Chronology of
Postage Stamps

Copyright © 2011-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
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URL: http://kpolsson.com/stamphis/

This document is an attempt to bring various published sources together to present a timeline about Postage Stamps. This is a work-in-progress of a comprehensive timeline of world postage stamps. I am adding start and end dates of all countries, notable sales, and unusual developments in the history of stamps. I am making my way through the Scott 2010 catalogs, as well as trying to keep up with current stamp magazines. If you have suggestions for additions, I would appreciate reading your thoughts.

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

1653

August 8
  • Jean-Jacques Renouard de Villayer establishes a postal service in Paris, France, under royal mandate of King Louis XIV. Users pre-purchase a receipt for postage paid wrapper for one sou, then date and attach the wrapper to their letter, and deposit it in a letter box for delivery. (Some consider this the first use of a pre-paid postage stamp.) [1135] [1180.178]

1680

April 1
  • William Dockwra begins the Penny Post postal service in London, England. Prepayment of one penny for up to one pound weight, for use in and around London, using a triangular marking indicating postage paid. [1135]

1682

November 23
  • The Penny Post mail service begun by William Dockwra in 1680 is re-opened as part of government postal service operated by the Duke of York. [1135]

1835

December 31
  • Laurenz Koschier submits idea for adhesive postage stamps to Austro-Hungarian postal authorities. [1135]

1838

November 1
  • The first pre-paid envelope is issued by the New South Wales Post Office. The envelope is embossed indicating pre-payment. Cost is 3 pennies for 12 envelopes. [55.58]

1839

August 17
  • Royal assent is given to the British Postal Reform Bill, providing for uniform 1-penny postal rate throughout the country, and for the issuance of 1-penny and 2-pence adhesive postage stamps, for release January 10, 1840. [1135]

1840

April 28
  • The General Post Office of Great Britain announces intent to issue postage stamps to prepay postage. [977.227]
May 1
  • The Post Office of the United Kingdom puts 1-penny adhesive stamps on sale, valid for pre-payment of mailing letters within the country up to 1/2 ounce as of May 6. [1] [5] [269.369] [1135] [1397.10]
May 2
  • First known use of UK 1-penny postage stamp, mailed from Bath. [1135]
May 6
  • The United Kingdom adhesive postage stamps and prepaid stamped envelopes, values 1 penny and 2 pence, become valid for use within the country. [55.59] [655.7] [1049.1555] [1135] [1154.938] [1397.10] [1841.304]
May 7
  • The United Kingdom issues the 2-penny blue postage stamp, imperforate. [1841.304] (May 8 [1135])
June 10
  • Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts introduces a resolution in the US Senate to reduce postal rates and for issuance of postage stamps to prepay postage. [977.227]

1841

February 10
  • The British Post Office issues the 1-penny postage stamp in red, due to the original black stamp not showing a black cancel. [1135]
November 30
  • An act is passed in Brazil authorizing the issuance of postage stamps. [729.74]

1842

February 1
  • City Despatch Post in New York City, USA issues 3-cent postage stamp for use on letters it carries. [1135]
February 15
  • First adhesive postage stamps in US (private delivery company), New York City, New York. [1]

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1843

March
  • Swiss canton of Zurich issues first postage stamps: 4, 6-rappen. [285.310] [1135]
August 1
  • The Empire of Brazil issues its first postage stamps in Rio de Janeiro: 30, 60, 90-reis. [700.1034] [729.74] [1135] [1254.28] (July 1 [1169.139])
October 1
  • Geneva issues its first postage stamp, a joined pair of 5-centime stamps, for use together or separate. [285.310] [1135]

1845

July 1
  • Basel issues its first and only postage stamps, the first multi-colored stamps, in black, red, and blue. [285.310] [1135]
  • US postal rates are standardized on 5 cents per a half-ounce letter for under 300 miles, and 10 cents for anything over. [646.4] [1135]
July 14
  • First postmasters' provisional stamps issued, New York City, New York, USA. [1]

