Pre-stamp postal practice (1700s): Identify who typically paid postage before adhesive stamps existed. Full question: In the 1700s, who would pay the postage fee for letters before the stamp was invented? Choose the correct option.
General Knowledge
Inventions
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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AThe recipient (postage due on delivery)
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BThe sender always prepaid in cash at the post office
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CThe local magistrate subsidized all correspondence
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DNo fees were charged for private letters
Answer
Correct Answer: The recipient (postage due on delivery)
Explanation
Historical practice
- Before the 1840s introduction of adhesive postage stamps (e.g., the Penny Black in Britain, 1840), many postal systems charged postage due on delivery—thus the recipient commonly paid.
Common pitfalls Assuming modern prepayment norms applied uniformly in the 1700s; systems varied by region, but recipient-paid postage was widespread.
Final Answer The recipient (postage due on delivery).