The United States Postal Service issued its first-ever postage stamps on this day in history, July 1, 1847.
The first postage stamps produced by the United States Postal Service (USPS) were sold in New York City, according to the USPS website.
The two stamps came in two designs, one for each denomination.
The five-cent stamp featured a picture of Benjamin Franklin, while the ten-cent stamp depicted George Washington.
Stamps were not sold in book form as they are in modern times, noted the USPS website. In the 19th century, workers at the post office would have to cut stamps individually using a pair of scissors, and the sheets of stamps were not perforated.
