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# Penny Black 1840

Dedicated to the world's first postage stamp & Victorian line engraved stamp collecting

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## Posts

- [The way we were ... European flags in 1979](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-way-we-were-european-flags-in-1979/) - Inaugurated in 1958 as the Common Assembly, the European Parliament originally consisted of representatives selected by the national parliaments of EU member countries. Beginning in 1979, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were elected by direct universal suffrage to terms of five years. Britannica.com When I saw that today's theme over at Sunday Stamps, hosted
- [Dutch Elvis Stamps - 6 June 2006](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/dutch-elvis-stamps-6-june-2006/) - 2007 has seen a series of anniversaries and celebrations - the pilgrimage to Memphis by Elvis fans from around the world on the 30th anniversary of his death and the concert held at Wembley Stadium to celebrate Princess Diana's birthday in the year of the 10th anniversary of her passing were major media events. Last
- [Silver Jubilee 1977](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/silver-jubilee-1977/) - In the opening track of Badly Drawn Boy's latest CD Born in the UKVicious and his brothersWere trying to set us freeBut much more than this to you and meThis was the Silver Jubilee This line really made me smile...1977 and the Silver Jubilee - if you were nine years old at the time the
- [Vietnam & the Tay Son Rebellion](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/vietnam-the-tay-son-rebellion/) - 1971 Postage Stamp issued in North Vietnam to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Tay Son Rebellion led by the Tay Son Brothers in 1771. Select eBay Marketplace: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇦🇺 Australia 🇨🇦 Canada North Vietnam 1971 Ho Chi Minh's Birthday 621-624 & SS 624A MNH NGAI (NVNH33)) 🇺🇸
- [Japanese Mandarin Duck](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/japanese-mandarin-duck/) - This 5 yen Japanese Mandarin duck (or in Japanese oshidori) postage stamp was in use from 1952 - 1968. By no means rare - it sells by the bag-full on eBay - I've always found this little postage stamp extremely attractive. Select eBay Marketplace: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇦🇺 Australia 🇨🇦
- [Extinct Birds on 1974 Cuban Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/extinct-birds-on-1974-cuban-stamps/) - This 1974 set of Cuban Postage Stamps featured five notable examples of extinct bird species - namely the Dodo (1c), Macaw (3c), Passenger Pigeon (8c), Moa (10c) and Great Auk (13c). The Dodo - This meter-high flightless bird was found on Mauritius. It is one of the world's most infamous examples of how man's impact
- [1979 GB commemoratives](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/1979-commemorativesposted-last-week/) - Here's an interesting curiosity...A very nice strip of three London Post c.1839 13p GB commemorative stamps on an envelope above another strip of three Policeman on the Beat 10p GB stamps. What makes this unusual, however, is that I received this envelope in the post the other day – in fact if you look carefully
- [George VI stamp find in mixed bag!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/george-vi-stamp-find-in-mixed-bag/) - One of the fun sides to buying the occasional mixed bag of stamps is that you'll inevitably find the odd rarity that pays back your minimal investment. For example, I was delighted to come across this George VI £1 brown (SG 478b). First issued on 1 October 1948 this stamp is actually harder to find
- [1981 FDC Guernsey Diana and Charles Stamp](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/1981-fdc-guernsey-diana-and-charles-stamp/) - Whilst news broadcasts the world over follow the Diana Inquest I thought I'd post this First Day of Issue Postcard featuring the Guernsey 12p stamp featuring Prince Charles and Lady Diana (as she was then known) together on the occasion of their wedding on 29 July 1981. The photograph shows the couple at the announcement
- [50th Anniversary of Italian Cycling Championships](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/50th-anniversary-of-italian-cycling-championships/) - I've lived in Italy since 1994 so I thought it was time that I listed some Italian stamps. I picked up this 1967 Italian First Day Cover at an antiques market at Piazza Cola di Rienzo in Rome; Primo Giorno di Emissione (first day of issue) is printed in red. It celebrates the 50th anniversary
- [Italian Post Office Entertainment Celebrities](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/italian-post-office-entertainment-celebrities/) - More Italian stamps! This time a brand new souvenir sheet issued on 18 October 2007 with a print run of 2 million. I picked this up at the Poste Italiane stand at the Rome Film Festival. The set was designed by R Fantini and depicts three anniversaries of celebrated entertainment figures on three separate 60
