Who invented the postage stamp?

Until the 17th century, the person who received the letter paid the postal charges. This was supposed to motivate the messengers to deliver the mail in a reliable and timely fashion. Later, the sender started paying the charges and got a receipt for that. But managing so many receipts became impractical. Lord Rowland Hill made a proposal to the British government to paste the receipt on the letter in the form of a stamp. This was approved by queen Victoria, who was the queen at that time. Therefore, her picture is there on the first postage stamps -- the Penny-Black stamps -- which were sold starting from 1840.

Since when were messages sent by airmail?

In 2500 B.C., pigeons were used to send messages in Egypt. This was probably the first 'airmail'! In the German-Franch was of 1870-71, a combination of flying machines and pigeons was used. When the Germans occupied Paris, the French smuggled not only mail, but also carrier pigeons from the occupied city in hot-air balloons. Pigeons could then return with new messages - unnoticed by the Germans. Today, airmail is normal and essential for the world, especially in areas that are difficult to reach by road, such as places in Alaska.

Why is post horn a symbol of the post?

The Incas in America had already established a postal system with fixed post offices since the 13th Century. If one wanted to send a message, it was conveyed to the post messengers at the stations by blowing a trumpet. In Germany, the butchers were the first ones to announce their arrival in the market by signalling with their horns. These instruments were made from the horns of the butchered animals. When the Family of Thurn and Taxis established a closely networked postal system in Europe around 1500, they took over the tradition of announcing themselves with a horn. Moreover, the coachmen of postal carriages could ensure that the other travellers would give way by sounding the horn.