We are happy to provide answers to some of the questions we most commonly receive. While we are not a research service, additional questions of a general nature may be sent to doris@stamps.org. Specific questions about APS departments or services should be forwarded to the appropriate staff member as listed at Headquarters Staff .

Who invented the postage stamp? What country issued the first postage stamp and when?



    Sir Rowland Hill is generally credited with the idea of requiring prepayment of postage and the use of postage stamps to show this payment. Previously the recipient of a letter had to pay for delivery and a large portion of the mail was refused. (Some people devised codes to convey messages on the outside of the letter so when the postman showed the letter to the intended recipient, the letter could be refused but the message was still received.) Hill advocated lowering the rates but requiring payment in advance. Great Britain issued the first postage stamps in 1840. Nicknamed the Penny Black, the stamps cost 1 pence and showed Queen Victoria. Although first to be issued, these stamps are not tremendously valuable as millions were used. Today a nice used copy can be obtained for around $50.