Birth of Sir Rowland Hill
Sir Rowland Hill was born on December 3, 1795, in Kidderminster, England. Hill revolutionized the postal system by establishing a uniform minimum price of one penny, leading to the creation of the first postage stamp.
Postal History
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First and Only U.S. Registration Stamp
On December 1, 1911, the US Post Office Department issued its first and only Registration stamp. It was used for the prepayment of registry fees, but was often misused and only remained in use for less than two years.
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20th Universal Postal Union Congress
On November 13, 1989, the 20th Universal Postal Union Congress opened in Washington, DC. It was the first time the Congress convened in the US since 1897.
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Marines Ordered to Guard Mail
On November 7, 1921, President Warren G. Harding ordered 2,200 Marines to guard the mail in the wake of a series of daring mail robberies.
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America’s First Postmaster
On November 5, 1639, Richard Fairbanks was made the first official postmaster in an American colony. Many consider this to be the first public postal service in America.
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Rare Double Transfer Souvenir Sheet
On November 3, 1994, the USPS issued a souvenir sheet honoring the 100th anniversary of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing producing US postage stamps. A relatively small number of sheets were discovered with a rare double transfer.
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Carolina and Charleston
On October 30, 1629, the Carolina Province was named, and plans were made for early settlement. That settlement would be delayed for many years, but the name was retained.
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Shootout at the OK Corral
On October 26, 1881, the Earp brothers took on the Clanton-McLaury Gang at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. The shootout became one of the most famous events in the Old West.
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Ohio River Canalization Stamp
On October 19, 1929, the US Post Office issued a 2¢ commemorative honoring the canalization of the Ohio River. It came as the culmination of over 50 years of work on the project, which was a major engineering feat.
