A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF STAMPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

A BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF STAMPS

By JACK CRIPFEN. TG Greenlane Rend, Remuera; ago 17.

The first adhesive postage stamp was issued in May, 1840. That important philatelic event was the necessary outcome of Sir Rowland Hill's famous scheme for the reduction of postal rates and the adoption of uniform postage—that is, a charge by weight alone, irrespective of distance, provided the letters were posted and delivered within the United Kingdom. On May 1, 1840, the first stamps were issued to the public. On that day £2500 worth of stamps were sold. May 6, 1840, was the day appointed for postage stamps to come into use. The two " labels," as they were then called, issued on May 1, 1840, were the one penny black—a beautiful specimen of recess work, deservedly enthroned as the Queen —and the twopence blue, qualified by philatelists as " without lines" to distinguish it from its com* moner successor of 1841. During the first 12 years of the postage stamp era many varieties came and went, and yet unused copies, with very few exceptions, are known. Even such a rarity as the penny "post office" Mauritius, issued to the number of 500 in September, 1847, is known unused, two out of the surviving 14 specimens in that condition (at all events), one. as perfect and fresh as when it, left the printer's hand, 85 3'ears ago. It is difficult to convey in words an accurate idea of the extent to which Great Britain's modest lead has been followed by the rest of the world. Brazil, in 1843, was the second country to issue stamps; Mauritius followed in 1847, and in 1849 Bavaria, Belgium and France joined in the movement. In 1850 the rush began and has since been maintained with fair regularity until the eud of 1903, when, probably from the lack of "new" countries, there was a distinct falling off in the number of fresh adherents to the ranks of stamp-issuing Governments. The following chronologica.l list, showing when the most important countries first issued their stamps, is of interest:—lß4o, Great Britain; 1542, United States (carriers); 1843, Brazil, Switzerland, Cantonal; 1845, United States (postmaster's); 1847, Mauritius, United States Government; 1849, Bavaria, Belgium, France; 1850, Austria, British Guiana, New South Spain, Switzerland Federal, Victoria; 1851, Canada, Denmark; 1552, Barbadoes, Holland, Luxemburg; 1853, Cape of Good Hope, Chili, Portugal, Tasmania; 1854, India, Philippine Islands, Western Australia; 1855, Ceylon, Danish West Indies, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, South Australia, Cubs. and Porto Rico; 1856, Finland, Mexico, Poland, St. Helena, Uruguay; 1537, Natal, Newfoundland, Peru, Russia; 1858, Argentine; 1859, Bahamas, Venezuela; 1860, Jamaica, Liberia, Malta, New Caledonia, Queensland, Sierra Leone; 1861, Greece, Grenada; 1862, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Italy Nicaragua, Colombia, Antigua;- 1863, Bolivar, Turkey; 1864, Dutch Indies; 1565, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Ecuador; 1866, Bolivia, British Honduras, Egypt, Virgin Islands; 1867, Salvador, Straits Settlement; 1868, Madeira;' 1869, Sarawak, Transvaal; 1870, Alsacei and Lorraine, Fiji, Paraguay, Persia;' 1871, Guatemala, Hungary", Japan;' 1872, German Empire; 1873,' Cuba, Iceland; 1874, Dominica, Montenegro; 1875, Gold Coast; 1876, Bhopal; 1577, Mozambique; 1878, China, Johor; 1579, Bosnia and Herzegovinia, Bulgaria; 18S0, 'Cyprus; 1881, Haiti, Portuguese Guinea; 1883, North Borneo, Siam;' 18S4, Guadeloupe, Madagascar; leS-5, Corea; 1886, Gibraltar, Tonga, Cochin China; 1887, Senegal; 18SS, Tunis, Bechuanaland; 1889, lndo-China; 1890, Rhodesia, Seychelles; 1891, French Congo, Morocco; 1592, Cochin, Ivory Coast, Cook Islands; 1893, Portuguese Congo; 1894, Abyssinia, Zambezin; 1897, Cameroons, Nvassa. Sudan, Togo; 1898, Crete; 1899", Dahomey; 1900, Caymen Islands, Federated Malay ~ States, German Samoa; 1901, Magdalena, Papua; 1902,, Australian Commonwealth, French Somali Coast, Niue, Penrhyn Island; 1903, Aitutaki, British Somaliland; 1904, Panama Canal Zone, Jaipur; 1905, Rio de Oro; 19C6, Maidive Islands; 1907, British Solomon Islands Protectorate; 1808, New HeW rides, Nvashaland Protectorate; 1909, Union of South Africa; 1911, Gilbert and Ellico Islands, Kelantan; 191-'. Kedah Liechtenstein; 1913, Aegean Islands, Trinidad and Tobago.