Mulready

Mulready lettersheets and envelopes are arguably the first postal stationery items. They are named for their inventor, William Mulready. The Sardinian Cavallinis don't really count as first since they those are tax stamps on lettersheets to be used by a private messenger service.

Issued at the same time as the Penny Black, they attempted to provide a convenience for postal customers. They would be cancelled by the same Maltese crosses used to cancel stamps.

Due to their elaborate designs, Mulreadys were heavily criticized at the time. This was led by stationers who feared the loss of business to the post office. They printed many parody versions created to mock Mulreadys. In the end, the stamps were much more popular than Mulreadys. 



See

 * Postal stationery

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