On this day in history, July 1, 1847, the US Post Office issues the first stamps

The United States Postal Service issued its first-ever postage stamps on this day in history, July 1, 1847. 

The first postage stamps produced by the United States Postal Service (USPS) were sold in New York City, according to the USPS website. 

The two stamps came in two designs, one for each denomination. 

The five-cent stamp featured a picture of Benjamin Franklin, while the ten-cent stamp depicted George Washington. 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, JUNE 30, 1936, ‘GONE WITH THE WIND’ IS PUBLISHED

Stamps were not sold in book form as they are in modern times, noted the USPS website. In the 19th century, workers at the post office would have to cut stamps individually using a pair of scissors, and the sheets of stamps were not perforated. 

They were, however, pre-gummed, said the USPS — making for easier application to envelopes. 

While mail services have existed for millennia, it was not until 1837 that the postage stamp was proposed, said the USPS website. 

British teacher and inventor Sir Rowland Hill had the then-revolutionary idea of having uniform postage rates for mail sent within the British Isles, and also the ability to pay these rates in advance, said the site. 

Three years later, in 1840, consumers in the United Kingdom were able to buy and use postage stamps. 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY IN 1775, US POSTAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED UNDER BEN FRANKLIN

The first stamps, the Penny Black and the Two Penny Blue, were sold for the mailing of half-ounce and full-ounce letters, respectively, said the USPS. 

The United States would catch on relatively quickly, although not on a national scale. The City Despatch Post, a private mail carrier based in New York City, started issuing adhesive postage stamps on Feb. 1, 1842, just two years after they arrived in the United Kingdom, noted the USPS website. 

The USPS would acquire the City Despatch Post later in 1842, and would use postage stamps for mail sent within New York City, they said.

Three years later, in 1845, postage rates were simplified, said the website. Some postmasters created "Postmasters' Provisionals" as a way for people to prepay for letters.

NANCY REAGAN, FORMER FIRST LADY, IS HONORED WITH NEW 'FOREVER STAMP'

Prior to the invention of the postage stamp, a person mailing a letter would need to bring each letter to the post office and pay for it in person, said the USPS. 

Rather than a set price, the postage rate was determined by the length of the letter and how far it was being sent, said USPS.

Unlike the pay-in-advance system of modern postage stamps, prior to 1847, a person sending mail could either pay in advance, have the person who received the letter pay upon receipt — or pay some of the postage in advance and have the recipient pay the remainder upon delivery.

In lieu of a stamp, the postmaster would write "PAID" in the upper right corner of an envelope that was pre-paid, said the USPS. 

It was not until 1855 that it became mandatory to pre-pay for postage, and the use of U.S. postage stamps did not become obligatory until Jan. 1, 1856.

USPS ADDS 'VIRGIN AND CHILD' PAINTING TO NEW FOREVER STAMP BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Since the postage stamp's beginnings in the mid-1800s, the material, delivery, and sale of the item has evolved over the years. 

In 1893, the USPS issued the first U.S. commemorative stamps, which featured designs commemorating Christopher Columbus' voyages to the New World, said the USPS website. These commemorative stamps were almost double the size of a normal stamp, and the concept proved to be quite popular. 

Since then, the USPS has issued thousands of commemorative stamps, honoring everything from sports to eclipses to historical events. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The Elvis Presley stamp, which was printed in 1993, remains the bestselling of these commemorative stamps, said the USPS website.

In 1900, stamps began to be sold in book form; the first self-adhesive stamp was sold in 1974, the site noted.

In 2007, the USPS issued the "forever" stamp, "a nondenominated, nonexpiring stamp intended for customers mailing a piece of First-Class Mail." 

These stamps are "forever" good to mail a letter, regardless of the price of postage, they said.

Ingraham: Democratic voters were 'played for fool[s]' in student loan forgiveness case

"The Ingraham Angle" host Laura Ingraham offered reaction and analysis Friday, following the Supreme Court's landmark ruling against the Democrats' student loan forgiveness plan, as well as California's reparations debate.

LAURA INGRAHAM, HOST: Today brought us another example of the left's power play: Biden's fraudulent promise to pay off student loans. Now it's a scheme with one purpose, again, buying off the votes this time of young people. 

WHITE HOUSE REPORTER [SOT]: Why did you give millions of borrowers false hope you've dated? Doubted your own authority here in the past? 

LAURA INGRAHAM: NOBODY BELIEVES BIDEN DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT HUNTER'S BUSINESS DEALINGS

PRESIDENT BIDEN: I didn't give any false hope. What I did I thought was appropriate and was able to be done and would get done. I didn't give borrowers false hope, but the Republicans snatched away the hope that they were given and it's real, real hope.

INGRAHAM: Now, they could have eliminated the student loans through legislation or at least tried to do that. But they didn't. Instead, they pretended to do something that never had a chance of surviving court scrutiny. 

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

So if you're someone who voted for the Democrats because you thought your student loans were going to be forgiven, or if you voted for Democrats because you thought that you're going to get a big pile of money in the form of reparations – Well, I'm here to tell you that you were played for a fool. 

The left knew exactly what they were doing. They knew that this wasn't going to in any way be upheld by the court. And they don't have any intention of writing checks to anyone for reparations. 

About Us

Virtus (virtue, valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth)

Vincit (conquers, triumphs, and wins)