- [The Defeat of the Spanish Armada](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-defeat-of-the-spanish-armada/) - I was lucky enough to have got tickets for the première showing of Elizabeth: The Golden Age starring Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush at the Rome Film Festival last week. The film was a sumptuous romp through history with Cate Blanchett as fabulous as ever - the scenes showing the defeat of the Spanish Armada
- [Pluto, Donald Duck and Goofy on the moon!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/pluto-mickey-and-goofy-on-the-moon/) - The recent space shuttle mission reminded me of this set of stamps, although I waited till the crew got home safely before posting this! Issued by Saint Lucia in 1979 - The International Year of the Child - the set of seven stamps was issued on the 10th Anniversary of the Moonwalk and features several
- [Sima Guang 'Breaking the Vat' on Chinese stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/sima-guang-breaking-the-vat-on-chinese-stamps/) - Here's a great example of why it's nice to get international snail-mail now and again! My writer friend Adam Williams sent me some documents from China a couple of years ago in a large envelope covered with commemorative stamps. The large block of twenty stamps on the right depicts an anecdote about the early life
- [The Royal Silver Wedding Anniversary 1948](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-royal-silver-wedding-anniversary-1948/) - With Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary this week I thought this stamp might make a timely post - The Royal Silver Wedding Stamp issued in 1948 to celebrate 25 years of marriage between Queen Elizabeth II's parents King George VI and the Queen Consort, Elizabeth (later known throughout her
- [The Twelve Days of Christmas](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-twelve-days-of-christmas/) - I've always loved these 1977 Christmas stamps because they were one of the first sets I collected as a child, eagerly waiting for different images to arrive on letters and then steaming them off Christmas card envelopes to make up the full set of six. The five 7 pence stamps represent different lines of the
- [Good King Wenceslas, the Page and the Peasant](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/good-king-wenceslas/) - Merry Christmas from Penny Black 1840! I have just made this little video of the 1973 British commemorative stamps for Christmas telling the story of Good King Wenceslas - Good King Wenceslas, the Page and the Peasant. The stamps were issued as a se-tenant strip with a slightly higher value 3 1/2 pence stamp issued
- [Abraham Lincoln 1965 US stamp](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/abraham-lincoln-1965-us-stamp/) - It probably won't come as a surprise that I have a particular liking for small stamps that have the feel of the very first stamp - the Penny Black! This 4 cent US postage stamp featuring President Abraham Lincoln was issued on 19 November, 1965 as part of the Prominent Americans Issue between 1965 -1978
- [1964 CCCP stamp celebrating Tokyo Olympics](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/1964-cccp-stamp-celebrating-tokyo-olympics/) - This 1964 stamp featuring the equestrian sport of show jumping was issued by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (CCCP) on the occasion of the Tokyo Summer Olympics (the Games of the XVIII Olympiad). Tokyo had won the rights to hold the games in 1958, having previously been awarded the games in 1940 then eventually
- [Amphibian philately!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/amphibian-philately/) - Did you know that 2008 is The Year of the Frog? Zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums around the globe are joining in a massive public awareness campaign to highlight the amphibian extinction crisis. This 1974 North Korean postage stamp illustrates the Rana catesbeiana ... better known as the Bullfrog! It was part of a set
- [Crazy GB stamp mixture on one envelope!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/crazy-gb-stamp-mixture-on-one-envelope/) - This crazy envelope surely has to win some kind of prize for its eccentric mix of British commemorative and definitive stamps from many different years and issues! Posted on 7 October 2003, it carries the following stamps (running clockwise): 11 1/2p - Policeman Directing Traffic issued on 26 September 1979 as part of the 150th
- [Winston Churchill at Race Track](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/winston-churchill-at-race-track/) - World leaders have always been an obvious choice as subjects on commemorative stamps but this stamp issued on 25 November, 1974 by Dominica on the occasional of the Centenary of Winston Churchill's birth on 30th November, 1874 is unusual in the informality of the setting. The one-half cent issue pictures Winston Churchill at the Race
