1 . Stamps help connect us with others. They have played an important role in people's lives for a long time.

Stamps pay for a letter to get where it needs to be. When there were no stamps, people did not pay for the letters they sent, but instead they paid for the letters they received. The first stamp ever made is called Penny Black. It is a British stamp made in 1840 with a picture of Queen Victoria on it. The number of people who send letters and use stamps has gone down. But stamp collection is still one of the world' s most popular hobbies. There are even stamp clubs to help people find new stamps to add to their collections. Interestingly enough, the Internet may have reduced the need for stamps, but it is actually helping collectors find more stamps to add to their collections.