philately
/noun/ collection and study of postal materials

Firsts…
• Where did the first Postmark come from?
• Where did the first Postage Stamp come
from?
• Where did the first Pre-paid Envelope
come from?

First Postmark
• Bishop Mark (after Henry Bishop in 1661)
“A stamp is invented that is putt upon every letter shewing the day of the moneth that every letter
comes to the office, so that no Letter Carryer may dare detayne a letter from post to post; which
before was usual”
• Today’s date stamps’ Pre-cursor!
347 years!
1661 - 1787 2008

How’s archaic writing like?

How’s archaic writing like?

17th – 18th Century England
• Average Salaries 8 -10 pence a day
• Postal cost is post paid and manuscripted by
post office on letter itself
• 2 – 4 pence to send a normal letter (25% -40%
of their daily pay!)
• Up to 8 pence to send a heavier article or over
larger distances (Ireland to England)
• > 1 Shilling (12 Pence) to send overseas mail!!
(See exhibit from Greece to Scotland)
• Wrong addressing/Redirection will cost more
• Posting a mail is pricey in old England!!

Milestones?
• It’s etymology came from a REAL piece of
stone…
• Postal cost is determined
by the miles to carry the
letter
• By foot, By horse drawn
carriage
• By Posts, Cross Posts
go through London
(ref: Town stamps)

Milestones?

1840 Postal Reforms
• Birth of stamps and pre-paid envelopes!

1840 Postal Reforms

Stamp Separation…
• Tearing…
• Cutting with Scissors/Knife
• Roulettes
• Modern day Perforations
(see relevant articles…)

-fin-