Which country was the first to use postage stamps? Issue of the first postage stamp in Tsarist Russia

When and why did the first postage stamp appear? Philately of the USSR. 1975. No. 10. Page 62

At the end of the 18th century, the intensive growth of trade and industry required fast, simple and cheap postal services. In addition, the need for labor caused continuous movement of the population. For example, in Birmingham the number of residents doubled in thirty years (1801 - 1831).

Correspondence increased accordingly. Postage fees were high. In England, for a regular letter up to 100 miles (about 160 km) they paid from 4 to 9 pence, for every next 100 miles another 1 penny. The distance was not calculated in a straight line, but along the actual path, which was much longer. They charged full price for each sheet of writing.

There was a need to simplify and reduce the cost postal service. That's when the postage stamp appeared. Its creator was the Englishman Rowland Hill.

There is a legend that he witnessed the postman handing an old innkeeper a letter for the delivery of which he was due two shillings. She refused the letter - it was too expensive.

Hill paid for it.

But there was no need for this. The envelope turned out to be empty. Sending a letter served as a sign that the son was healthy and remembered his mother. It was then that Hill thought that the sender should pay for the delivery of letters. To do this, you need a small receipt, the quote is pasted on the envelope and crossed out in ink so that it cannot be used again. This is how the idea of a postage stamp was allegedly born. No invention or discovery happens by accident. It appears when human society begins to urgently need it. The postage stamp had many predecessors.

As early as 1653, the tenant of the Paris post office, Renoir de Vilayer, introduced pre-paid “banderols” that were used to wrap postal items. The date stamped on the parcel served as a sign of its use. Today not a single “parcel” has survived, as they were destroyed when the letter was delivered. However, some researchers claim that they had an emblem - a kind of brand.

In 1683, a triangular prepayment stamp appeared in London, which read: Penny post paid.- postage 1 penny paid. The private penny post was organized by upholsterer Murray. It became very popular after it was acquired by the energetic merchant Dokra (Fig. 1).

In the 19th century, from 1819 to 1837, sheets of postal paper (Carta postala bolata - stamped postal paper) of three denominations were used in Sardinia: 15, 25 and 50 centesimo. The sheets were intended for prepayment of letters. The sheets had a peculiar stamp - an image of a boy blowing a postal horn.

And in 1823, the Swedish lieutenant Lute Treffenberg proposed introducing envelopes for letters with a stamp printed on them, made with inkless embossing. In his opinion, such a brand would be difficult to counterfeit.

From 1834 to 1838, the English bookseller and publisher James Chalmers did not abandon the thought of a stamp with glue on the back. He even made designs for such signs postage. And in 1839, postmaster stamps appeared in the German city of Spittal. They became known only in 1959. But whoever first thought of a postage stamp, the implementation of this idea belongs to R. Hill (Fig. 2).

On 6 May 1840, the London Post Office issued two stamps featuring Queen Victoria: a 1 penny stamp (the "black penny") and a 2 pence stamp. of blue color. This is how the brainchild of R. Hill saw the light, which he defined as “pieces of paper large enough to be a stamp, and covered with reverse side sticky substance" (Fig. 3).

The introduction of postal payment marks immediately affected the growth in the amount of correspondence. If in 1839 about 75 million letters were sent in England, then in 1840 there were 168 million.

The English brand was not left alone. In 1843, stamps appeared in Switzerland and overseas in Brazil. In the United States of America, government stamps were approved in 1847.

One of England's closest neighbors, France only released postal miniatures in 1849.

The first issue of Africa (Cape of Good Hope) was published in 1853. The first postage stamp of Russia - toothless, in denomination of 10 kopecks per lot (Fig. 4) appeared on December 10, 1857. However, before this (in November), the official state stamp of the city post office of Tiflis (now Tbilisi) had already seen the light. There are only four copies of them in philatelic collections.