- [1959 Ceylon - Institution of Pirivena Universities](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/1959-ceylon-institution-of-pirivena-universities/) - This commemorative stamp from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) was issued in 1959 to celebrate the Institution of the Pirivena Universities, distinguished Buddhist centres of learning, which had been given university status following the University Act No 45 of 1958, namely Vidyodaya Pirivena, at Maligakanda, Colombo, and the Vidyalankara Pirivena in Kelaniya. The stamp depicts the
- [Italian Anna Magnani Postage Stamp - 1997](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/italian-anna-magnani-postage-stamp-1997/) - Nobody living in Italy could have failed to notice that 2008 is the centenary year of the birth of one of Italy's greatest and best loved actresses, Anna Magnani, with numerous television documentaries, exhibitions, DVD releases and book publications accompanying the event. Sadly, Nannarella as she was affectionately known in Italy, died in 1973 but
- [Amelia Earhart and U.S. Air Mail Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/amelia-earhart-and-us-air-mail-stamps/) - On this day 20th May, in 1932, Amelia Earhart the American aviator, set off from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland on the first solo transatlantic flight by a woman! The flight lasted 14 hours, 56 minutes and she landed in a field in Culmore, north of Derry, Northern Ireland. This 8¢ U.S. Air Mail Stamp featuring the
- [International Day of No Tobacco - Slovakia 1994](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/international-day-of-no-tobacco-slovakia-1994/) - This very curious and hard hitting message stamp was issued on May 31, 1994 in Slovakia on the occasion of the World Health Organisation's International Day of No Tobacco after the idea was suggested by the National Oncology Institute in Bratislava. The stamp was designed by Zdeno Brázdil and was engraved by Martin Cinovský. It
- [Italian postage stamps featuring other stamps!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/italian-stamps-pictured-on-stamps/) - Here's an interesting example of a vintage postcard design issued on the occasion of the XX National Philatelic Convention in Rome in 1965 (Convegno Nazionale Filatelico) which includes a 1961 Italian postage stamp within the design - in the carriage window there is a 30 lire stamp featuring the Sibilla Eritrea which was issued as
- [1975 Polish Mountain Guides Anniversary Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/1975-polish-mountain-guides-anniversary-stamps/) - These four stamps were issued as joined pairs as part of a six stamp set - sadly I don't have the 4 Zt value stamps - on 30 September, 1975 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Polish Mountain Guides. The stamps feature scenes of mountains paired with flowers and were designed by well-known Polish graphic
- [Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose - Bengali polymath](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/sir-jagadish-chandra-bose-bengali-polymath/) - Whilst the rest of the world took decades to begin to acknowledge the importance of the pioneering work of Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose (November 30, 1858 – November 23, 1937) a commemorative Indian postage stamp had been issued to celebrate the centenary of his birth in 1958 with a portrait of the Bengali polymath. He
- [Happy Darwin Day!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/happy-darwin-day/) - Darwin Day is a global celebration of science and reason held on or around February 12, the birthday anniversary of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin. 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth. In his On The Origin of Species, published in 1859, Darwin outlined how life evolved through natural selection over millions of years
- [The Rebirth of Industry in the Republic of Korea 1955](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-rebirth-of-industry-in-the-republic-of-korea-1955/) - I've always liked this rough cut South Korean stamp with its strong central motif of a germinating seed cupped in a pair of hands with industrial smoke stack chimneys and a huge dam set against the natural landscape of mountains - representing here the Rebirth of Industry in the country. The landscape looks rather like
- [Utagawa Toyokuni on 1971 Hungarian postage stamp](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/utagawa-toyokuni-on-1971-hungarian-postage-stamp/) - With 19th century Japanese artists of the floating world very much in vogue this spring with two major exhibitions running in European capital cities at the moment - Utagawa Hiroshige in Rome and Utagawa Kuniyoshi in London - I thought I'd share this 1971 Hungarian postage stamp featuring the work of another master of Japanese
