A Brief History of Self-Adhesive US Postage Stamps Few, if any, postal innovations of the 20th century have had as large an impact as the self-adhesive stamp – on both the public and the stamp collector. For consumers, self-adhesives are far more convenient to use (and more sanitary) than water-activated stamps. For the collector, they represent a challenge. And because almost every postage stamp issued by the US Postal Service today is self-adhesive, now is a good time to discover a little more about this phenomenon. What Is a Self-Adhesive Stamp? A self-adhesive stamp (also known as “peel and stick”) is one coated with an adhesive substance to make it pressure sensitive. Unlike a “lick and stick” stamp, it doesn’t need water to activate the adhesive. The United States wasn’t the first country to issue self-adhesive stamps. That honor goes to the West African country of Sierra Leone, a former British colony. In 1964, Sierra Leone introduced the first-ever self-adhesive stamps to the world to celebrate its participation in the 1964 World’s Fair. The set of 7 stamps was shaped like the country’s map and had a waxed paper liner. Tonga and Bhutan were next, and Gibraltar just before the United States. The First Attempt – #1552 In 1974, at the request of the United States Postal Service, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) produced the first self-adhesive stamp. The stamp was the Dove of Peace Weathervane (#1552), issued in November for the Christmas season. The BEP worked with Avery Label Systems and International Machine Products, makers of self-stick labels. First U.S. self-adhesive stamp – Scott #1552 It was hoped the center slits would prevent reuse.
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