As an
historical western author, I write books that take place in the mid to latter
1800’s; consequently, I spend a lot of time researching everyday life back
then. Many of my blogs have been written
about differences between common items of today and those our ancestors used in
the 1800’s. Often while going about my day,
my curiosity arises about things I take for granted in comparison to what they
were like in the 19th century.
Hence, my
subject for today’s blog … the postage stamp … something we all are using less
in the 21st century thanks to our cell phones, texts, fax, email, Skype,
social media & online bill paying.
In the 19th
century, as our nation expanded, so did the need to expand and modernize the
postal service. Increased immigration from Europe as well as increased
expansion westward across the American frontier prompted the United States to
update the way in which written communication was delivered.
Initially,
U. S. postage rates were set by Congress as part of the Postal Service Act
signed into law by President George Washington in 1792. The postal rate varied
according to distance zones, which was the distance a letter was carried from
the post office where it started to its final destination. There were double
and triple rates as a letter’s size increased.
The U.S. issued its first postage stamps in
1847. Before that time, the rates, dates and origin of the letter were written
by hand or sometimes in combination with a hand stamp device. Postage could be
paid in advance by the sender, collected from the addressee on delivery, or
paid partially in advance and partially upon delivery.
The first
general issue postage stamps went on sale in New York City, July 1, 1847. One,
priced at five cents, depicted Benjamin Franklin; the other, a ten-cent stamp,
pictured George Washington. Clerks used scissors to cut the stamps from
pregummed, nonperforated sheets.
Only Franklin and Washington appeared
on stamps until 1856, when a five-cent stamp honoring Thomas Jefferson was
issued.
The first
U.S. commemorative stamps were issued in 1893, honoring that year’s World
Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The subject of Columbus’s voyages to the New
World and the size of the stamps were innovative, almost double the size of the
previous stamps in order to properly show reproductions of paintings of
Columbus’s voyages.
Native
Americans were depicted on several earlier stamps' but the first to feature a specific person was Pocahontas on the 1907's five-cent stamp.
The first to
honor an African American was in 1940 commemorating Booker T. Washington.
Not of
historical importance, but I would like to add my favorite commemorative stamp,
the 29-cent stamp featuring Elvis Presley, issued in 1993 on what would have
been Elvis’s 58th birthday. The public was invited to vote for the
“younger or the older” Elvis for the stamp’s design. No surprise, the youthful
Elvis stamp won and it has become the best-selling U.S. commemorative stamp to
date.
With advent
of all the faster and easier ways of correspondence and communication, the
postal system has come to be referred to as “snail mail.” Another Internet slang term, “Papernet” has
also been used for postal mail.
The
handwritten note or card goes back to what often is referred to as “simpler
times.” However, it is still used by many of us wanting to take the time and
effort to express our heartfelt thoughts, sympathy, congratulations or
gratitude to someone. After writing the
recipient’s address on the envelope, then sticking a specially selected postage
stamp on the top right-hand corner and slipping the card in the mail box, we hope the
delivery of our snail mail will be the next best thing to showing up in person.
Born in Nebraska, I loved researching the Oregon Trail, historically known as the
"Gateway to the West." My passion for those brave pioneers, Native
Americans and 19th Century America led me to write the epic western historical
Wheels of Destiny Trilogy.
"I feel the Old West is a major part
of our heritage and we should enjoy learning about it. Hopefully, by reading the fictional genre I
write, my readers will not only enjoy the story but the historical background
as well."
My Links:
