This feature was originally published in the Evening Telegraph on 1 October 2024.
I’ve always been proud to champion Dundee as Scotland’s most innovative city. Our rich history of inventors and pioneers has shaped the world in more ways than one, from the jute industry to creating iconic video games like Grand Theft Auto.
But one of the city’s most significant contributions, in my view, is something many of us use daily without thinking—the adhesive postage stamp.
One of Dundee’s great innovators, James Chalmers, is closely linked to the creation of the adhesive postage stamp. Chalmers, a bookseller and printer by trade, was also an inventor who saw the need to reform the chaotic postal system of the early 19th century.
This week feels particularly special, as it marks an important anniversary connected to Chalmers' work. It’s 185 years since he submitted his proposal to the UK government in 1839, as part of a competition to improve the postal system. At the same time, this year also marks 190 years since Chalmers publicly exhibited the world’s first adhesive postage stamp here in Dundee.
For me, Chalmers’ story is one of perseverance and vision. Yet, there’s long been debate over who truly deserves credit for the invention of the postage stamp.
Sir Rowland Hill, a postal reformer from Kidderminster, is often credited as the inventor, and you’ll see his name more frequently in history books.
Hill’s push for pre-paid postage was revolutionary, and his famous Penny Black, issued in 1840, was the world’s first official adhesive postage stamp.
However, I believe James Chalmers played the more critical role. While Hill’s ideas around postal reform were transformative, it was Chalmers who came up with the practical design of the adhesive stamp.
Chalmers submitted his proposal for adhesive-backed paper to indicate pre-paid postage before Hill’s reforms were even formalised. His public demonstration in Dundee in 1834, followed by his submission to the UK government five years later, paved the way for the entire system of postage stamps we rely on today. Without Chalmers’ contribution, Hill’s reforms might never have taken the shape they did.
The question of who invented the postage stamp is more than a historical debate for me. It’s about recognising the vital role Dundee has played in the development of global communication.
James Chalmers was one of many Dundonians whose work has had a lasting impact on the world, and I think we should all take pride in that. While Hill may have championed postal reform, it’s Chalmers’ design that really made the system functional.
As someone who was born and bred in Dundee, I can’t help but feel a surge of pride when I think about these contributions. With my birthday just around the corner, I find myself reflecting on how lucky I am to be part of a city with such a strong spirit of innovation.
It’s moments like this that remind me why I’ve always been proud to call Dundee my home. We, as Dundonians, should take pride in our city’s heritage—James Chalmers and his adhesive postage stamp are just one example of the many ways Dundee has shaped the world.
Dundee has always been a city of forward-thinkers and innovators, and I believe that spirit will continue. There is so much potential here, and I have no doubt that our best days are still ahead of us.
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