- [Bruce Lee miniature sheet](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/bruce-lee-miniature-sheet/) - This Bruce Lee miniature sheet was issued by Abkhazia for the China '96 9th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition. China '96 took place in Beijing from 18 May to 24 May 1996 and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Modern Chinese Postal Service. The four stamps all feature an iconic image of Bruce Lee in a
- [Apollo 8 and Earthrise United States postage stamp](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/apollo-8-and-earthrise-united-states-postage-stamp/) - This United States postage stamp (Scott #1371) was issued on 5 May, 1969, just months before the Apollo 11 mission and the first moonwalk. Apollo 8 was, instead, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon and the first manned voyage to return to planet Earth from another celestial body i.e. Earth's Moon. The design
- [Sika Deer on 1970 USSR tourism stamp](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/sika-deer-on-1970-ussr-tourism-stamp/) - I've always loved the dramatic design of this 10 kopeks stamp issued in 1970 by the USSR. Using only two colours - a warm orange-brown for the two Sika Deer at the centre of the design and the surrounding border, and a cooler and darker sage green for the forest in which they inhabit -
- [John Fitzgerald Kennedy - The Eternal Flame](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/jfk-eternal-flame/) - John F Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States was assassinated on this day - 22 November - in 1963. He was shot dead in Dallas, Texas, while riding in an open car, in a killing that sent shock waves across the entire world. Less than a year later on 29 May, 1964 the
- [First transatlantic flight by Charles Lindbergh](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/first-transatlantic-flight-by-charles-lindbergh/) - On this day 21 May, 1927, American aviator Charles A. Lindbergh made history when he successfully completed the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The transatlantic flight left from New York and landed in Paris and was made in the monoplane Spirit of Saint Louis and took about 33.5 hours to complete the
- [Fellini, Gassman and Sordi - Italian Cinema icons](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/federico-fellini-vittorio-gassman-alberto-sordi-italian-cinema/) - The fifth edition of the International Rome Film Festival recently closed in Italy's capital city and as with previous editions, the Italian Post Office (Poste Italiane) was present at the event selling special edition postage stamps that celebrate Italian cinema. This year they commemorated not one, but three icons of Italian cinema – film director
- [Penny Black Plate 9](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/penny-black-plate-9/) - 1 d Penny Black stamp lettered G-G, identified as coming from plate 9 using Guide Lines to the Penny Black by P C Litchfield. Period of use: Earliest issue dated 18 November, 1840. Plate used very briefly until January 1841 making this fairly scarce. Colour: Strong black. Cancellation: Clear Maltese Cross cancellation in black ink
- [2d Blue Plate 2](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/2d-blue-plate-2/) - 2d Blue stamp lettered K -D, identified as coming from plate 2 using British Line-Engraved Stamps. Twopence Blue. Studies Of Plates 1 to 15 by H. Osborne. Period of use: Plate 2 was completed on July 18th, 1840 and put to press three days later. In daily use, barring Sundays and one other day (18th
- [Lockheed Constellation over New York Skyline](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/lockheed-constellation-over-new-york-skyline/) - Viridian's Postcard Blog is hosting a great new blog meme - Sunday Stamps – and this week's theme in honour of Saint Patrick's day on 17 March is Irish or green stamps. I thought this striking emerald 15 cent US Air Mail Stamp issued in 1947 featuring the Statue of Liberty and the evocative Manhattan
- [British Spring Flowers](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/british-spring-flowers/) - The clocks went forward one hour in Europe in the early hours of the morning today and the March equinox came and went several days ago, so it is now officially springtime! In Rome, balmy temperatures and blue skies have also heralded in the new season and the cyclamens have been in bloom for a
- [1d Red stamp with London Number in Maltese Cross cancellation](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/1d-red-london-number-maltese-cross/) - 1d Red stamp lettered R - J with London postmark identified using The Cancellations of the 1841 Penny Red by Goldsmith & Danzig. Period of use: 23 March 1843 - Date of issue recorded in the proof book held at the Post Office Archives for No.2 , although Alcock and Holland suggest this number was
