

Lovrenc Koir
In 1835, the Slovene civil servant Lovrenc Koir from Ljubljana in AustriaHungary (now Slovenia), suggested the use of "artificially affixed postal tax stamps"[12] using
"gepresste papieroblate" which translates as "pressed paper wafers" but although the
suggestion was looked at in detail, it was not adopted. [13][14]
Rowland Hill
The Englishman Sir Rowland Hill began interest in postal reform in 1835.[15] In 1836, a Member
of Parliament, Robert Wallace, provided Hill with numerous books and documents, which Hill
described as a "half hundred weight of material".[16] Hill commenced a detailed study of these
documents, leading him to the 1837 publication of a pamphlet entitled "Post Office Reform its
Importance and Practicability". He submitted a copy of this to theChancellor of the
Exchequer, Thomas Spring-Rice, on 4 January 1837.[17] This first edition was marked "private
and confidential," and was not released to the general public. The Chancellor summoned Hill to
a meeting during which the Chancellor suggested improvements and changes to be presented
in a supplement, which Hill duly produced and supplied on 28 January 1837. [18]
Rowland Hill then received a summons to give evidence before the Commission for Post Office
Enquiry on 13 February 1837. During his evidence, he read from the letter he wrote to the
Chancellor, including a statement the notation of paid postage could be created "...by using a bit
of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash...".
[19][20]
This is the first publication of an unambiguous description of a modern adhesive postage
stamp (though the term "postage stamp" did not yet exist at that time). Shortly afterward, the
second edition of Hills booklet, dated 22 February 1837, was published, and made available to
the general public. This booklet, containing some 28,000 words, incorporated the supplement
given to the Chancellor, and statements he made to the Commission.
Hansard records that on 15 December 1837, Benjamin Hawes inquired to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer "whether it was the intention of the Government to give effect to the recommendation
of the Commissioners of the Post-office, contained in their ninth report relating to the reduction
of the rates of postage, and the issuing of penny stamps?" [21]
Hills ideas for postage stamps and charging paid-postage based upon weight soon took hold,
and were adopted in many countries throughout the world. With the new policy of charging by
weight, using envelopes for mailing documents became the norm. Hills brother Edwin Hill
invented a prototype envelope-making machine that folded paper into envelopes quickly enough
to match the pace of the growing demand for postage stamps. [22]
Rowland Hill and the postal reforms he introduced to the UK postal system are commemorated
on several commemorative postage issues of the United Kingdom. [22]
James Chalmers
Scotsman Patrick Chalmers asserted the claim that his father, James Chalmers, was the
inventor of the first postage stamp in the 1881 publication "The Penny Postage Scheme of
1837."[23]In this book, the son claims James Chalmers first produced an essay describing and
advocating a stamp in August 1834; however, no evidence for this is provided in the book. Until

his death in 1891, Patrick Chalmers campaigned to gain recognition for his father as the inventor
of the postage stamp.
The first independent evidence for Chalmers' claim is the essay and proposal he submitted for
adhesive postage stamps to the General Post Office, dated 8 February 1838 and received by
the Post Office on 17 February 1838.[24] In this approximately 800-word document concerning
methods of indication letters postage-paid he states, "Therefore, of Mr Hills plan of a uniform
rate of postage ... I conceive that the most simple and economical mode ... would be by Slips ...
in the hope that Mr Hills plan may soon be carried into operation I would suggest that sheets of
Stamped Slips should be prepared ... then be rubbed over on the back with a strong solution of
gum ...". Chalmers' original document is now in the UK's National Postal Museum.
Given the postage denominations stated in James Chalmers' essay mirrored those proposed by
Rowland Hill in February 1837, it is clear Chalmers was aware of Hills proposals. It is unknown
whether Chalmers obtained a copy of Hills booklet, or simply read about it in The
Times newspaper that on two occasions - 25 March 1837,[25] 20 December 1837[26] - reported in
great detail Hills proposals. Neither of Hill's articles mention of "a bit of paper just large enough
to bear the stamp," hence available information at the time via the Times' article could not have
made Chalmers aware Hill previously made such a proposal. This suggests either Chalmers
previously read Hill's booklet and was merely expounding on Hill's idea, or he concurrently and
independently developed the idea of the modern postage stamp.
James Chalmers organized petitions "for a low and uniform rate of postage". The first such
petition was presented in the House of Commons on 4 December 1837 (from Montrose).
[27]
Further petitions organised by him were presented on 1 May 1838 (from Dunbar and Cupar),
14 May 1838 (from the county of Forfar), and 12 June 1839. In this period of time, other groups
organized petitions and presented them to Parliament. All petitions for consumer-oriented, lowcost, volume based postal rates following the disclosure of Hill's proposals.
Other claimants
Other claimants include or have included[28]

