For nearly as long as stamps have been around, the United States Postal Inspection Service has been fighting against stamp counterfeiters.
In 1847, the first postage stamp was released, making the mailing and receiving of packages significantly simpler. Up until that time, most mail was “cash on delivery,” with the receiver paying any postage due on the mail. While the new pre-paid mailing system made correspondence easier, some people saw it as an easy way to make a quick buck by printing and selling counterfeits of the new stamps.
