# 9X1a - 1845-46 5c black, Signed ACM, AC connect
Postmasters’ Provisional Stamps
In the 1840s, United States postal authorities were carefully watching the world’s reaction to Great Britain’s Penny Black, the first adhesive postage stamp. An adhesive stamp was being considered for use in the US.
Then on March 3, 1845, Congress passed a postal reform act that established uniform nationwide postal rates, effective July 1 of that year. Prior to this, different areas had different postal rates, which made it difficult to determine the postage amount and pre-pay it. As a result, the recipient instead of the sender usually paid the postage. One of the major effects of standardizing postage rates was that stamps could be used to pre-pay postage. However, the government wouldn’t issue its own postage stamps for another two years.
Morris paid about $55 for the first batch of stamps, which he received on June 12. He then sent a copy of the stamp with a letter to postmasters in Boston, Philadelphia, Albany, and Washington to inform them of this new development.
Baltimore issued its own provisional stamp a day after New York and St. Louis followed suit later that year. Seven other cities would issue their own in 1846.
All of the Postmasters’ Provisionals helped to popularize the use of stamps for pre-payment, setting the stage for America’s first postage stamps in July 1847.
Postmasters’ Provisional Stamps
In the 1840s, United States postal authorities were carefully watching the world’s reaction to Great Britain’s Penny Black, the first adhesive postage stamp. An adhesive stamp was being considered for use in the US.
Then on March 3, 1845, Congress passed a postal reform act that established uniform nationwide postal rates, effective July 1 of that year. Prior to this, different areas had different postal rates, which made it difficult to determine the postage amount and pre-pay it. As a result, the recipient instead of the sender usually paid the postage. One of the major effects of standardizing postage rates was that stamps could be used to pre-pay postage. However, the government wouldn’t issue its own postage stamps for another two years.
Morris paid about $55 for the first batch of stamps, which he received on June 12. He then sent a copy of the stamp with a letter to postmasters in Boston, Philadelphia, Albany, and Washington to inform them of this new development.
Baltimore issued its own provisional stamp a day after New York and St. Louis followed suit later that year. Seven other cities would issue their own in 1846.
All of the Postmasters’ Provisionals helped to popularize the use of stamps for pre-payment, setting the stage for America’s first postage stamps in July 1847.