Britain’s 1840 and 1841 Two Pence Issues

Discover the story behind Britain’s rare and fascinating 1840–41 Two Pence Blue stamps, Mulready stationery, and embossed issues in this expert article by Edward Klempka—featured in Gibbons Stamp Monthly, the UK’s best-selling stamp magazine.

By Edward Klempka

Edward Klempka looks at the Two Pence Blue stamps, Mulready stationery and embossed stationery issued in 1840–41. Although very much subservient to the 1d. stamp issued at the same time, the Two Pence stamps and stationery are not only much rarer than their 1d. sibling, they also offer some very interesting items to collect and study.

On 6 May 1840 the Penny Black was issued together with the Two Pence Blue. It wasn’t until 1847 that a higher value postage stamp was available. The design of the Two Pence Blue was almost identical to that of the Penny Black, differing only on the printed value, ‘TWO PENCE’ rather than ‘ONE PENNY’. It was accompanied by the Mulready stationery envelope and lettersheet, both printed in blue.

In 1841, when the shade of the Penny Black was altered to red-brown, the 2d. value retained its colour and almost identical design, other than a white line appearing under the word ‘POSTAGE’ and over the ‘TWO PENCE’ value. Mulready stationery was replaced in 1841 with the Penny Pink and Two Pence Blue envelope. Very few changes occurred until 1854 when perforated stamps were issued.

The cancellations that appear on the stamps are typical of the period – predominantly the Maltese cross until 1844, thereafter numeral cancellations were used.

The rarity of the 2d. issues should not be underestimated. In the period 1840–54 approximately 177 plates were used to produce 1d. stamps but only four plates were utilised to print the 2d. value. The Mulready stationery, both envelope and lettersheet, are substantially rarer than the 1d. value, and the 2d. embossed envelopes are postal stationery rarities when used and cancelled with the Maltese cross.

1840 Two Pence Blue

Two plates of 240 stamps were prepared for the 1840 Two Pence Blue. The majority of stamps for plate 1 can be identified by a weak left-hand side line to the north-west corner and stamps from plate 2 by a broken line to the top of the north-east corner.

Fig 1 A block of four 1840 Two Pence Blue stamps printed from plate 1, each cancelled with a red Maltese cross

Fig 1 illustrates a block of four Two Pence Blue stamps printed from plate 1, each cancelled with a red Maltese cross. A similar cancellation is found on the cover at Fig 2. The 2d. stamp is cancelled with a red Maltese cross but, as its weight exceeds 1 ounce, a further charge of 4d. has been raised (originally charged an additional 2d. but amended to 4d.) and a ‘MORE TO PAY’ (double circle in black) handstamp applied.

Fig 2 Cover bearing an 1840 Two Pence Blue printed from plate 1 and cancelled with a red Maltese cross. The cover is endorsed ‘above 1oz’ and a 2d. charge mark applied – later altered to 4d. A double circle ‘MORE TO PAY’ handstamp was also applied (Reduced)

As the 2d. value was the highest denomination of stamp available they are often found used in multiples. Fig 3 illustrates a strip of six Two Pence Blue stamps from plate 2 paying the transatlantic 1s. rate to New York. The strip is cancelled with several strikes of the black Maltese cross.

Fig 3 Cover with a strip of six 1840 Two Pence Blue stamps printed from plate 2 and cancelled by the black Maltese cross. The strip was used to pay the 1s. transatlantic rate to the USA

The Two Pence Blue without white lines was replaced in 1841. The cover at Fig 4 shows late (1845) usage of the 1840 issue used from Ennis (Ireland) to Limerick, the stamp being cancelled with the 1844 Irish numeral.

Fig 4 A late use (1845) of an 1840 Two Pence Blue cancelled with an Irish diamond-shaped numeral cancel

1841 Two Pence Blue with white lines

The choice of ink and colour for the 1840 issue came under considerable scrutiny. The Treasury was fearful of revenue loss from stamps being cleaned and reused. Experiments took place in 1840 in order to test various combinations of stamp and cancellation ink. In order to carry out these experiments, a special small plate of 12 stamps was produced without corner letters and a void north-east corner. These stamps were printed on white wove paper or Small Crown watermarked paper in black and various shades of lilac, red-brown, green and blue, and are commonly referred to as Rainbow Colour Trials. The cancellations trials were referred to as obliteration essays and comprised of various different cancellers, including the Maltese cross, a series of concentric circles, numerals (A860 and No. 712) and an oval with the words ‘Bank of Ireland’ included.

Fig 5 1840 Rainbow Colour Trials annotated ‘New Colour Nov. 1840’. This was the colour chosen for the 1841 2d. issue with white lines (Reduced)

Fig 5 shows a sheet of 12 experimental ‘ONE PENNY’ stamps printed in a shade of blue selected as the final colour for the 2d. issued stamp. Fig 6 comprised a block of 12 of the issued stamp with void corner letters. Fig 7 is a single ‘ONE PENNY’ stamp printed in blue for experimental purposes with the cancellation partly removed.