Dr John Gray of the British Museum

Samuel Forrester, a Scottish tax official

Charles Whiting, a London stationer

Samuel Roberts of Llanbrynmair, Wales

Francis Worrell Stevens, schoolmaster at Loughton

Ferdinand Egarter of Spittal, Austria

Curry Gabriel Treffenberg from Sweden

History[edit]

The Penny Black, the worlds first postage stamp.

Although a number of people laid claim to the concept of the postage stamp, it is well
documented that stamps were first introduced in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840 as a part of
postal reforms promoted by Sir Rowland Hill. With its introduction, the postage fee was then to
be paid by the sender and not the recipient, though it was still possible to send mail without
prepaying. Postmarks have been applied over stamps, "obliterating" them from further usage,
since the first postage stamps came into use.[29][30]
The first stamp, the penny black, became available for purchase 1 May 1840, to be valid as of 6
May 1840. Two days later, 8 May 1840, the two pence blue was introduced. Both stamps exhibit
an engraving of the young Queen Victoria, neither bearing perforations, as the first stamps were
separated from their sheets by cutting mechanisms (e.g. scissors). At the time of issuance, given
no need for indication of origin, no country name was included on the postage stamps. The UK
remains the only country to omit itself by name on postal stamps,[31][32] using the reigning
monarchs head as implicit identification. Following the introduction of the postage stamp in the
UK, the use of this prepaid postage innovation drastically accelerated the number of postal-sent.
Prior to 1839, the number of letters sent was 76 million. By 1850 this volume increased five-fold
to 350 million, continuing to grow rapidly thereafter,[5] until the end of the 20th century when
newer methods of indicating postage-paid drastically reduced the use of delivery systems
requiring stamps.
Other countries soon followed in example the United Kingdom with their own stamps.
The Canton of Zrich in Switzerland issued the Zurich 4 and 6rappen on 1 March 1843.
Although the Penny Black could be used to send a letter less than half an ounce anywhere
within the United Kingdom, the Swiss did not initially adopt that system, instead continuing to
calculate mail rates based on distance to be delivered. Brazil issued the Bulls Eyestamp on 1
August 1843. Using the same printer as for the Penny Black, Brazil opted for an abstract design
instead of portrait of Emperor Pedro II, so his image would be not be disfigured by a postmark.
In 1845 some postmasters in the United States issued their own stamps, but it was not until
1847 that the first official U.S. stamps were created: 5 and 10 cent issues depicting Benjamin

Franklin and George Washington. A few other countries issued stamps in the late 1840s. Many
others, such as India, initiated their use in the 1850s, and by the 1860s most countries issued
stamps.
Perforation of postage stamps began January 1854.[33] The first officially perforated stamps were
issued in February 1854. Stamps from Henry Archer's perforation trials were issued the last few
months of 1850; during the 1851 parliamentary session [33] at the House of Commons, and finally
in 1853/54 after the government paid Mr. Archer 4,000 for his machine and the patent. [33]

Design[edit]
Main article: Postage stamp design
When the first postage stamps were issued in the 1840s, they followed an almost identical
standard in shape, size and general subject matter. They were rectangular in shape. They bore
the images of Queens, Presidents and other political figures. They also depicted the
denomination of the postage-paid, and with the exception of the United Kingdom,[34] depicted the
name of the country from which issued.[35] Nearly all early postage stamps depict images of
national leaders only. Soon after the introduction of the postage stamp, other subjects and
designs began to appear. Some designs were welcome, others widely criticized. For example, in
1869, the U.S. Post Office broke tradition of depicting presidents or other famous historical
figures, instead using other subjects including a train, and horse. (See: 1869 Pictorial Issue.)
The change was greeted with general disapproval, and sometimes harsh criticism from the
American public.[36][37]

Perforations[edit]

Rows of perforations in a sheet of postage stamps.

