When was the first postage stamp issued?
March 3rd
March 3, 1847 — Today, the Postmaster General awarded the contract to print the first postage stamp to the New York City engraving firm of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson.
The first stamp was issued on July 1, 1847, in New York City. Boston received the stamps the next day.
A 5-cent stamp paid for a letter weighing less than 1 oz. (28 g) and traveling less than 300 miles; the 10-cent stamp was charged for deliveries to locations greater than 300 miles, or twice the weight deliverable for the 5-cent stamp.
Sources
Words of Wisdom
The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job.
