| Stamps are authorized impressions or marks used for | | | | profile of Queen Victoria printed on it. Rowland Hill |
| the prepayment of a tax or fee. It is an official mark | | | | invented the first adhesive postage stamp. By and |
| or seal indicating an approval, ownership, or payment | | | | by, stamps picturing various personalities, instances |
| of tax. The history of stamps can be traced back to | | | | and festivals came to be issued. Stamps brought in a |
| the sixteenth century. The first official royal mail | | | | new brand of hobbyists called philatelists. Stamps |
| office was opened in England in 1516. Later, mail was | | | | have undergone many changes and today they come |
| required to be paid for by the recipient rather than | | | | in various sizes, designs, and formats. |
| the sender; this system proved too problematic for | | | | Revenue stamps are an indirect way of collecting |
| everyone because of the resulting preponderance of | | | | taxes. Many documents such as contracts and |
| undelivered mail. The concept of adhesive postage | | | | agreements are to be affixed with revenue stamps. |
| stamp was introduced by James Chalmers in Great | | | | Revenue stamps are older than postage stamps |
| Britain in 1834. Brazil issued stamps in 1843, and in the | | | | historically. |
| United States, the adhesive postage stamp was | | | | Today, stamp collection is a popular hobby among |
| officially issued in 1847. | | | | children as well as adults around the world. Old and |
| The world's first prepaid postage stamp, known as | | | | rare stamps are sold and bought at high prices, |
| Penny Black, was issued on May 6, 1840, with the | | | | sometimes even millions of dollars. |