Penny Black
Videos
The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840 but was not valid for use until 6 May. The stamp fe
Penny black
A Penny Black, with a red cancellation that was hard to see and easily removed
Large mint block of the Penny Black
The Jacob Perkins' press, which printed the Penny Black and the 2d Blue, in the British Library Philatelic Collections
Queen Victoria
Videos
Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days, which was longer than those of any of her predecess
Penny Black
…system. It was first issued in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840 but was not valid for use until 6 May. The stamp features a profile of 21-year-old Queen Victoria. In 1837, British postal rates were high, complex, and anomalous. To simplify matters, Sir Rowland Hill proposed an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment…
Victoria as a child with her mother, by William Beechey
Portrait by Stephen Poyntz Denning, 1823
Portrait with her spaniel Dash by George Hayter, 1833