Concept    From 19/4/1661 

First postmarks in the world

Categories: Commerce

Inked date stamps were at first called 'Bishops marks' after their inventor, Henry Bishop, Postmaster General, 1660-1663.  The post office was receiving complaints about late arrival of the post.  Bishop claimed: 'a stamp is invented, that is putt upon every letter shewing the day of the moneth that every letter comes to this office, so that no letter Carryer may dare to detayne a letter from post to post; which, before, was usual.' As we now know, this did not actually solve the problem, just provided more evidence that the problem existed.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
First postmarks in the world

Commemorated ati

General Letter Office

Near this spot the General Letter Office stood in Post House Yard, 1653 - 166...

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Other Subjects

Alexander McArthur

Alexander McArthur

Born Ireland. Brother to William. Emigrated to Australia, arriving in 1842.  A devout Methodist he created a business exporting gold from Australia and became a successful colonial businessman in B...

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration, Australia, Ireland

1 memorial
Grodzinski's bakery

Grodzinski's bakery

In 1890 (previously thought to have been 1888) Harris and Judith Grodzinski arrived in the East End from what is now Belarus.  Starting in a street stall they then set up a bakery at 31 Fieldgate S...

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial
King Sturge
1 memorial