Which European country was the first to issue a postage stamp?

The United Kingdom was the first country to issue a postage stamp for general public use.

That stamp was the Penny Black, introduced in 1840 as part of Britain’s postal reforms. It prepaid a uniform one-penny rate for letters weighing up to half an ounce, regardless of distance within the country. Before this reform, recipients commonly paid postal charges on delivery, with prices varying by distance and the number of sheets.

The stamp features a profile of the young Queen Victoria, based on a design associated with artist William Wyon. It was first issued on 1 May 1840, though 6 May is generally recognized as the date it became valid for ordinary postal use. Sir Rowland Hill promoted the reform, which helped make letter-post cheaper and simpler.

The Penny Black was imperforate, so users had to cut stamps from sheets. Its black color also made red cancellation marks difficult to see, encouraging reuse; Britain replaced it with the Penny Red in 1841. Earlier postal markings existed, but the Penny Black is recognized as the first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system.