1847

March 3
  • An Act of US Congress authorizes US Post Office Department to issue adhesive postage stamps for use in prepayment of fees on mail matter. [1] [958.827] [1135]
June 3
  • The first US postage stamps are delivered to the post Office Department in Washington DC. [978.330]
July 1
  • First US postage stamps go on sale in New York City: 5-cent Benjamin Franklin and 10-cent George Washington. Franklin is the first person in the world other than a head of state to appear on a stamp. [1] [323.17] [700.2] [1135]
September 21
  • Mauritius issues its first postage stamps, denominated 1 penny and 2 pence, depicting Queen Victoria. [1135] [1163.17] [1261.696] [1367.869] (September 1 [1195.315])

1849

January 1
  • France issues its first postage stamp, 20-centime depicting Ceres. [1135] [1264.29] [1843.1167]
July 1
  • Belgium issues its first postage stamps: 10, 20-centime denomination, depicting King Leopold I. [700.816] [1135] [1264.30]
November 1
  • The Kingdom of Bavaria issues its first postage stamp, denominated 1 kreuzer. [1135] [1138.900] [1158.82] [1167.22] [1841.85]

1850

January 1
  • The kingdom of Spain issues its first postage stamps: 6, 12 cuarto, 5, 6, 10 real denominations, depicting Queen Isabella II. [1135] [1157.91] [285.91]
  • New South Wales issues its first postage stamp, depicting Port Jackson. [700.568] [1135]
January 3
  • Victoria colony issues its first postage stamps, 1, 3-pence denominations, depicting Queen Victoria. [700.577] [1135]
April 5
  • Switzerland issues its first postage stamps. [285.310] [1135]
June 1
  • Austria issues its first postage stamp, denominated 2 kreuzers. [700.630] [1135]
  • Lombardy-Venetia issues its first postage stamps, 5 through 45 cents. [700.708] [1135] [1268.91]
June 29
  • The Kingdom of Saxony issues its first postage stamp, denominated 3 pfennig. [1135] [1841.91]
(month unknown)
  • Zurich issues its last postage stamps. [285.310]
July 1
  • British Guiana issues its first postage stamps, denominated 2, 4, 8, 12-c. [700.1127] [729.74] [1135]
November 15
  • The Kingdom of Prussia issues its first postage stamps, depicting King Frederick William IV. [1135] [1841.90]
  • Schleswig-Holstein issues its first postage stamps, 1, 2-schilling denominations, embossed depicting coat of arms. [1135] [1841.91]
December 1
  • Hanover issues its first postage stamp, depicted 1 groschen, depicting coat of arms. [1135] [1841.89]

1851

January 1
  • Austria issues the world's first postage stamps to prepay postage on newspapers and periodicals. The stamps are undenominated, with value 0.6 kreuzer. [1135] [1252.58]
  • The Kingdom of Sardinia issues its first postage stamps, depicting King Victor Emmanual II. [1135] [1841.1168]
April 1
  • Denmark issues its first postage stamps, denominated 2, 4 skillings. [1135] [1843.781]
  • Tuscany issues its first postage stamps, in nine denominations. [1135] [1841.1169]
April 23
  • The Province of Canada issues its first postage stamp, 3-pence denomination depicting a beaver. [1] [614.117] [707.59] [1125.134] [1135] [1164.112] [1185.430]
May 1
  • Baden issues its first postage stamps, in four denominations. [1135] [1841.85]
(month unknown)
  • Geneva issues its last postage stamps. [285.310]
  • New Brunswick issues its first postage stamps. [707.62]
  • Nova Scotia issues its first postage stamps. [707.58]
August 14
  • First postage stamps are issued for use in Trinidad, denominated 1 penny, depicting Britannia. [285.583] [1135]
September 1
  • Nova Scotia issues its first postage stamps, denominated 3, 6 pence, 1 shilling. [1135]
September 6
  • New Brunswick issues its first postage stamps, denominated 3, 6 pence, 1 shilling. [1135]
October 1
  • First Hawaiian stamps are issued: 2, 5, 13-cent denominations. [1] [700.196] [1135]
October 15
  • Württemberg issues its first postage stamps, 1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 18-kreuzer denominations depicting numerals. [1135] [1138.900] [1158.85] [1841.92]

