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.

Difficulty: Easy

The recipient (postage due on delivery)
The sender always prepaid in cash at the post office
The local magistrate subsidized all correspondence
No fees were charged for private letters

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).

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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.

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