Perforations are small holes made between individual postage stamps on a sheet of stamps,
facilitating separation of a desired number of stamps. The resulting frame-like, rippled edge
surrounding the separated stamp defines a characteristic meme for the appearance of a postage
stamp.
In the first decade of postage stamps' existence (depending on the country), stamps were issued
without perforations. Scissors or other cutting mechanisms were required to separate a desired

number of stamps from a full sheet. If cutting tools were not used, individual stamps were torn
off. This is evidenced by the ragged edges of surviving examples. Mechanically separating
stamps from a sheet proved an inconvenience for postal clerks and businesses, both dealing
with large numbers of individual stamps on a daily basis. By 1850, methods such as rouletting
wheels were being devised in efforts of making stamp separation more convenient, and less
time consuming.[38]

The Penny Red, 1854 issue. The first officially perforated postage stamp.

The United Kingdom was the first country to issue postage stamps with perforations. The first
machine specifically designed to perforate sheets of postage stamps was invented in London
by Henry Archer, an Irish landowner and railroad man from Dublin, Ireland.[39] The 1850 Penny
Red.[38][40][41]was the first stamp to be perforated during trial course of Archer's perforating machine.
After a period of trial and error and modifications of Archer's invention, new machines based on
the principles pioneered by Archer were purchased and in 1854 the U.K. postal authorities
started continuously issuing perforated postage stamps in the Penny Red and all subsequent
designs.

The first officially perforated United States stamp (1857).

The United States government and the Post Office were quick to follow the lead of the U.K. In
the U.S., the use of postage stamps caught on quickly and became more widespread when on
March 3, 1851, the last day of its legislative session, Congress passed the Act of March 3,
1851 (An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States).[42] Similarly
introduced on the last day of the Congressional session four years later, the Act of March 3,
1855 required the prepayment of postage on all mailings. Thereafter, postage stamp use in the
U.S. quickly doubled, and by 1861 had quadrupled. [38] In 1856, under the direction of Postmaster
General James Campbell, Toppan and Carpenter, (commissioned by the U.S. government to
print U.S. postage stamps through the 1850s) purchased a rotary machine designed to separate
stamps, patented in England in 1854 by William and Henry Bemrose, who were printers in
Derby, England.[43] The original machine cut slits into the paper rather than punching holes, but
the machine was soon modified.[40] The first stamp issue to be officially perforated, the 3-cent
George Washington, was issued by the U.S. Post Office on February 24, 1857. Between 1857
and 1861 all stamps originally issued between 1851 to 1856 were reissued with perforations.
Initial capacity was insufficient to perforate all stamps printed, thus perforated issues used
between February and July 1857 are scarce and quite valuable. [44][45]

Shapes and materials[edit]

In addition to the most common rectangular shape, stamps have been issued in geometric
(circular, triangular and pentagonal) and irregular shapes. The United States issued its first
circular stamp in 2000 as a hologram of the earth.[46][47] Sierra Leone and Tonga have issued
stamps in the shapes of fruit. Stamps that are printed on sheets are generally separated by
perforations, though, more recently, with the advent of gummed stamps that do not have to be
moistened prior to affixing them, designs can incorporate smooth edges (although a purely
decorative perforated edge is often present).
Stamps are most commonly made from paper designed specifically for them, and are printed in
sheets, rolls, or small booklets. Less commonly, postage stamps are made of materials other
than paper, such as embossed foil (sometimes of gold). Switzerland made a stamp that

contained a bit of lace and one of wood. The United States produced one of plastic. East
Germany issued a stamp of synthetic chemicals. In the Netherlands a stamp was made of silver
foil. Bhutan issued one with its national anthem on a playable record.[48]

