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 features a profile of Queen Victoria. In 1837, British postal rates were high, complex and anomalous.
The Penny Black was the world’s first stamp and is hands down one of the most sought after stamps in the world.
Created back in 1840, around 68million of these were produced.
“This is probably the most iconic stamp in the world,” explains Mr Cordell.
“The Penny Black was part of the uniform penny postage system that brought about a social revolution. It’s not rare if used, but it’s extremely rare in perfect mint condition.”
A well-preserved version sold for £45,000 at Spink auction house in 2017.
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