1852

January 1
  • Netherlands issues its first postage stamps, 5,10,15-cents depicting King William III. [1135] [1262.408] [1367.1222]
  • The Northern District of Thurn and Taxis issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1181.463] [1841.91]
  • The Southern District of Thurn and Taxis issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1181.463] [1841.92]
  • Roman States issues first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.1168]
January 4
  • The Royal Mail steam packet Amazon burns and sinks in Nay of Biscay, carrying first postage stamps for use in Barbados. [887.20]
January 5
  • Oldenburg issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.90]
April 15
  • Barbados issues its first postage stamps. [700.768] [887.20] [1135]
June 1
  • Modena issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.1167]
  • Parma issues its first postage stamps, depicting its coat of arms. [1135] [1841.1167]
(month unknown)
  • Brunswick issues its first postage stamps. [1841.88]
  • France issues first postage stamps for use in Reunion Island. [1843.1285]
July 1
  • First postage stamps are issued for use in the Scinde District of India. [1841.853]
September 15
  • Luxembourg issues its first postage stamps, depicting Grand Duke William III. [1135] [1367.580]

1853

July 1
  • Chile issues its first postage stamps: 5, 10-centavo denominations, depicting Christopher Columbus. [707.214] [1135] [1153.1080]
July
  • Portugal issues its first postage stamps, depicting Queen Maria II. [278.394] [1135]
September 1
  • Cape of Good Hope issues its first postage stamps, in 1 and 4-penny denomination, and the first triangular stamps. [707.116] [1135]
October 20
  • New South Wales makes use of adhesive postage stamps mandatory from New South Wales to neighboring colonies. [1135]
November 1
  • Van Diemen's Land issues its first postage stamps: 1, 4-penny denominations, depicting Queen Victoria. [700.575] [1135]

1854

January 28
  • The United Kingdom issues a 1-penny red-brown postage stamp, perforated at 16 holes per 2cm. [1135] [1841.304]
February 1
  • The Philippine Islands issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Western Australia issues its first postage stamps. [700.581]
  • The East India Company issues first postage stamps for use in India, depicting Queen Victoria. [1841.853]
  • Spain issues first postage stamps for use in the Philippines. [278.236] (1855 [707.599])
July 1
  • Spain issues the first postage stamps for official government use only. [1135]
August 1
  • Western Australia issies its first postage stamps: 1-penny and 1-shilling denominations, depicting a swan. [1135]
October 1
  • British India issues its first postage stamp: 1/2 anna denomination. [1135]
December 1
  • Victoria colony issues the first registration stamps, 1-shilling denomination. [1135]

1855

January 1
  • Norway issues its first postage stamp, 4-skilling value depicting coat of arms. [1135] [1154.984] [1367.1529]
  • South Australia issues its first postage stamps, 2-pence denomination. [700.573] [1135]
April 1
  • Prepayment of letter postage (by adhesive stamps or stamped envelopes) in the USA is made mandatory. [1135] [1217.26]
  • US postal department sets mail rates at 3 cents per half ounce under 3000 miles, and 10 cents per half ounce over 3000 miles. [1135]
April
  • Cuba issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Spain issues first postage stamps for use in Cuba and Puerto Rica. [707.599]
  • Bremen issues its first postage stamps. [1841.88]
July 1
  • Sweden issues its first postage stamps. [285.264] [1135]
July 18
  • New Zealand issues its first postage stamps, depicting Queen Victoria. [1367.1359]
  • Newfoundland issues its first postage stamps, depicting Queen Victoria. [1135]
November 10
  • The Danish West Indies issues its first postage stamps. [1135] (1856 [700.194])

