Stamps are small pieces of paper with colorful markings and designs. However, stamps are not just objects in envelopes or parcels to be mailed. These little pieces of art bear the weight of great stories, painting down the culture, history, and identity of the United States. Not only are the stamps of the United States a history of the development of postal services, but they become a journey through the nation’s social, political, and cultural milestones. What started as a small beginning has evolved into the status of a collector’s item, and quite a transformation has occurred in stamps in the US.
American culture and history have kept changing since these stamps have grown and evolved.
The Start of US Postage Stamps
The idea of postage stamps in the USA came into view within the context of the need for a more methodical system for stamping mail. Before stamps, the usual practice was for a person to pay the postal charges on the delivery of the letter; this system was unwieldy and confusing. Postage stamps were first noted to have been used in the USA in 1847, but prepaid postage was no new idea. Great Britain had already issued the first-ever postage stamp, the well-known Penny Black, in 1840. Feeling challenged by the concept, postal chiefs in the United States sought another workable arrangement.
Yes, your July stamp is bright. The very first official U.S.-postmarked postage stamps released to the public were used by the Postal Service beginning July 1, 1847. These early amateur stamps featured the portraits of America’s first citizens, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, instead of having their value inscribed on the stamps themselves: Franklin’s stamp was worth five cents; Washington’s stamp was valued at ten cents, and these stamps, produced for limited quantities by the American Bank Note Company, ushered in the world of stamp collecting.
Development in Commemoration Stamps
With time, the paramount importance of stamps escalated. The U.S. Postal Service started issuing commemorative postage stamps in honor of events in American history, notable individuals, and milestones that the history of the country had provided, this being first true in the case of the 1893 commemorative stamp honoring the Columbian Exposition in Chicago which celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the New World; the stamp depicting Columbus’s ships noted denominations from one cent to five dollars.
Colorfully commemorative stamps thus became the order of the day for the U.S. Postal Service. Commemorative stamps were issued for national holidays, important people, and major events celebrated in World Fair-style across America. In so many ways, these stamps indirectly commemorated huge historical figures to allow commoners to join in honoring events and personalities that made the nation. Firmly with a sense of appeal, stamps became a manifestation of American pride after the Second World War; many began to collect stamps, thus giving philately- the study of stamps and postal history- a stamp of popularity.
Matters of Innovation in Stamp Design and Printing
As time passed, the designs and methods of printing US postage stamps evolved to keep up with technological advances and artistic trends. The introduction of techniques for color printing permitted a more vivid and intricate affair in design. In contrast, photogravure printing in the 1950s acted to aid in the quicker and more efficient production of stamps. The 1960s also marked the change from the perforated edge stamps to self-adhesive stamps, which have become the standard today.
Other occasions where modern features began to emerge in the stamps produced by the United States Postal Service were when the Postal Service started placing themes related to modernity-from space exploration and environmental awareness. Like the moon landing in 1969, one of the most precedent-setting stamps of the 20th century was designed in memory of history for posterity.
The Cultural Significance of Stamps
US postage stamps are more than instruments for sending mail. It has played a paramount part in the shaping of a national identity. Commemoration of national heroes, a· given historical event, or cultural contributions becomes a national affair, with stamps often featured prominently in people’s minds. The Americans now have tangible ties to their history, culture, and values.
Nonetheless, the cultural heritage stamps were economically important and diplomatically relevant. Stamp sales bring revenue to the Postal Service, while special issues generate attention for certain important matters. Such were the AIDS Awareness Stamp of 1993 and the Breast Cancer Research Stamp of 2008, drawing attention to major health problems as these two stamps helped inform and educate Americans.
Conclusion
A very interesting chapter in the history of American postage stamps reflects that nation’s entire journey. The stamp storied the American experience like no other medium could—the earliest stamps featured Franklin and Washington down to today’s famous commemoratives. USA Stamp understands that whether you are a casual collector or an ardent aficionado, every stamp has a history that dictates a certain depth and meaning to all mail.