The first Soviet postage stamps appeared on November 7, 1918 - new revolutionary stamps worth 35 and 70 kopecks with a design: a hand cutting a chain
(Fig. 5).

The first postage stamp Great Britain's stamp in the world " Black penny", which was put into circulation in May 1840. The brand owes its name to the denomination of 1 penny and the black color in which it is made.

Rowland Hill is considered the inventor of stamps (although, according to some evidence, the inventor of the stamp was the bookseller D. Chalmers). After successful implementation For his idea, Hill received 20 thousand pounds sterling from the British government - a very serious amount at that time.

Back in 1837, Hill proposed introducing a uniform postal rate, which would be paid by the sender. This idea was voiced in his brochure “Postal Reform, Its Importance and Expediency.” It was in this work that Hill noted that payment for postage could be certified by a small piece of paper with a stamp on one side and an adhesive layer on the other, which would be glued to the envelope.

For three years, this proposal was discussed in the press and the British Parliament. In August 1839, Parliament agreed with Hill's idea and a two-year contract was signed with him to carry out postal reform.
A competition was announced for best sketch brands. Almost 2,700 brand projects were submitted to the competition. The winner of the competition was Henry Cole's sketch of Queen Victoria's profile.

As a result of these events, on May 6, 1840, she was released first postage stamp, which was later called “Penny Black”. However, part of the circulation was sold before this date - from May 1st. Almost simultaneously with this, it was released. This is evidenced by information about the presence of a letter dated May 2, on which stamps in denominations of 1 and 2 pence were affixed.

The Black Penny (as well as the Blue Twopenny) was printed using metallography. Along the top edge there was the inscription “Postage”, along the bottom - “One penny” and “Two pennies”, respectively. A special feature of these stamps is the presence of letters in the lower corners, by which one can determine the position of the stamp on the stamp sheet (row and place in this row).
The complete sheet of "Penny Black" consisted of 240 stamps (20 rows of 12 stamps). Almost one like this full sheet of 216 stamps was found stuck on the wall of the post office. When separating it from the wall, the adhesive layer was damaged. Now this unique sheet is kept in the British royal collection and, on rare occasions, is exhibited at major philatelic exhibitions.

Almost 70 million stamps were put into circulation and a lot of them have survived to this day. However, due to the historical value of the "Penny Black", it is used in great demand among philatelists. A canceled stamp can be purchased for around $200, and

The very first postage stamp appeared 175 years ago – on May 6, 1840 in England. Moreover, we're talking about specifically about the stamp that was stuck to the envelope. Previously in various countries the world used revenue stamps, which were used as proof of payment of taxes and duties.

The use of stamps as postage was suggested by the English astronomy teacher Rowland Hill. On his advice, postal authorities began to use “a piece of paper large enough to serve as a mark, and coated on the back with an adhesive substance.”

This idea came to Hill in Scotland, where he witnessed an interesting incident. One day, a postman came into the tavern where Hill was at that time with a letter for the maid. The girl was clearly delighted, but refused to receive correspondence. At that time, according to postal rules, the recipient had to pay for the letter.

Hill paid the postman three and a half shillings, which was the cost of delivery at that time, but the girl said that she did not need the letter because there was nothing in the envelope. As it turned out, she and her brother, who lives in London, have been carrying on such strange correspondence for a long time. My brother sent her an empty envelope, which meant that everything was fine with him. The sister refused to accept the letter, and it was sent back to the sender. Having received his letter back, the brother understood that his sister was also doing well.

Hill later found out that this was far from an isolated incident. Many residents of Great Britain used such “silent” correspondence. The postal service suffered considerable losses.

That's when Rowland Hill came up with the idea of using postage stamps. Interestingly, the English postal department generously thanked Hill: a few years later he was appointed postmaster general, and later received a knighthood. A monument was erected to him in London, and the postmaster is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Black penny

The first postage stamps, called "penny black", featured the profile of Queen Victoria and also included the inscriptions "postage" and "one penny". The Englishman J. E. Gray is considered the world's first collector of postage stamps. Immediately after the release of the "black penny", he purchased stamps not for use in sending letters, but for a collection.