Fig 6 Trial plate of the 1841 Two Pence Blue stamps with white lines and void corner letters. These were affixed as specimens to the 1841 Postmasters Notice

Fig 7 1840 Rainbow Colour Trial in blue with the experimental trial cancellation partly removed

Two plates, numbered 3 and 4, were used to print the stamps. Plate 3 was the first to be utilised and the earliest known used example is 17 March 1841. This plate was in use until December 1849. Stamps from this plate were normally cancelled with the black Maltese cross (until May 1844) and thereafter with the numeral cancellations. Stamps printed from plate 4 are rarely found with Maltese cross cancellations as the plate was not prepared until 1849, by which time the Maltese cross had been withdrawn and replaced with numeral cancellations. Britain's-1840-and-1841-Two-Pence-Issues-8-9.jpg

Fig 8 and Fig 9 illustrate 1841 stamps from plate 3 all cancelled with a black Maltese cross; the former illustrates a block of four, while the latter shows a strip of nine on cover used on 4 May 1843. Fig 10 shows a block of six from plate 3 used in 1849 with a London numeral 17 cancellation. Fig 11 shows nine stamps from plate 4 used on 1852 cover, the stamps cancelled with a London numeral 19 cancel. Britain's-1840-and-1841-Two-Pence-Issues-10-11.jpg

1840 Two Pence Blue Mulready stationery

The Two Pence Mulready stationery was printed in blue and produced in two formats – an envelope (Fig 12) and lettersheet (Fig 13). They were printed in sheets of 12. The sheets are referred to as ‘formes’ and the envelopes and lettersheets were allocated a number, referred to as ‘stereos’. Complete sheets of both issues have survived. Fig 14 illustrates a lettersheet displaying 1840 usage with a red Maltese cross and a boxed ‘TP Putney St’ handstamp. Fig 15 shows maritime usage of a lettersheet cancelled with a black Maltese cross. It landed at Liverpool and features a crown inside circle ‘2 August 1841 Liverpool’ ship letter mark. Britain's-1840-and-1841-Two-Pence-Issues-12.jpg

Combination usage

Perhaps the most spectacular and colourful items of early Great Britain postal history are covers franked with more than one stamp. This was necessary to meet the postage tariff on heavy items. Stamps had only been issued in two denominations (until 1847); the 1d. and the 2d. value.

Fig 17 Two Pence Mulready lettersheet used in 1842. Contrary to regulations, the image of Britannia has not been cancelled with a Maltese cross. The cover was uprated to the 4d. rate (up to 2 ounces) with 2d. paid in cash (manuscript in red ink) (Reduced)

Fig 18 A One Penny Mulready lettersheet used in 1843, uprated with a 1d. red-brown and an 1841 Two Pence Blue with white lines to pay 4d. postage (2 ounces) (Reduced)

Fig 17 illustrates a Two Pence Mulready lettersheet (1842 usage) with an uncancelled Britannia, contrary to regulations. The lettersheet has been uprated with 2d., paid in cash, to pay the 4d. postage rate for up to 2 ounces. Fig 18 comprises an 1843 usage of a One Penny Mulready lettersheet uprated with a 1d. red-brown (plate 30) and a Two Pence Blue with white lines (plate 3) to pay 4d. postage (up to 2 ounces). Britain's-1840-and-1841-Two-Pence-Issues-19.jpg

Fig 19 and Fig 20 are unusual 3d. usages. Fig 19 is made up of an 1840 Two Pence Blue and an 1841 1d. red-brown to pay 2d. postage (up to 1 ounce) and a 1d. late fee. Fig 20 is an 1853 usage of an 1841 Two Pence Blue (plate 4) with an 1841 1d. red-brown (plate 166). The combination was used to pay a special rate of 3d. for a notice of objection to a person’s name being included on the voters register.

Unusually, the 1840 and 1841 Two Pence Blue issues can be found used upon the same cover. Fig 21 shows an 1842 cover addressed to the Duke of Wellington with an 1840 Two Pence Blue (plate 1) cancelled with a black Maltese cross. The letter was redirected and the redirection fee of 2d. was paid with an 1841 Two Pence Blue (plate 3) with white lines, similarly cancelled with a black Maltese cross.

1841 Two Pence Blue embossed envelope

Britain's-1840-and-1841-Two-Pence-Issues-22.jpg

The Mulready stationery had been ridiculed almost since its inception in May 1840. It was replaced by the Penny Pink and the Two Pence Blue embossed envelopes. The Two Pence value was produced in one size only (F– approximately 85×130 mm).

Four printings were made between 1841 and 1845 on surplus Mulready envelope and lettersheet paper, and upon special paper manufactured by Dickinson (special paper 1 and 2). A Postmasters Notice dated April 1841 was produced to announce the issue of the envelopes (Fig 22). These envelopes were used in tandem with the Mulready stationery and were still available in post office stock until the 1890s.

Fig 23 illustrates a Two Pence Blue embossed envelope upon Mulready envelope paper. The back of the envelope shows the layout of the silk threads in the paper. At Fig 24 is an 1842 usage of a Two Pence Blue embossed envelope; the stamp being cancelled by a Maltese cross and an Exeter circular datestamp (14 February 1842). Fig 25 shows an 1847 registered envelope; the 1s. registration fee being paid in cash.

These envelopes were in post office stock for a considerable period of time. Fig 26 illustrates an 1882 usage to Germany. Fig 27 illustrates a similar usage; however, the post office initially disallowed the payment of postage and crossed out the two stamps. Once the error was recognised the letter was delivered without surcharge.

These envelopes were made available to government departments in order to use up excess stock. Fig 28 illustrates ‘OHMS’ usage of the Two Pence Blue stamp cut from the stationery and used as a cut-out in 1857.

The classic Two Pence Blue stamps deserve the same attention from philatelists as its Penny Black counterpart. Sadly, despite its rarity, it is subservient to that issue. It is, however, an interesting issue to collect with many undiscovered rarities still to be found.