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POSTAL STAMP HISTORY NOTES. The first postal service dating back to around 4000 B.C was established in China and one thousand years later in Egypt. Letters were written on clay tablets.

In 1661, Henry Bishop a British, was the first to use the Postmark, were it was known as the “Bishop Mark” which included the day and month the letter was posted.

Rowland Hill, a British schoolmaster introduced the first adhesive stamp in 1837.

Commemorative stamps were first issued in the U.S.A, in 1893 to Commemorate the voyage of Christopher Columbus. The stamps featured the images of Christopher Columbus. This set was issued to mark the 400-year anniversary of his journey to the New World.

In 1874, the Universal Postal Union was established. A set of norms were introduced which included that the name of the country of origin be included on the stamp.

MALTA STAMPS HISTORY

It was during the Knights of Malta era, in the 18th century, that the postal system began in Malta, when the Knights use to sent letters from Malta to other European countries. When the French were ruling Malta, Napoleon, introduced the ink stamp which was marked with the word ( Malte ). In 1847, when Malta was a British colony, the first General Post Office was set up in Auberge de Castile in Valletta. To post letters for Malta and Gozo, one had to use the British stamps but these British stamps were stamped with an ink stamp marked A25 to show that the stamp was for Maltese inland postage only and had one standard rate.

In 1860, when Malta was still a British colony, Malta issued it’s first stamp, a half penny yellow stamp. Issued in different perforations and shades, this stamp was used for Maltese inland postage only and was legal until 1885. Also until 1885, for overseas mail only British stamps had to be used. On the 1st. January 1885, Malta became a member of the Universal Postal Union and it was here when a Maltese first stamp set was issued to mark this event. Featuring Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, like most British colonies, this stamp also used the Maltese Cross as a heraldic device. The colour of this set was green and had the value of Halfpenny. To complement this first Maltese stamp set, a 5 Shilling value set was issued in 1886.

Between 1886 and 1972, many other Maltese stamp sets were issued in different sterling values like the 1/-, 2/6, 10/- and the One Pound value to mention a few and they featured King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II among others. Maltese stamp sets were also issued to Commemmorat special events like the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Malta, Catholic anniversaries and when Malta signed the Independence from the British colony in 21st. September 1964.

Emvin Cremona, was the first Maltese stamp designer artist, who in 1957 designed the first George Cross stamp set. It was in 1964 when the first Maltese Christmas set was issued showing Nativity scenes and the were designed by artist Emvin Cremona.

Led by Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, the Labour Government in 1972, left the sterling system and introduced the decimal system in the Maltese Islands. From 1972 until 2008 all Maltese stamp sets were issued in the value of Cents and Maltese pound ( lira ). Now Maltese stamps were featuring all that is Maltese, it’s history, culture and traditions and some of it’s famous people.

In 2008, under the Nationalist Government led by Prime Minster Lawrence Gonzi, Malta adopted the Euro and to-day the value of the Maltese stamps are in Euros.