Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp, debuted 184 years ago today

May 01, 2024

The Penny Black was issued in Great Britain on the 1st of May, 1840 – 184 years ago today! The stamp featured a portrait of Queen Victoria, and was designed by Sir Rowland Hill, who is often credited as the inventor of the modern postage stamp.

Prior to the Penny Black, postage would have been paid by the recipient rather than the sender, which made it difficult and expensive to receive post. The Penny Black was revolutionary because it allowed for prepayment of postage and made sending letters more affordable and accessible for everyone.

Despite this, the Penny Black was only in use for a year. In 1841, the Penny Black was replaced by the Penny Red, which featured a portrait of Queen Victoria in a different pose.

Today, the Penny Black is a valuable collector's item, with rare stamps fetching high prices at auction. Keen stamp collectors will likely know that the highly-prized Penny Black is notoriously difficult (and expensive) to track down.

However, our Limited Edition ‘Britain of Stamps’ print by Rob Hallifax is much more affordable, and easier to acquire (at least for now–it’s limited edition). This stunning print explores the provenance of stamps, and is inspired by the artist’s childhood travels, and a shared pastime with his father.

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