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Show OUR FIRST STAMPS . . The first issue of United States postage stamps consisted ofonly of ofonly ( - only two denominations , , the 5-cent 5 cent - - - used on half-ounce half ounce - letters go- go g < - ging going ing 300 miles or less , , and the 10-eent 10 eent 10-cent cent - for letters going a distancp distance distancpexceeding distancexceeding distanceexceeding exceeding 300 miles . Framdiiour The 5-cent 5 cent - stamp bore the portrait of Benjamin Franklin , our Wasiington Washington first postmaster ; the 10-cent 10 cent - - stamp bore the portrait of 'Vash Vash Wash- Wash ' [ - . postmastciliad postmastershad 1ngton ington , and were first issued in 1837 , , althougha although a few postmasters had issued some stamps at their for own expense about 'two two ' years issueby issuedby previously yeaipreviously yearspreviously . The very first adhesive postage stamps to be issued by anv any government were introduced in England in 1840 , the ex- ex : - 03ample ex3mple example 3mple ample being quickly followed fo1Jowed by other nations . . The first issue of postage stamps in 1837 wouldseem would seem very insignificant vetinsignificant in volume comparedwith compared with the tremendous output of ( the tbe oftbe ofthe present , . which is estimated to be not less than 18 billion a year , , inlPlaced requiring yearequiring 1000 tons ions of paper , , 575 tons of gum and 500 tons of ink , . Placed Placedend end to end this ' ' one year's years supply would tlearth theearth reach around the i le a earth at the equator ten times time ! . . moisturewill itwill But no one has figured out how much muchenergy energy and moisture it will take to stick them where they will perform their duty dutj ' . . |