1856

January 1
  • The United Kingdom issues first postage stamps for use in Saint Helena, a 6-pence stamp depicting Queen Victoria. [278.773] [1032.49] [1135]
  • Prepayment of domestic letters in the USA by means of adhesive postage stamps or stamped envelopes is made compulsory. [1135]
March 1
  • Russia issues first postage stamps for use in Finland. [1135] [1843.1119]
(month unknown)
  • Denmark issues first postage stamps for use in the colony of Danish West Indies, depicting the Danish coat of arms. [1843.775]
July 1
  • Mecklenburg-Schwerin issues its first postage stamp, four 1/4-schilling stamps that can be used together or in parts. [1135] [1841.90]
July 25
  • Puerto Rico issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
August 1
  • Mexico issues its first postage stamps, depicting portrait of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. [1135] [1367.892]
August 21
  • Argentine province of Corrientes issues its first postage stamp, denominated 1 real. [700.536] [1135]
October 1
  • First postage stamps are issued for use in Uruguay. [285.822] [1135]

1857

January 1
  • Newfoundland issues its first postage stamps, denominated 1,2,3,4,5,6,8 pence, 1 shilling. [707.52] [1126.129] [1135]
April 1
  • Ceylon issues its first postage stamp, denominated 6 pence. [707.178] [1135] [1172.281]
May 26
  • Natal issues its first postage stamps, denominated 3,6,9 pence, and 1 shilling. [1135] [1367.1192]
December 1
  • Uruguay issues first postage stamps, provided by the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, with initials P.S.N.C. on the stamps. [278.183] [1135]
December 10
  • Russia issues its first postage stamp, 10 kopecks depicting the coat of arms. [278.580] [453.82]

1858

January 1
  • First Russian postage stamps become valid for use, denominated 10 kopecks. [453.82] [1135]
  • The Kingdom of Naples issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
January
  • Tasmania issues its first postage stamps with name "Tasmania". [700.576] [1135]
March 1
  • The Peru government first issues postage stamps for general postal use. [1135]
April 29
  • Buenos Aires issues its first postage stamps, depicting a steamship. [700.536] [1135]
May 1
  • The Argentine Confederation issues its first national stamps. [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Two Sicilies issues its first postage stamps. [1841.1169]
July 15
  • Moldavia issues its first postage stamps. [1135]
July
  • Moldova issues its first postage stamps, depicting its coat of arms. [278.481]
October 28
  • Argentine province of Cordoba issues its first postage stamps. [700.536] [1135]

1859

January 1
  • The Free City of Lubeck issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.90]
  • Sicily issues its only postage stamps, depicting King Ferdinand II. [1135] [1841.1170]
  • Venezuela issues its first postage stamp, depicting coat of arms. [285.935] [1135]
January
  • The Free City of Hamburg issues its first postage stamps. [1135] [1841.89]
  • France issues the first postage due stamps. [1135]
April 1
  • Liberia issues its first postage stamps. [1266.61]
May 15
  • The United Kingdom issues first and only postage stamps for use in the Ionian Islands, depicting Queen Victoria, denominated 1/2, 1, 2 pence. [1135] [1841.993]
June 10
  • Bahamas issues its first postage stamp, denominated 1 pence, depicting Queen Victoria [700.723] [1135]
June 26
  • Uruguay government begins issuing postage stamps. [285.822] [1135]
(month unknown)
  • Modena issues its last postage stamps. [1841.1167]
  • Parma issues its last postage stamps. [1841.1167]
  • France issues first postage stamps for use in New Caledonia, depicting Napoleon III. [1367.1316] (1860 January 1 [1135])
  • France issues first postage stamps for use in its colonies. [1843.1291]
July 1
  • The Province of Canada issues its first decimal-denominated postage stamps. [1135]
August
  • The Grenadine Confederation issues its first postage stamps. [707.417] [1135]
September 1
  • The Provisional Government of Romagna issues its first postage stamps, nine values denominated 1/2 through 20 bajocchi. [1135] [1190.17] [1841.1168]
September 21
  • The United Kingdom issues first postage stamps for use in Sierra Leone, a 6-pence stamp depicting Queen Victoria. [278.1102] [1135]
End of 1653-1859. Next: 1860.

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1653-1859 1860-1874 1875-1889 1890-1904 1905-1924 1925-1944 1945-1959 1960-1969 1970-1984 1985-2009
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A list of references to all source material is available.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 2011-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/stamphis/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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