Gradually, Hill's invention spread throughout the world. In 1843, postage stamps began to be used in Zurich, Geneva and Brazil. In December 1857, the first postage stamps were issued in Russia. They began to be used on January 1, 1858.

In the days of postal carriages, every recipient of a letter had to immediately pay it in cash. The first postage stamp in the modern sense appeared in 1840 in the British Isles. From now on, the sender had to pay for the postage.

Child of many fathers

Back in 1653, Jean-Jacques Renoir de Vilayer introduced a ticket for payment of duty in the form of a ribbon at the Paris city post office, which was attached to the letter. However, the inventor of the stamp is considered to be the Austrian Lavrentius Cosir, who in 1835 proposed to the court post office in Vienna to stick a payment stamp on envelopes. However, the Austrian administration, with its slowness, deprived the official of the glory of a pioneer - on the banks of the Thames, decisions were made faster. There Sir Rowland Hill submitted a report

0 postal reform only in 1837, but the responsible commission immediately accepted his proposal to introduce a single postal fee of a penny on all small-weight items within the British Empire and at the same time approved the idea of a postage stamp, mentioned in the report casually. Three years later, the first sheets of “black pennies” with a portrait of the young Queen Victoria were released for sale.

Contagious example

After 1840, nothing could stop the victorious march of the postage stamp. One state after another followed the example of England. In 1843, the first stamps were printed in Brazil, as well as in the Swiss cantons of Zurich and Geneva. In the mid-1840s. the innovation was picked up by the USA, Belgium, France and Mauritius. In Germany, Bavaria was the first to sell stamps - in 1849.

1850: Englishman Henry Archer invented the first machine for perforating postage stamps.
1871: The first commemorative postage stamp was issued in Peru on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the opening of the railway line between Lima and Callao.
1962: Luminescent printing was intended to make postage stamps more difficult to counterfeit.
1976: The first stamp vending machine is installed in Switzerland.

The most expensive brand was issued in the 19th century, is not only a postal sign that confirms payment for delivery services, but also a collector's item. Since then it has been changed several times appearance, and all brands put into circulation are systematized in catalogues.

The auction valuation and sale of the most expensive brand was carried out in 2008, and the amount was 700 thousand US dollars. Its seal was made in 1857 for the post office of the city of Tiflis. It depicts the city's coat of arms - a double-headed eagle, and the nominal value of the sign was 6 kopecks. It was in circulation for 10 years, but only three copies survived before the First World War.

To pay for delivery services mail messages stamps began to be used in 1832, and since then they have been a security with a denomination of the cost of postage. Her stories serial production and use was preceded by several projects. One of them belonged to Lieutenant K. Treffenberg in 1832, and two years later the publisher D. Chalmers printed a trial batch. They began to stick them on an envelope, the cost of sending which depended on the weight, and not the distance of delivery to the addressee.

Sticking idea special sign confirming payment postal forwarding, belongs to the English postmaster, Sir Rowland Hill. In fact, he developed a sketch of the world's first postage stamp, which was printed in England and went into circulation in May 1840. The details and insignia of the issuing country were established much later by the Universal Postal Union.

According to the standards, letters with the name of the country printing it are written on the stamp in Latin letters. Due to the fact that Great Britain is the first in issuing postage marks, it was exempted from applying a distinctive sign to the document.

Stamps are not only an indispensable attribute of sending messages, but also collectibles, and the science of studying the history of postal circulation, communications, and payment marks for forwarding services is called philately. Its history begins with the “black penny” stamp, with a face value of 1 penny with the image of Queen Victoria. It is made in black, which determined the name.