Graphic characteristics[edit]
The subjects found on the face of postage stamps are generally what defines a particular stamp
issue to the public and are often a reason why they are saved by collectors or history
enthusiasts. Graphical subjects found on postage stamps have ranged from the early portrayals
of kings, queens and presidents to later depictions of ships, birds and satellites, [37] famous
people,[49] historical events, comics, dinosaurs, hobbies (knitting, stamp collecting), sports,
holiday themes, and a wealth of other subjects too numerous to list.
Artists, designers, engravers and administrative officials are involved with the choice of subject
matter and the method of printing stamps. Early stamp images were almost always produced
from engravings a design etched into a steel die, which was then hardened and whose
impression was transferred to a printing plate. Using an engraved image was deemed a more
secure way of printing stamps as it was nearly impossible to counterfeit a finely detailed image
with raised lines unless you were a master engraver. In the mid-20th century, stamp issues
produced by other forms of printing began to emerge, such
as lithography,photogravure, intaglio and web offset printing. These later printing methods were
less expensive and typically produced images of lesser quality.

Types[edit]

A Costa Rica Airmail stamp of 1937.

Airmail stamp for payment of airmail service. The term "airmail" or an equivalent is usually
printed on special airmail stamps. Airmail stamps typically depict images of airplanes and/or
famous pilots and were used when airmail was a special type of mail delivery separate from
mail delivered by train, ship or automobile. Aside from mail with local destinations, today
almost all other mail is transported by aircraft and thus airmail is now the standard method
of delivery.[50] Scott has a separate category and listing for U.S. Airmail Postage. Prior to
1940, Scotts Catalogue did not have a special designation for airmail stamps. [51] The various
major stamp catalogs have different numbering systems and may not always list airmail
stamps the same way.

Booklet stamp stamps produced and issued in booklet format.

Carrier's stamp.

Certified mail stamp.

Coil stamps tear-off stamps issued individually in a vending machine, or purchased in a

roll.

Commemorative stamp a stamp that is issued for a limited time to commemorate a person
or event. Anniversaries of birthdays and historical events are among the most common
examples.

Computer vended postage advanced secure postage that uses information-based indicia
(IBI) technology. IBI uses a two-dimensional bar code (Datamatrix or PDF417) to encode the
originating address, date of mailing, postage and a digital signature to verify the stamp.[52]

Customised stamp a stamp on which the image can be chosen by the purchaser by
sending in a photograph or by use of the computer. Some are not true stamps but
technically meter labels.

Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong on a Chinese postage stamp, 1950.

Definitive stamps stamps for everyday postage and are usually produced to meet current
postal rates. They often have less appealing designs than commemoratives, though there
are notable exceptions.[53] The same design may be used for many years. The use of the
same design over an extended period may lead to unintended color varieties. This may
make them just as interesting to philatelists as are commemoratives. A good example would
be the US 1903 regular issues, their designs being very picturesque and ornamental.
[53]
Definitive stamps are often issued in a series of stamps with different denominations.

Stamps of the Philippine Republic.

Express mail stamp / special delivery stamp.

Late fee stamp issued to show payment of a fee to allow inclusion of a letter or package in
the outgoing dispatch although it has been turned in after the cut-off time.

Local post stamps used on mail in a local post; a postal service that operates only within a
limited geographical area, typically a city or a single transportation route. Some local posts

have been operated by governments, while others, known as private local posts, have been
operated by for-profit companies.

Military stamp stamp for a countrys armed forces, usually using a special postal system.

Minisheet a commemorative issue smaller than a regular full sheet of stamps, but with
more than one stamp. Minisheets often contain a number of different stamps, and often
having a decorative border. See also souvenir sheets.

The Red Mercury, a rare 1856newspaper stamp of Austria.

Newspaper stamp used to pay the cost of mailing newspapers and other periodicals.

Official mail stamp issued for use by the government or a government agency.

Occupation stamp a stamp for use by an occupying army or by the occupying army or
authorities for use by civilians

Non-denominated postage postage stamp that remains valid even after the price has
risen. Also known as a permanent or "forever" stamp.

Overprint - A regularly issued stamp, such as a commemorative or a definitive issue, that has
been changed after issuance by "printing over" some part of the stamp. Denominations can
be changed in this manner.

Perforated stamps while this term usually refers to perforations around a stamp to divide a
sheet into individual stamps, it can also be used for stamps perforated across the middle
with letters or a pattern or monogram, which are known as "perfins." These modified stamps
are usually purchased by corporations to guard against theft by employees.

Personalised stamps allow the user to add his or her own image.

Pneumatic post stamps for mail sent using pressurized air tubes, only produced in Italy.

