What Are Postage Stamps?

A Postage Stamp is a special piece of paper that has the name of the nation issuing it and the denomination of its value. They also feature the nation’s symbol and are usually rectangular or triangular in shape. They are printed on specially designed paper and back-coated with adhesive gum. Prior to the invention of the postage stamp, different methods were used to indicate postage paid. In the past, several men have claimed credit for inventing the postage stamp.

Postage stamps

Postage stamps are small pieces of paper issued by the postal administration or by a postal office. Customers pay for the cost of sending mail by attaching these stamps to the address side of their envelopes. If their mail is addressed to multiple people, they will have to affix more than one stamp to cover the cost of postage.

Postage stamps come in a variety of denominations and categories. You can collect them from a country’s post office or at a stamp shop. Postage stamps are typically rectangular or square in shape, and have an adhesive back. They are commonly used for mailing letters or parcels. They serve as proof that Thepostagestamps the sender has paid the correct amount for delivery. The first postage stamp was issued in Great Britain in 1840, with a picture of Queen Victoria.

Types

Postage stamps come in different shapes and sizes. Some of them are precancelled and can be reused. Others are revenue stamps, which are not used for postage, but pay for taxes and fees instead. Postage stamps can also be used for private mailings, such as for artist stamps.

Most postage stamps are glued to an article or letter, and include the denomination of postage paid. This type is the most common type of stamp, and contains a value printed on the reverse surface. This makes it easy to determine the value of the stamp without reading the whole text of the document.

Shapes

The shapes of postage stamps have evolved over the years. Initially, they were rectangular, but now they are made of all sorts of irregular shapes and geometrical designs. For example, the postage stamp from Tonga is shaped like a banana. You can buy these stamps in any country’s postal service, and they make for great gifts!

To design a stamp, you need to understand that the designer has a very limited canvas. This means that traditional paintings can easily become blurred and uninteresting. Because of the small size, the stamp designer is more likely to choose just one interesting detail to emphasize. For example, an architect’s name may appear on the postage stamp as well as a famous building.

Regulations

The Postal Service is making changes to regulations regarding the use of postage stamps. These restrictions are being implemented in the interests of security. These new rules include requirements to display a mailpiece at a retail counter and prohibit the use of mutilated or defaced stamps. The new regulations also restrict the use of stamps on mailpieces that require a customs declaration.

Before the postage stamps were created, the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (USPS) was the head of the US Post Office Department, a cabinet level department within the executive branch. Interestingly, the postage stamps issued by the USPS were not covered under the Copyright Act of 1909, a law that was introduced in 1906.

Value

If you collect postage stamps, you’re likely interested in determining the value of your collection. Stamps vary in value, depending on the condition of the stamp and the supply and demand for it. You can use a guide like the Scott Postage Stamp Catalog to determine a stamp’s value.

Rare stamps are typically worth more than those that are common. Stamps with higher denominations, such as PSsd, tend to have a higher value. Stamps that have damage or missing perforations are generally worth less than those with better condition. In addition, stamps with wrinkles or bends reduce their value.