![]() ![]() ![]() Soon other countries began using this system and in 1847 the United States Postal Service printed its first stamps, a 5-cent stamp picturing Benjamin Franklin and a 10-cent stamp picturing George Washington. The result was the introduction of the Penny Black, worth about 40c by today's rates. In short, the system was a mess and inadequate for a nation in the middle of an industrial revolution with an empire to run.Īs a solution, in 1837, British teacher and social reformer Rowland Hill began to campaign for prepaid, low cost and uniform postal rates affordable by all. In addition the rate for each letter had to be calculated depending on the distance it traveled. To avoid payment, many people refused to accept letters others developed codes, placing secret marks on the outside of the letter that conveyed their message without the need to open it. A letter was folded, sealed shut and, although it was possible to prepay, it was usually the person who received the letter who paid for the delivery costs. ![]() ![]() In the early days of the postal service stamps and envelopes did not exist. For the next 60 years (until her death in 1901), Queen Victoria's portrait was the only subject allowed on British stamps. It cost one penny, was printed in black, and bore the profile of Queen Victoria. It was the first stamp, first issued on May 6, 1840. Great Britain's "Penny Black" plays a significant role in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. This article relates to The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie ![]()
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