The first postage stamps of Tsarist Russia

Following Great Britain, postal signs began to be used in other countries. The first postage stamp with a face value of 10 kopecks. with smooth edges was printed in Russia at the end of 1857. It came into use early next year. It depicted the state emblem and mantle. The price of a canceled stamp today is 275-700 US dollars, and a clean one - 12.5-20 thousand dollars.

The first stamps of the USSR

The first postage stamp of the Soviet state was printed in November 1918. Its name was determined by the image “Hand with a sword cutting a chain.” The author of the sketch belongs to R. G. Zarins. The stamp was in circulation for 4 years. The auction price for perforated samples with denominations of 1 and 2 kopecks was 71,875 US dollars.

A souvenir block with 4 stamps printed on it was published in a limited edition on a sheet thick paper. Hence the name "Cardboard". It was dedicated to the opening of the first philatelist exhibition in Moscow, which took place in 1932. They were printed in only 525 copies, 25 of which contained the inscription “To the best drummer of the All-Union Society of Philatelists.” The only surviving copy with a personal overprint was sold at the Cherystone auction for $776,250. The cost of the stamp without overprint is 35 thousand dollars.

Rare USSR postage stamps are of great interest to collectors. On specialized market their number is limited and is replenished in most cases from private collections. As a result, the price of rare specimens increases. Collectible stamps are a means of reliable investment. Rare stamps of the USSR are no exception to obtaining financial benefits.

Stamp Blue Gymnast

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Union Circus, a stamp called “Blue Gymnast” was issued. Uncertainty regarding the date led to the cancellation of its release. Many years later, in 1979, the stamp was printed for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the circus. The unissued “Blue Gymnast” stamp is a philatelic rarity. It was sold under the hammer in 2008 at auction for 13.8 thousand US dollars.

Mark Limonka

"Limonka" is the most valuable stamp of the USSR. It belongs to the “Gold Standard” series. She was released in 1925. In its unextinguished form it is the rarest. As a result of a technical malfunction of the perforation machine, the 15-kopeck stamp was not printed. The insufficient circulation determined its modern value, which ranges from 15 to 20 thousand dollars.

Unissued rare stamps

Due to political considerations, in 1959 a stamp was not released into circulation for the 250th anniversary of the historical Poltava victory of 1709. The circulation was completely withdrawn from circulation and destroyed. The cost of the preserved 40 stamps ranges from 10-20 thousand dollars per copy. For the same reason, the “Flight of Peace and Friendship” stamp was not released, the auction price of which is 28,750 thousand dollars.

Each USSR stamp is included in a special catalog, which contains them detailed description, history and photographs.

Overprinted stamps

Among them are valuable pieces with a history that makes them special. The “Levanevsky with overprint” stamp belongs to the “Salvation of Chelyuskinites” series. Issued in 1935, copies contain a portrait of the pilot S. A. Levanevsky and the overprint “Flight Moscow - San Francisco via North. pole 1935". Typographical errors on the stamp in the form of an inverted overprint and a small “f” determined their super value as a rarity on two stamp sheets (50 pieces each).

The “Consular Fifty Kopeck” stamps were intended for sending official mail by order of the RSFSR Embassy in Germany. The stamp has a red text overlay - “ Airmail R.S.F.S.R.” Due to disagreement with management, it was withdrawn from circulation. In this series, the most expensive stamp is the one with a face value of 50 kopecks and the overprint “1200 Herm. stamps." Consular stamps of the RSFSR 1922 are rare due to an error in the inscription. One of the sheets contains the inscription “24 German. marks" instead of "brand", which determines the high value.

For aviation postal items In 1923, the first series of 4 multi-colored stamps was issued, which depicted the Fokker F-111 aircraft. The value of these stamps lies in the “thick” number “5” printed on one sheet from the total circulation. It sold in September 2008 for $86,250. A USSR stamp entitled "2nd International Polar Year" was printed in 1932. They were intended to send airmail from Franz Josef Land to Arkhangelsk. The difference in perforation of a small part of the circulation from the main issue determines the high cost of the stamp.