The Stamp Act of 1712 imposed a stamp tax on United Kingdom publishers. The tax was levied on all publishing including newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, commercial bills, advertisements, and other papers. The tax was initially assessed at one penny per whole newspaper sheet, a halfpenny for a half sheet, and one shilling per advertisement.…
Wallpaper is a material used to cover and decorate the interior walls of homes and other buildings. It is usually sold in rolls and at its most rudimentary is just plain lining paper that is painted or used to help cover uneven surfaces and minor wall defects. Of course, the majority of hung wallpaper…
Soaps are derivatives of fatty acids and have traditionally been made from triglycerides, oils and fats. The earliest record of soap manufacturing was 200 BC in ancient Babylon. Soaps are used for washing, bathing, cleaning, and lubricating greases. The core ingredient of soaps includes tallow (which is rendered beef fat), palm…
A trust is a fiduciary relationship in which one party, known as a trustor (or settlor), gives another party, the trustee, the right to hold title to property or assets for the benefit of a third party – the beneficiary. Trusts are governed by the terms under which they are created and are usually…
A pension fund (also known as a retirement fund or superannuation fund) is any plan, fund, or scheme which provides retirement income. The Romans started the first pension scheme in 13 B.C. when Roman Emperor Augustus began paying pensions to Roman Legionnaires who had served 20 years. These armed forces pensions were financed at first…
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games. Playing cards are typically palm-sized for convenient handling and were first invented in China during the Tang dynasty in 900 AD. Although…
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, fat, tallow or another flammable solid substance. They have been used throughout history for light, heat, fragrance, aesthetic value and sometimes to tell the time. The earliest candles originated in Han China around 200 BC and were made from whale fat. By the 13th century, candle…
The Plantagenet Kings of England had the medieval right to require Maritime towns and counties to furnish them with ships in times of war. This duty was sometimes commuted for money, which became known as ‘ship money’. Ship money was unique as it was one of the few taxes the Monarchy could levy without the…
In ancient times, salt was essential to preserve food and maintain people’s health. Humans require salt in their diet as through sweating their body loses salt every day. If this salt isn’t replaced then the resulting sodium deficiency can cause weakness, fatigue, vomiting, dizziness, shock, and even death. A…
A hearth is a brick or stone-lined fireplace used for heating and cooking food. The word ‘hearth’ derives from an Indo-European root, ker, referring to burning, heat, and fire. For centuries, the hearth was the central and most important feature of a home and from this originated the saying, ‘keep the home fires burning’. A…
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