Philately began in the 1840s, shortly after the invention of the first postage stamp in Great Britain in 1840, the famous Penny Black. While Rowland Hill is credited with inventing the postage stamp, the idea of prepaying for mail—a concept we now call postage—actually has French roots. Renouard de Villayer, who created the “petite poste,” had invented the “billet de port payé,” which, when attached to a letter, allowed it to be delivered without any payment of fees. In essence, it served the same purpose as today’s postage stamp.
Rowland Hill then separated the payment mark from the envelope by creating the small paper rectangle that could be sold individually and affixed to mail as needed. And just like that, the postage stamp was born.
The rise of collecting: Interest in stamps grew rapidly soon after their introduction. Collectors, known as “philatelists,” began gathering these small pieces of paper for both their design and symbolic meaning.
The term “philately” was coined in 1864 by Gustave Herpin, from the Greek words philos (friend) and ateleia (tax exemption), replacing the older term “timbrology.” Today, philately is about collecting stamps for their historical, cultural, and artistic value.
Early societies: The first philatelic societies appeared in the mid-19th century.
Themes of collecting: Stamp collectors explore all kinds of series, from the oldest to the newest, which illustrate stories and events from around the world. Over the decades, rare and vintage stamps have commemorated historical events, honored notable figures, and depicted cultural themes.
Collecting stamps is a way to preserve and appreciate a unique piece of human history.