- [100th Anniversary Kansas Statehood](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/100th-anniversary-kansas-statehood/) - Over at Virdian's Postcard Blog the theme for this week's Sunday Stamps meme is "flowers" and she has posted a gorgeous Chinese stamp featuring a sunflower. Sunflowers are one of my favourite flowers too – whilst on family holidays in France as a child I remember being amazed the first time I saw fields and
- [1d Red from Penny Black plate 11](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/1d-red-black-plate-11/) - 1d Red stamp lettered E - B identified as coming from black plate 11 using Guide Lines to the Penny Black by P C Litchfield. Period of use: The very first printings from Plate 11 were made on 29 and 30th January, 1941 in red, rather than black, with the imprimatur copies registered at Somerset
- [Happy Birthday Bob Dylan!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/happy-birthday-bob-dylan/) - 'His Bobness' turns 70 today so to mark this landmark birthday I thought it might be fun to take a look at this set of Bob Dylan postage stamps issued by Gambia in 1996. The 1996 Bob Dylan 'Rock & Roll Legends' stamp is catalogued as Scott #1825 and was issued in attractive 16 stamp
- [Romanian Vegetables by Aida Tasgian-Constantinescu](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/romanian-vegetables-by-aida-tasgian-constantinescu/) - If any stamp collecting bloggers are looking for inspiration I can highly recommend heading over to Viridian's Postcard Blog over the weekend to check out the weekly theme for Sunday Stamps. This week's theme is “Food” with an invitation to interpret the theme broadly. Flicking through my old childhood album of thematic stamps I happened
- [Happy Birthday Charles Dickens!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/happy-birthday-charles-dickens/) - Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of the most well-loved storytellers of all time - Charles Dickens. The great 19th century English novelist and outspoken supporter of social reform will be remembered in a new set of British stamps to be issued by the Royal Mail in June this year featuring
- [Strip of 2d Blues on Piece from Plate 4](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/strip-2d-blues-plate-4/) - Strip of 2d Blue stamps on piece lettered R-D, R-E and R-F, identified as coming from plate 4 using British Line-Engraved Stamps. Twopence Blue. Studies Of Plates 1 to 15 by H. Osborne. Period of use: Plate 4 was completed on November 29th, 1849 and put to press early the following month - the Imprimatur
- [Greenland Mountains by Lawren Stewart Harris on 1967 Canadian Stamp](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/greenland-mountains-by-lawren-stewart-harris-canadian-stamp/) - One of the great things about the Sunday Stamps meme over at Viridian's Postcard Blog is that when I occasionally drop by it always inspires me to browse through my unsorted thematic stamps and find just the right stamp to fit the weekly theme. This Sunday the topic is “Scenic Natural Areas” and right away
- [The First Flight of Concorde](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-first-flight-of-concorde/) - The Sunday Stamps meme over at Viridian's Postcard Blog this week is taking a look at flag stamps or patriotic stamps. This first day cover commemorating the First Flight of Concorde came to my mind as a great example. It features both the British Union Flag and the French Tricolour and celebrates the combined efforts
- [The 1948 Olympic Games](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-1948-olympic-games/) - Whilst the world's attention is firmly fixed on the 2012 Olympic Games in London, I thought this would be an excellent time to look back at the postage stamps issued to commemorate the last time the Olympics were staged in London - The Games of the XIV Olympiad. Issued on 29 July 1948 to coincide
- [When England Won the World Cup in 1966](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/when-england-won-the-world-cup-in-1966/) - With the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicking off today in Brazil, and England’s first game – against Italy - fast approaching on Saturday, this seemed like a very good moment to look at the last time England hosted, and then won the contest, way back in 1966. The General Post Office issued its first ever
- [Cats big or small… on stamps big or small!](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/cats-big-or-small-on-stamps-big-or-small/) - Most of my childhood stamps were acquired in those big, mixed country bags, divided by themes rather than country, and mostly date from the mid-1970s and earlier. Animals and birds seem to proliferate and there are a great many stamps featuring big and domestic cats. Here are a just a few [...]
