Penny Black
History
Overview
The Penny Black – “The forefather of all postage stamps”
SG1, 2 and 3
The Penny Black is arguably the world’s most famous stamp. It is certainly the world’s first stamp, having been issued in 1840 – the same year our founder, Mr Edward Stanley Gibbons, was born
It was not a rare stamp in its day, with just over 68,000,000 being printed. However, a vast number of these were thrown away. Who then would have thought of collecting them? Those remaining today are keenly collected and Penny Blacks in fine condition are something of a rarity. The stamps were never perforated and were cut from sheets with scissors.
Despite its fame, the Penny Black was a failure. The stamp’s colour made a black postmark indistinct and both black and coloured postmarks could be washed off leading to the re-use of already used stamps. This was because the stamps were not printed with fugitive inks. As a result of this, none were printed after 1841.
The Penny Black was the culmination of the development of the British postal service that really began in the 16th century with the setting up of a messenger service whereby the government could keep in touch with its officers in the provinces. By the mid 17th century, the postal service came under direct government control, legislative changes being approved by both Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II who established the General Letter Office in 1660. Despite some improvement during the 18th century, the post at the beginning of the 19th century was very slow and expensive. Postage payment was collected from the addressee at the time the letter was delivered, this was highly unpopular.
As the industrial revolution developed and Britain became ‘the workshop of the world’ an efficient and cheap postal service became imperative. The necessary reforms were largely the result of the imaginative thinking of one man - Rowland Hill.
In a pamphlet, Post Office Reforms: Its Importance and Practicability, published in 1837, he proposed a uniform basic postage rate and the prepayment of postage rather than collection on delivery. Later he proposed the issue of stamps, described as ‘small stamped labels... bits of paper just large enough to bear the stamp and covered at the back with a glutinous wash which the user might, by applying a little moisture, attach to the back of the letter’.
With the passing of the Penny Postage Act, a competition was held to design the postage stamp. Most of the 49 entries were highly ornate but unsuitable for the purpose. One entrant, Benjamin Cheverton, suggested a simple design incorporating Queen Victoria’s head. This idea was taken up by Hill who decided to use the portrait of the Queen shown on a medal commemorating her visit to the City of London in 1837 which was designed by William Wyon. The printing die was prepared in January 1840 and Perkins, Bacon and Petch were entrusted with the printing.
The Penny Black was issued to most post offices on 1st May 1840 and came into official use on 6th May 1840, although the earliest use of the Penny Black is 1 May 1840. It was lettered LD).
Plating
Printing
Rainbow Trials
The VR Official (Link to SG’s sale of the £250,000 item)
Modern Day (Link to Bill Gross sale)
Penny Blacks to buy
Find your Penny Black (Initials finder) Search all Penny Blacks
Other Penny Black items
Penny Black Books
- Plating of the Penny Black
- Joshua Bacon
- May Dates
- Rainbow Trials
- The Dublin Find
- The Queen’s Stamps
Catalogues
- Collect British Stamps 2010
- GB Concise 2010
Penny Black Gift Ideas
- Framed Penny Black
- Penny Black Wallet
- Penny Black Jigsaw
- Penny Black Mug
- Penny Black Coasters & Placemats
- Penny Black Tie
- Penny Black Tiepin
- Penny Black Cufflinks
- SG/Penny Black Umbrellas
Penny Black Downloads/Games
- Computer wallpaper
- Screensaver
- Quiz
- Jumble puzzle
- Spot the difference