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About Us / History

Stamps

Englishman Rowland Hill is usually credited with inventing flat-rate postage, which was introduced in 1840 and paved the way for the use of stamps.

Previously, the cost of transporting a letter was determined by transport distance and/or letter weight. It was now decided that the same postage would apply to all domestic transports, thereby allowing the sale of stamps as proof that letters had been paid for.

Flat-rate postage introduced 1851

Flat-rate postage and stamps were introduced in Denmark in 1851. The postage rate for a letter weighing less than a certain amount was 6 Riksbanksskilling (Rbs), but only 4 Rbs if stamped. Information about the new system was published in one of Copenhagen’s newspapers and instructions on how to use stamps were printed up and available for purchase at large post offices. Stamps were to be affixed in the upper right corner of the address field – if placed elsewhere, letters were deemed unpaid and additional payment was required.

In Sweden “average postal rate” in 1855

The Swedish postal board discussed the idea for a few years, but after persistent motions from different quarters the Parliament introduced an “average postal rate” of 4 skilling in 1855. The sale of stamps began during the same year – drawn, engraved and printed by Count Pehr Ambjörn Sparre. The stamps were of the most modern type, perforated so that cutting them apart was unnecessary, and available in five colours.

After a somewhat slow start, stamps quickly gained popularity. No one can pinpoint the exact date when people began to collect stamps – but what started as an amusing past time for women and children quickly developed into philately, involving large sums of money and millions of collectors.

Sweden's first postage stamp, three skilling banco, 1855.

 

More about our history

Post farmers and mail carriers

Christian IV’s “Forordning om Post-Budde” (Mail Carrier Decree) was enacted in December 1624. Twelve years later the Swedish council of state approved the ”Förordning om Postbådhen” (Mail Carrier Ordinance). This was the beginning of formal postal services in both countries.

Cross border

Sweden established a permanent post office in Hamburg in 1620. Dutchman Leonard van Sorgen was assigned the task of arranging postal service from Sweden to Hamburg.

Railways

The Danish postal service was quick to exploit the innovation of sending post by train. The first Danish railway line between Altona and Kiel opened in 1844.

By water

Initially, the many islands comprising the country of Denmark made it difficult to establish a reliable postal service to all areas. 

Automobiles

The New York Times reported in the summer of 1904 on a commission dispatched by the Danish government in Europe to investigate the usefulness of the automobile for short postal transports.

By air

Sending mail by air is not particularly modern – the ancient Egyptians used carrier pigeons. The bird of peace was used for postal transport through the Second World War. 

New times

In this era of globalization, there is a growing need for cross-border communication and logistics. Regions rather than countries are important to doing business.