2.  A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that
is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as
evidence of payment of postage.
 Stamps are printed on special custom-made
paper, show a national designation and a
denomination (value) on the front, and have a
gum adhesive on the back.
 Stamps are usually rectangular, but triangles or
other shapes are occasionally used.
 The stamp is affixed to an envelope or other
postal cover (e.g., packet, box, mailing cylinder)
the customer wishes to send.

3.  Postage stamps have facilitated the delivery of mail
since the 1840s.
 Before then, ink and hand-stamps (hence the word
'stamp'), usually made from wood or cork, were often
used to frank the mail and confirm the payment of
postage.
 The first adhesive postage stamp, commonly referred
to as the Penny Black, was issued in the United
Kingdom in 1840.
 Although a number of people laid claim to the concept
of the postage stamp, it is well documented stamps
were first introduced in the United Kingdom on 1 May
1840 as a part of postal reforms promoted by Sir
Rowland Hill.

4.  Postage stamps are sometimes issued
in souvenir sheets or miniature
sheets containing one or a small number of
stamps. Souvenir sheets typically include
additional artwork or information printed on
the selvage, the border surrounding the
stamps. Sometimes the stamps make up a
greater picture. Some countries, and some
issues, are produced as individual stamps as
well as sheets.

5.  The main components
of a stamp:
 1.Image
2. Perforation
3. Denomination
4. Country name

14. Name: S.Priya
School: Shree Baldevadas Kikani
Vidyamandir Hr. Sec. School
Teacher: Parimala Devi
E-Mail ID:priyasudhakar97@gmail.com