Postage currency postage stamps used as currency rather than as postage

Postage due a stamp showing that the full postage has not been paid, and indicating the
amount owed. The United States Post Office Department has issued "parcel post postage
due" stamps.

Postal tax a stamp indicating that a tax above the postage rate required for sending letters
has been paid. This is often mandatory on mail issued on a particular day or for a few days.

Self-adhesive stamp not requiring moisture to stick. Self-sticking.

Semi-postal / charity stamp a stamp with an additional charge for charity. The use of semipostal stamps is at the option of the purchaser. Countries such
as Belgium and Switzerlandthat often use charitable fund-raising design stamps that are
desirable for collectors.

Souvenir sheet a commemorative issue in large format valid for postage often containing
a perforated or imperforate stamp as part of its design. See also minisheet.

Specimen stamp sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to
identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries.

Test stamp a label not valid for postage, used by postal authorities to test sorting and
cancelling machines or machines that can detect a stamp on an envelope. May also be
known as dummy or training stamps.

Variable value stamps - dispensed by machines that print the cost of the postage at the time
the stamp is dispensed.

War tax stamp A variation on the postal tax stamp to defray the cost of war.

Water-activated stamp for many years, water-activated stamps were the only type
available, so this term entered into use with the advent of self-adhesive stamps. The
adhesive or gum on a water-activated stamp must be moistened (usually by licking, thus the
stamps are also known as "lick and stick").

Apart from these, there are also Revenue (used to collect taxes or fees on items such as
documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, hunting licenses and medicines) and Telegraph
stamps (for sending telegrams), which fall in a separate category from postage stamps.

First day covers[edit]

A philatelic First Day Cover from Abu Dhabi.

Main article: First day of issue

Postage stamps are first issued on a specific date, often referred to as the First day of
issue. A first day cover usually consists of an envelope, a postage stamp and a postmark with
the date of the stamps first day of issue thereon.[54] Starting in the mid-20th century some
countries began assigning the first day of issue to a place associated with the subject of the
stamp design, such as a specific town or city.[55] There are two basic types of First Day
Covers (FDCs) noted by collectors. The first and often most desirable type among advanced
collectors is a cover sent through the mail in the course of everyday usage, without the intention
of the envelope and stamp ever being retrieved and collected. The second type of FDC is often
referred to as "Philatelic," that is, an envelope and stamp sent by someone with the intention of
retrieving and collecting the mailed item at a later time and place. The envelope used for this
type of FDC often bears a printed design or cachet of its own in correspondence with the
stamps subject and is usually printed well in advance of the first day of issue date. The latter
type of FDC is usually far more common, and is usually inexpensive and relatively easy to
acquire. Covers that were sent without any secondary purpose are considered non-philatelic and
often are much more challenging to find and collect.' [54][55]

Souvenir or miniature sheets[edit]

A 1987 Faroe Islands miniature sheet, in which the stamps form a part a larger image.

Main article: Miniature sheet

Postage stamps are sometimes issued in souvenir sheets or miniature sheets containing one or
a small number of stamps. Souvenir sheets typically include additional artwork or information
printed on the selvage, the border surrounding the stamps. Sometimes the stamps make up a
greater picture. Some countries, and some issues, are produced as individual stamps as well as
sheets.

Stamp collecting[edit]
Main article: Stamp collecting
Stamp collecting is a popular hobby. Collecting is not the same as philately, which is defined as
the study of stamps. It is not necessary to closely study stamps in order to enjoy collecting them.
Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the details. The

creation of a valuable or comprehensive collection, however, may require some philatelic

knowledge.
Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries that create limited
runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps
produced by these countries may far exceed their postal needs. Hundreds of countries, each
producing scores of different stamps each year, resulted in 400,000 different types of stamps in
existence by the year 2000. Annual world output averages about 10,000 types.

Le Philateliste by Franois Barraud(1929).