- [Beningfield's Butterflies on Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/beningfields-butterflies-on-stamps/) - There is a timely seasonal theme over at See it on a Postcard today for Sunday Stamps. The weekly theme is left open to interpretation, so I have chosen this set of commemorative GB stamps from my childhood collection featuring British Butterflies for the theme of summer. While butterflies are active all year round, with
- [Elvis Presley 70th Anniversary Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/elvis-presley-70th-anniversary-stamps/) - This miniature sheet of 9 postage stamps of images of Elvis Presley from many different moments in his career as both an actor and a singer was issued by São Tomé and Príncipe - officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea - in 2005 to mark the 70th Anniversary of Elvis's
- [Dutch Elvis ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/dutch-elvis-heartbreak-hotel-stamps/) - When the Dutch Postal Service issued its first official Elvis Presley postage stamp on 6 June 2006, appropriately it was released with a very special extra - a limited edition promotional CD entitled Heartbreak Hotel Collector's Edition. The CD contained mostly spoken content with Elvis answering a series of questions as well as candid excerpts from
- [Elvis Presley in ‘G.I.Blues’](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/elvis-presley-in-g-i-blues/) - Elvis movies on stamps! Elvis Presley made a staggering 31 movies between 1956 and 1969 - mostly musicals that critics hated, but fans loved and the box office loved even more! Many stills of Elvis Presley on the silver screen are some of the most iconic images we have of the man - just think of the
- [Elvis Presley 75th Anniversary Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/elvis-presley-75th-anniversary-stamps/) - Some Elvis Presley postage stamp issues are adorned with art work that bears only a passing resemblance to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Not so, with this lovely mini sheet of 4 stamps with portraits by the celebrated rock artist Joe Petruccio, showing Elvis from different stages of his life: his childhood, then the 1950s, 60s and
- [Back to the future! Information Technology on GB Commemoratives](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/back-to-the-future-information-technology-on-gb-commemoratives/) - The theme this week over at Sunday Stamps hosted by See it on a Postcard is “inventions/discoveries”. My mind went straight to this set of GB commemoratives when I read the topic, so I thought I would once again share them exactly as mounted in my teenage stamp album. This particular pair, with its unusually
- [The first British stamps of the 1900s](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/the-first-british-stamps-of-the-1900s/) - There's an interesting theme over at Sunday Stamps today at See it on a Postcard: "Issued in the 1900s". Our website was created initially to celebrate Victorian line-engraved stamps from the 1800s, but Queen Victoria had a very long reign and the very last stamps to be issued while she was on the throne actually
- [Speed, Regularity and Security - 200 years of the Royal Mail](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/speed-regularity-and-security-200-years-of-the-royal-mail/) - When I first read that the theme over at Sunday Stamps today would be "transportation", I knew right away that this wonderful se-tenant set celebrating the 200th anniversary of the inauguration of the Bristol, Bath, London Mail Coach Service in 1784 would be my choice. This five stamp set of GB commemoratives issued by the
- [Still Life Painting by Eranuhi Aslamazyan on DDR Stamp](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/still-life-painting-by-eranuhi-aslamazyan-on-ddr-stamp/) - The theme over at Sunday Stamps today is “food”, so allowing myself a little wiggle room here, I have chosen a thematic stamp from my childhood album featuring a traditional still life painting depicting arrangements of food – grapes, pomegranates, a lemon, and I think, some oranges, alongside a large pitcher, and other tableware in
- [2d Blue Plate 1](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/2d-blue-plate-1/) - 2d Blue stamp lettered H -D, identified as coming from plate 1 using British Line-Engraved Stamps. Twopence Blue. Studies Of Plates 1 to 15 by H. Osborne. Period of use: The plate was registered on 2 May, 1840, but wore out very quickly and was thus used only until 18 July, 1840 when Plate 2
