Edith ran to the table and returned with the letter.
“You see,” said grandpa, “that this letter also bears a two-cent stamp, although it was carried several thousand miles. Did you ever see letters that came from a foreign country?”
“Oh, yes,” answered Edith; “sometimes they have five-cent stamps on them.”
“In 1792,” continued grandpa, “the Congress of the United States fixed the rate of postage in this country. In some cases it cost ten cents to send a letter only a short distance. The cost depended upon how thickly settled the country was, as well as upon the nature of the roads.
“Although, in the days of our early history, people paid for having their letters delivered, there were no postage stamps in use. The charges were generally paid by the person who received the letter. The amount due was stamped on the outside.
“In 1834 James Chalmers, at Dundee, Scotland, made the first adhesive stamps.”
“What are adhesive stamps?” asked Edith.
“They are stamps that are made to adhere or stick to the envelopes by moistening them,” her grandpa replied.
“In 1847 the United States government commenced issuing postage stamps. Before this time, some of the postmasters were allowed to make stamps; but this is not permitted today. At first only five and ten cent stamps were made by the government. The five-cent stamps bore the head of Franklin, while the head of Washington appeared upon the ten-cent stamps.
“In 1885 special delivery stamps were issued. These cost ten cents each. When a special delivery stamp is placed upon a letter it is delivered by a special messenger from the postoffice.