Some countries authorize the production of postage stamps that have no postal use, [56] but are
intended instead solely for collectors. Other countries issue large numbers of low denomination
stamps that are bundled together in starter packs for new collectors. Official reprints are often
printed by companies who have purchased or contacted for those rights and such reprints see
no postal use.[57][58] All of these stamps are often found "canceled to order", meaning they are
postmarked without ever having passed through the postal system. Most national post offices
produce stamps that would not be produced if there were no collectors, some to a far more
prolific degree than others. It is up to individual collectors whether this concerns them; collecting
such issues is as legitimate an endeavor as any other collection, but is unlikely to result in a
collection of any value or to provide a monetary return on an investment (though it may be found
worthwhile in other ways, such as teaching geography or collecting methods to a child, or sheer
pleasure in the beauty of some of these issues). Others may argue that since these stamps are
virtually worthless, they will be discarded in large numbers and eventually become less common
and thus collectable in their own right, though this process would likely take many decades.
Sales of stamps to collectors who do not use them for mailing can result in large profits. Good
examples of excessive issues have been (1) the stamps produced by Nicholas F. Seebeck and
(2) stamps produced for the component states of the United Arab Emirates. Seebeck operated in
the 1890s as an agent of Hamilton Bank Note Company. He approached Latin American
countries with an offer to produce their entire postage stamp needs for free. In return he would
have exclusive rights to market stamps to collectors. Each year a new issue would be produced,
but would expire at the end of the year. This assured Seebeck of a continuing supply of

remainders.[57][58] In the 1960s, printers such as the Barody Stamp Company contracted to
produce stamps for the separate Emirates and other countries. The sparse population of the
desert states made it wholly unlikely that many of these stamps would ever be used for mailing
purposes, and earned them the name of the "sand dune" countries. Another example of what
might be considered by some to be excessive issues is that, at the time of the millennium, the
United Kingdom issued 96 different stamps over about 24 months, all for pre-existing values with
the same four rates for each set.
In the United States there is concern among some collectors that the United States Postal
Service has become a promotional agent for the media and entertainment industry, as it has
frequently issued entire sets of stamps featuring movie stars and cartoon characters like Mickey
Mouse and Bart Simpson[59] Over the decades the annual average number of new postage
stamp issued by the U.S.P.S. has significantly increased. [60]

Famous stamps[edit]

The Basel Dove stamp.

See also: List of notable postage stamps

Basel Dove

British Guiana 1c magenta

Hawaiian Missionaries

Inverted Head 4 Annas

Inverted Jenny

Mauritius "Post Office"

Penny Black

Scinde Dawk

Treskilling Yellow

Uganda Cowries

See also[edit]

List of entities that have issued postage stamps (A-E)

List of entities that have issued postage stamps (F-L)

List of entities that have issued postage stamps (M-Z)

Philatelic fakes and forgeries

Philately

Stamp catalog

Stamp collecting

Variable value stamp

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ British Postal Museum, The Penny Post and After

2.

Jump up^ National Postal Museum: Worlds First Postage Stamps

3.

Jump up^ Before the Penny Black, by Ken Lawrence, 1995

4.

Jump up^ Cost of Stamps

5.

^ Jump up to:a b The British Postal Museum

6.

Jump up^ Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter Company Excerpt:(Entering the final decade of the
century, PB saw its sales surpass the $3 billion mark for the first time in company history, topping
off at $3.2 billion in fiscal 1990.

7.

Jump up^ United States Postal Service

8.

Jump up^ The Life and Times of a Stamp Collector

9.

Jump up^ Smithsonian National Postal Museum

10.

Jump up^ Postal Service Act

11.

Jump up^ "William Dockwra and the Penny Post Service". Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Retrieved 8 November 2010.

12.

Jump up^ "New Issues: Technical Details: Lovrenc Koir" Stanley Gibbons, archived on 10
May 2011 by Internet Archive

13.

Jump up^ Lovrenc Koir stampdomain.com 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012. Archived here.

14.

Jump up^ "Meet the new Rowland Hill" in Gibbons Stamp Monthly, April 1949, p. 85.

15.

16.
17.

Jump up^ Hill, Rowland & Hill, George Birkbeck, The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the History
of the Penny Post, Thomas De La Rue, 1880, p.242
Jump up^ The Life of Sir Rowland Hill, p.246
Jump up^ Muir, Douglas N, Postal Reform & the Penny Black, National Postal Museum,
1990, p.42

18.

Jump up^ The Life of Sir Rowland Hill, p.264

19.

Jump up^ The Life of Sir Rowland Hill, p.269

20.