- [Pair of 1d Reds from Penny Black plate 5](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/pair-1d-reds-black-plate-5/) - Pair of 1d Red stamps lettered M - K and M - L, identified as coming from black plate 5 using Guide Lines to the Penny Black by P C Litchfield. Period of use: 1841. Colour: Red-brown. Cancellation: Rare single strike black Maltese Cross cancellation covering the pair. This would have been against regulations (each
- [Penny Black Plate 5](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/penny-black-plate-5/) - 1 d Penny Black stamp lettered K-J, identified as coming from plate 5 using Guide Lines to the Penny Black by P C Litchfield. Period of use: Earliest issue dated 16 June, 1840, with prints made between 8th June - 30th December, 1840 and again briefly between 22nd January and 5th February, 1841, when a

## Pages

- [Welcome to Penny Black 1840](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/) - Dedicated to the world's first postage stamp Penny Black FAQs, philatelic book reviews, Live Stamp Auctions and images of the Penny Black, 1d Red, 2d Blue and other rare Victorian stamps and cancellations in the Victorian Line Engraved Stamps Blog to help you identify and plate your Victorian line engraved stamp collection. Visit the Penny
- [Book Review: 'The Cancellations of the 1841 Penny Red' by Goldsmith & Danzig](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/cancellations-of-the-1841-penny-red/) - Illustrated Guide and Catalogue First published by Philatelic Imprint in 1991 When Robert Danzig and David Goldsmith published this detailed study devoted entirely to the identification and recognition of the different cancellations of the 1841 Penny Red it was the first of its kind and remains today the definitive reference work in this specialised field.
- [Book Review: 'Guide Lines to the Penny Black' by P.C. Litchfield](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/guidelines-to-the-penny-black/) - A detailed description of each one of the 2880 stamps and the plates from which it was printed Originally published by Robson Lowe Ltd Over sixty years after it was originally published in September 1949 P.C. Litchfield's Guide Lines to the Penny Black remains a must have for any stamp collector who is serious about
- [Penny Black 1840 Gift Store](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/gifts/) - Find the perfect gift for philatelists and stamp collectors of all ages with an elegant range of items featuring our own original designs inspired by the Penny Black and Penny Red postage stamp...the perfect gift for philatelists and stamp collectors everywhere! We’ve teamed up with Zazzle designer and associate Planet Vintage to bring you some
- [Elvis on Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/elvis-on-stamps/) - Welcome to the new home of Elvis on Stamps, dedicated to the collection of Elvis Presley Postage Stamps aimed at Elvis fans and philatelists of all ages! The idea for these pages began several years ago after scouring the Internet in my personal hunt for Elvis Presley collectibles. An avid stamp collector since childhood, I'm
- [Stamps Sites We Like](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/stamps-sites-we-like/) - Links Dennis R. Abel stamps for collectors Dennis R. Abel stamps for collectors. A full service stamp dealer since 1972. Elvis on Stamps Collect Elvis Presley postage stamps from around the world - a fun and interesting hobby for Elvis fans and philatelists of all ages! Great Britain Philatelic Society Great Britain Philatelic Society Historia
- [Site Map | Contents](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/site-map/) - Pages Posts Book Review: 'Guide Lines to the Penny Black' by P.C. Litchfield Book Review: 'The Cancellations of the 1841 Penny Red' by Goldsmith & Danzig Contact Cookie Policy Elvis on Stamps Penny Black 1840 Gift Store Penny Black Facts Site Map | Contents Site Terms, Cookies, Affiliate Disclosure, and Privacy Policy Stamps Sites We
- [Site Terms, Cookies, Affiliate Disclosure, and Privacy Policy](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/site-terms-and-privacy/) - Privacy Policy If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at privacy@pennyblack1840.com. At PennyBlack1840.com, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by PennyBlack1840.com
- [Penny Black Facts](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/facts/) - The Penny Black was the world's first official adhesive postage stamp. It was issued on 1st May, 1840 and in use from 6th May, 1840. This world famous and much loved stamp features a portrait of the young Queen Victoria. It was printed using the line engraved printing method from 11 plates numbered 1 to
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## