| In 1847 America, it was common for addressees to pay the postage for letters received. All that changed on July 1, when Congress authorized our first stamps -- seven years after Great Britain introduced the world's first stamp. Benjamin Franklin, on the 5¢ issue, was the first person in the world other than a head of state to be on a stamp. The 10¢ George Washington was issued simultaneously. Both were imperforate. Click for more fascinating history on the First U.S. Postage Stamp
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