Jump up^ The Ninth Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Management
of the Post-office Department, 1837, p.32

21.

Jump up^ Hansard 15 December 1837

22.

^ Jump up to:a b The British Postal Museum & Archive, Rowland Hills Postal Reforms

23.

Jump up^ Chalmers, Patrick, The Penny Postage Scheme of 1837, Effingham Wilson, 1881

24.

Jump up^ James Chalmers essay of 1837

25.

Jump up^ The Times, 25 March 1837

26.

Jump up^ The Times, 20 December 1837

27.

Jump up^ Hansard 4 Dec 1837

28.

Jump up^ Mackay, James, The Guinness Book of Stamps Facts & Feats, p.73-74, Guinness
Superlatives Limited, 1982, ISBN 0-85112-241-8

29.

Jump up^ Photo of two covers bearing the First US Postage stamps showing cancellations

30.

Jump up^ Smithsonian National Postal Museum

31.

Jump up^ Garfield, Simon (January 2009). The Error World: An Affair with Stamps. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 118.ISBN 0-15-101396-9.

32.

Jump up^ O'Donnell, Kevin; Winger, Larry (1997). Internet for Scientists. CRC Press.
p. 19. ISBN 90-5702-222-2.

33.

^ Jump up to:a b c Why has a Postage Stamp a Perforated Edge? A.M. Encyclopedia
Volume Two page 1415

34.

Jump up^ When the Universal Postal Union began requiring the name of the country on
stamps used in the international mails, the United Kingdom was granted an exception, as
traditionally, as the first country to use stamps for postage, they had never put the country name
on their stamps. See Miller, Rick (2003) "Refresher Course: Symbols can be useful in identifying
stamps" Linn's Stamp News 10 March 2003, archived hereby Internet Archive on 28 December
2010

35.

Jump up^ Stamps not intended for international mail, such as postage due stamps, do not
need to have the country's name.

36.

Jump up^ The U.S. Philatelic Classics Society

37.

^ Jump up to:a b Kenmore Collectors Catalogue, 2010

38.

^ Jump up to:a b c Smithsonian National postal Museum: Early Perforation Machines

39.

Jump up^ Ffestiniog Railway Co.

40.

^ Jump up to:a b Linns Stamp News, Refresher Course, Janet Klug

41.

Jump up^ Stanley Gibbons Ltd, Specialised Stamp Catalogue Volume 1: Queen Victoria (8th
ed. 1985) p. 207.

42.

Jump up^ National Postal Museum, Charles Toppan & Co.,

43.

Jump up^ The National Archives

44.

Jump up^ Kenmore Collectors Catalog, 2010, #906.

45.

Jump up^ Hobbizine

46.

Jump up^ "Holography: Into the Future". National Postal Museum. Retrieved 2011-01-22.

47.

Jump up^ Associated Press (2000-06-14). "First round U.S. postage stamp on the way, and
that's not all. . .". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2011-01-22.

48.

Jump up^ "Bhutan - Talking Stamps" and Other World Firsts!". Sandafayre (Holdings) Ltd.
Retrieved 2013-05-19.

49.

Jump up^ Thomas Mallon "Stamp: Sober Superheroes, " American Heritage, Nov./Dec.
2006.

50.

Jump up^ United States Postal Service / Airmail

51.

Jump up^ Linns Stamp News, Refresher Course

52.

Jump up^ USPS.com

53.

^ Jump up to:a b Scotts US Catalogue, 1903 Issue

54.

^ Jump up to:a b American First Day Cover Society

55.

^ Jump up to:a b Scotts United States Stamp Catalogue, First Day of Issue Index.

56.

Jump up^ See, for example, the low value Afghanistan issues of 1964.

57.

^ Jump up to:a b The Stamp Collecting Blog, Seebeck reprints

58.

^ Jump up to:a b National Postal Museum Excerpt: Etheridge would have the remainders
and reprint rights for the philatelic market. Etheridge sold these rights to Nicholas Seebeck,
whose Hamilton Bank Note Company issued Ecuadors 1892, 1894, and 1895 stamps.

59.

Jump up^ USPS Stamp News, The 2005 Commemorative Stamp Program

60.

Jump up^ Scotts U.S. Stamp Catalogue

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