The story of postal service in Ireland is etched into Irish history.

For history buffs, the story of Ireland’s stamps remains a treasure. Recent price increases have prompted Ireland to look back at the history of stamps since independence.

Ireland secured its autonomy from Great Britain in 1922, when the first stamps were issued. The first Irish stamps were standard British stamps printed as Gaeilge.

Eventually, a uniquely Irish design was commissioned, and the first national stamp was a green two-penny stamp with a map of Ireland on it.

However, the first self-adhesive stamp used in Ireland was the famous Penny Black, issued 82 years ago in 1840.

It featured the head of the British monarch, Queen Victoria, and was printed on 240 sheets. At the time, stamps were cut by hand from sheets until Irishman Henry Archer invented the first punching machine.

Historians say the first explicit use of penny black in an Irish letter was on May 8, 1840, in a letter from Fitzpatrick in Dublin to Thomas.

Ireland began issuing its own stamps after gaining independence from Britain in 1922.

The first designs were very formal, including one showing a map of Ireland. Others included national symbols, but the scope expanded over time.

Modern stamps reflect different aspects of Irish life and represent important events and anniversaries.

For example, An Post issued two special stamps to commemorate the Book of Kells in February last year.

A spokesperson said: “More than 500,000 visitors view the Book of Kells each year at Trinity College in Dublin.We have issued two types of stamps featuring beautiful illustrations of this masterpiece.

“The Book of Kells is widely regarded as the most famous of the medieval illuminated manuscripts for its complexity, detail, and especially the grandeur of its illustrations.

“This book measures 330 x 255 mm and is an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels of the Christian New Testament. It is said to have been created by Columban monks around 800 AD. It features two stamp designs. depicts a detailed profile of a lion’s head, a symbol of Christ and his resurrection.

Since 1922, Anne Post has commissioned artists to create unique and captivating stamps with themes ranging from Irish fashion designers to flora and fauna.

Each year, a series of special stamps are produced with government approval. The history of stamps in Ireland dates back to his 16th century, when an organized postal service first appeared.

The Post says the postal service has since adapted to “changing technology, transportation and trends” into the 21st century.

In the 16th century, regular post offices were established in Dublin and several major towns, and letters were delivered by postmen. Postboxes did not yet exist, so bellmen walked the streets and rang bells to attract customers and collect letters.

The first mail coaches began operating between Dublin and Cork in 1789, and this development greatly accelerated Ireland’s postal delivery service. However, this was an expensive service and was not widely used by the public.

This changed when the world’s first self-adhesive stamp (called Penny Black) became more affordable and led to an overhaul of the postal service.

It also supported the development of railways. This made mail transport more efficient and from 1855 Ireland’s early postal services began using sorting trolleys on trains.

As the train headed toward its destination, postal workers on board sorted the letters. Mail bags were dropped off and collected at various stations.

From early mail coaches to railroads, the mail service expanded to include mail ships. These carried mail between Ireland and Great Britain, and transatlantic liners received mail from Cobh on Cork Island.

The tragedy involving mail ships during World War I will be commemorated on a stamp. The mail ship RMS Leinster was sunk by a German submarine in the Irish Sea a month before the end of the war in 1918, killing more than 500 people.

Almost all letters entering and leaving Ireland by bus, train and ship are sent by plane these days. This first airmail flight took place between Galway and London in his 1929.

It was revealed on Thursday that An Post will raise the price of domestic stamps by 5 cents starting early next month. This means Ireland’s national stamp will increase in value by 3.7% to 1.40 euros ($1.53).

The price increase follows a similar increase in January last year, when prices rose 10 cents from 1.25 euros ($1.37) to 1.35 euros ($1.48). The universal stamp price will be 2.20 euros ($2.41), while the domestic digital stamps introduced in 2022 will cost only 2 euros ($2.19). Existing stamps will remain valid after the February 1 price change.

A spokesperson for An Post said: “These increases are necessary to cover rising costs and ensure continuity and innovation of a service that is on par with the best in Europe.”

He added: “We are mitigating the impact on small businesses and individual customers by offering discounts and regular price promotions throughout the year at post offices and online.”

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