Arthur H. Pitney (1871–1933) was an American inventor best known as the father of the postage meter. Postage meters are used today by millions of businesses to imprint postage on envelopes and parcels. Meter indicia serve as proof of payment, functioning as a postage stamp, a cancellation mark, and a dated postmark all in one. Pitney filed a patent application, in Stamford, Connecticut for the world’s first postage meter on December 9, 1901.