Malawi Philately: 1976 Centenary of First Telephone Transmission

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) was a Scottish-born inventor, scientist and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone. He also co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1885.

On 7 March 1876, Alexander Graham Bell, scientist, inventor and innovator, received the first patent for an “apparatus for transmitting vocal or other sounds telegraphically,” a device he called the telephone. On 10 March 1876, three days after his patent was issued, Bell and his assistant, Thomas Watson, made the first successfully transmitted message.

Many other inventions marked Bell’s later life, including ground-breaking work in optical telecommunications, hydrofoils, and aeronautics. Beyond his work in engineering, Bell had a deep interest in the emerging science of heredity.

Details
  • Date of Issue: 24 March 1976
  • Date Withdrawn: 
  • Date Invalidated: 
  • Designer: Clive Abbott
  • Printer: Questa Colour Security Printers Limited (The House of Questa)
  • Process: Lithography
  • Paper: 
  • Watermark: Cockerels
  • Perf: 14 (comb)
  • Cylinders: Printed in panes of four (100), separated by gutter (4 x sheets of 25), and sold as single sheets.
    • 1A 1A : 1B 1B [Upper left : Upper right]
    • 1C 1C : 1D 1D [Bottom left : Bottom right]
  • Sheet: R5 x 5 (25)
  • Quantity:
Subjects
First Day Covers (Official)
References