Postage stamps were first used in the United States in the mid-19th century, as a way to standardize the cost of sending mail. Prior to the use of stamps, people had to pay for their mail based on the distance it travelled and the number of sheets of paper it contained, which could be confusing and time-consuming.
The first U.S. postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in 1847. It featured a portrait of Benjamin Franklin and cost one cent to send a letter up to 300 miles. In the following years, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued a number of stamps with different designs, including stamps featuring presidents, national landmarks, and other themes.
Stamp collecting became popular in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the founding of organizations like the American Philatelic Society in 1886. Today, the USPS continues to issue a wide variety of stamps, many of which are collected by stamp enthusiasts.
