In the eighteenth century, before postage stamps were introduced, who usually had to pay the postage fee for a letter being delivered?

Introduction / Context:
This question explores the history of postal systems before the invention of the postage stamp. Understanding how letters were paid for in earlier times provides insight into why the stamp system was considered such an important reform. In the eighteenth century, it was common in many countries for the person receiving the letter to pay the postage cost at the time of delivery instead of the sender paying in advance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The time period mentioned is the 1700s, that is, the eighteenth century.
• This is before the introduction of adhesive postage stamps as a payment method.
• The options list the sender, no fee, the receiver and the post office as possible payers of postage.
• The question asks which party usually paid the postage in such a historical system.

Concept / Approach:
Before postage stamps, many postal systems were based on a system where the cost depended on distance and number of sheets. The carrier would bring the letter to the recipient, and the recipient would be asked to pay the required amount if they wished to accept the letter. This method often led to problems, such as people refusing letters to avoid charges. The later introduction of stamps, where the sender paid in advance, simplified and stabilised the system. Knowing this historical practice helps in answering the question correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was introduced in Britain in 1840, after the eighteenth century. Step 2: Understand that before stamps, postal systems often collected fees on delivery, not at the time of sending. Step 3: This meant that when a postman delivered a letter, the receiver would be asked to pay the calculated cost if they wanted to collect the letter. Step 4: Evaluate the options: if the sender had paid, there would be less need for later reform towards pre paid stamps. Step 5: Reject the choice that there was no fee because postal services needed revenue to operate. Step 6: Conclude that the receiver of the letter was the person who usually paid the postage fee.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick historical check is to recall the story of postal reformer Rowland Hill, who argued that pre paid postage through stamps would make letters cheaper and more reliable, partly because under the earlier system receivers sometimes refused letters to avoid paying. This confirms that charges were typically collected from the receiver rather than the sender. Post office staff did not pay the cost themselves because that would not be financially sustainable for the service.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The sender paying for postage became standard after the introduction of stamps and reforms, but it was not the general rule in the eighteenth century. The statement that there was no fee is wrong because postal services charged money for carrying letters. The idea that the post office itself paid the fee is also incorrect, because postal organisations were entities that collected fees, not customers. Therefore, these options do not correctly describe the typical practice before stamps.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often project the modern system backwards into history and assume that the sender always paid, because that is what they are familiar with today. Another pitfall is to confuse special cases, such as soldiers letters or official mail, with the usual practice for ordinary citizens. To avoid these errors, it is useful to remember that pre paid stamps were an innovation introduced to solve problems of the earlier receiver pays system, which sometimes led to undelivered letters and revenue loss.

Final Answer:
In the eighteenth century, before stamps were introduced, the postage fee was usually paid by The receiver of the letter.