The first postage stamp in history bears the image of Queen Victoria and was issued in 1840. Called the Penny Black because of its colour and face value, this gem is very sought-after, as it was issued only for a brief period.
Since it was evident that another stamp was needed, for letters weighing over half an ounce, the Twopenny Blue was also introduced. The two stamps differ only in their colour and face value. As the originator of postage stamps, Great Britain has the privilege of being the only country that does not display its name on its stamps.
The history of the production of the Penny Black is traced here through exceptional pieces from Her Majesty's collection.
= Additional information
Frame 12
Section
VR Penny Black forgery created by cutting an A and an R from another stamp and inserting them in the upper corners after removing the stars. The A was inverted, and its bar was removed to make a V.
Details
