Postage stamps were first issued in the United Kingdom (Great Britain). Rowland Hill, a staff member, of the British Post Office was the inventor of the first postage stamp. The first stamp introduced by the British Post Office restructuring, under which it transposed the fee for postage, from the receiver to the sender of the mail, also introduced the 1-ounce mail with flat rate postage, to any place in Britain regardless of the distance. The only nation in the world, which does not bear a name, but always features a photograph of its reigning monarch, on its stamps is Great Britain. Postage has come a long way since its inception, and is now available in a variety of forms and dimensions. There are also a variety of postage stamps available that depicts diverse cultures and geographical features. Many postage stamps also have birds and animals as their theme. The sale of some postage stamps assist charities in generating funds. There are also postage stamps that are issued in honor of national and international personalities. The rate of postage often differs according, to the weight of the letter or package to be posted and the nature of the mail. There are postage calculators available that assist people in accurately calculating the cost of mailing letters. Postage stamps can be either self-adhesive postage stamps or water-activated postage stamps. Postage, by and large has details such as the name of the country, year, and the value of the stamp. Along with other aspects of postal services, postage art too, has come a long way. From the days of black and white mono-colored stamps, users can now select from a wide range of explicit and unique visual forms. Apart from the monetary value attached to these stamps, they are highly valued and are also a collector?s pride. |
