Penny Black
The world's first adhesive postage stamp, issued in Great Britain on May 6, 1840. Features a profile of 21-year-old Queen Victoria engraved by Charles and Frederick Heath.
Great Britain · 1840
Penny Black
Overview
The Penny Black revolutionized global communication by introducing the concept of prepaid postage. Before its introduction on May 6, 1840, recipients — not senders — paid for letters, making postal delivery unreliable and expensive. Designed by artist Henry Corbould and engraved by brothers Charles and Frederick Heath, the Penny Black features a left-facing profile of Queen Victoria based on a medal by William Wyon. The design was printed on hand-made Dickinson paper embedded with silk threads as a security measure. Approximately 68 million stamps were printed across 11 plates, but because used copies were the norm, mint examples are considerably rarer and more valuable. The stamp was officially replaced by the Penny Red in February 1841 — after just nine months of use — because the black ink made cancellation marks difficult to see.
Design & Technical Details
Black ink on white paper. Profile of Queen Victoria facing left, surrounded by ornate engine-turned lacework. 'POSTAGE' at top, 'ONE PENNY' at bottom. Corner letters identify position on the sheet (A-T across, A-L down). No perforations — stamps were cut by scissors from sheets.
Historical Facts
- Designed in 1839 following a treasury competition won by Rowland Hill
- First day of sale was May 1, 1840, but valid for use only from May 6
- Printed on 11 plates; Plate 11 stamps are extremely rare
- Replaced by the Penny Red in February 1841 due to poor cancellation visibility
- The 'VR' corner letters (for Victoria Regina) were prepared but never officially issued
- In 1994, a Plate 77 block of six sold for $2.98 million — the highest price for any Penny Black
How to Identify This Stamp
If you believe you may have found a Penny Black, here are key identification characteristics to check:
- No perforations — edges should show cut lines, not roulette holes
- Corner letters are key to identifying plate position (e.g., 'AL' = top-left of Plate A)
- Authentic copies have a distinctive watermark: a small crown when viewed from behind
- Cancellations were typically red Maltese Cross marks or manuscript pen cancels
- Paper should show silk threads under magnification (Dickinson paper security feature)
- Beware of cleaned or faked red Penny Reds — genuine blacks are pure black, not brownish
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Penny Black stamp worth?
A used Penny Black in average condition typically sells for $80–$500. Fine used examples fetch $200–$1,500. Mint (unused) copies range from $2,000 to over $6,000. Exceptional examples on cover or with rare plate numbers have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Chartwell collection example holds the record at $345,100.
Is the Penny Black the rarest stamp in the world?
No — the Penny Black is historically significant but not the rarest. Around 68 million were printed and tens of thousands survive today, making it collectible but not scarce. The world's rarest stamp is the British Guiana 1c Magenta (1856), with only one known example.
How do I know if my Penny Black is real?
Key authentication signs: no perforations, small crown watermark visible from the back, black (not brown) color, Maltese Cross or manuscript cancellation. Look for corner letters and a plate number in the design. For any potentially valuable example, get authentication from the Royal Philatelic Society London or the Philatelic Foundation.
Why was the Penny Black replaced so quickly?
Because the red Maltese Cross cancellation marks were almost invisible on the black ink. This made it easy to wash off cancellations and reuse stamps fraudulently. The Penny Red (printed in red ink with black cancellations) solved this problem and remained in use for decades.