Kōrero: Mail and couriers

Stick-on postage stamps were first used in New Zealand in 1855, when this ‘full-face queen’ stamp showing a young Queen Victoria was produced. Before this, every letter had to be individually paid for at the post office. The basic rate for local letters was twopence, so two of these stamps would be needed. A letter cost a shilling (12 pence) to send to England.

Postage stamp courtesy of New Zealand Post, 1855 Full Face Queens stamp issue.