Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1881 — The Original Postage Stamp. [ARTICLE]

The Original Postage Stamp.

The first postage stamp ever used in this country is believed to have been brought out in New Haven in 1846 by E. A. Mitchell, who was then the Postmaster there. Mr. Mitchell, in response to many complaints of inconvenience in paying postage at the delivery windows, ae the office was sometimes closed, and it took time at best, finally got a stamp engraved and printed. These stamps were sold at postage rates and proved very convenient. Mr. A, E. Lines, an engraver of New Haven, has found the dttjjfixwl design. He bad engraved it m

1846, and saved it The stamping tool was made for use as a canceling stamp, is now used, and the letters were engraved on brass. Recently Mr. Lines showed his old design to Postmaster Sperry, of New Haven, who told him he had been offered S4OO for one of the impressions.