Definition
Henry Bishop (also spelled Bishopp or Bisshopp; 1605 – 1691) was an English postmaster‑general who served from 1660 to 1663 and is credited with inventing the world’s first postmark, commonly known as the “Bishop Mark.”
Overview
Born in Henfield, West Sussex, Bishop was the second son of Sir Thomas Bishopp, 1st Baronet of Parham. He initially fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War, but after a period of exile in Virginia he reconciled with Parliament in 1647. With the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Bishop secured the post of Postmaster General by paying a lease of £21,500 per year for a seven‑year term, granting him a monopoly on the carriage of letters within England. He held the office until April 1663, after which he transferred the remainder of his lease to Daniel O’Neill.
Etymology/Origin
The surname “Bishopp” is of English origin, derived from the occupational name for a bishop’s attendant or from the medieval given name “Bishop.” Variants of the spelling—including Bishop and Bisshopp—appear in contemporary records. The addition of “(postmaster general)” to his name in modern references distinguishes him from other historical figures bearing the same name.
Characteristics
- Postmaster General (1660‑1663): Bishop’s tenure marked the transition from the medieval “Master of the King’s Post” to a formally organized General Post Office. His letters patent gave him exclusive rights to transport letters, and he sought compensation for competition from independent post routes that emerged before the 1660 Act of Parliament.
- Innovation – the Bishop Mark: In August 1661 Bishop introduced hand‑struck circular postmarks that displayed the month (abbreviated to two letters) and the day of receipt. These marks, first used on 19 April 1661, served to record the date a letter entered the post office and to discourage carriers from delaying delivery. The “Bishop Mark” set a precedent for later postal markings and was subsequently adopted in Dublin, Edinburgh, and several North American colonies.
- Later developments: The design of the Bishop Mark evolved over time, with changes in size, typeface (from serif to sans‑serif), and layout. Larger hand‑stamps appeared in 1713, and the marks remained in use until they were replaced by the double‑circle type in 1787.
Related Topics
- History of the British Post Office
- Postmarks and postal marking systems
- Restoration England (1660–1688)
- Royal Mail and the evolution of postal monopolies
- Philately (the study of stamps and postal history)
All information is drawn from established historical sources, including the Wikipedia entry “Henry Bishop (postmaster general)” and related scholarly works on early British postal history.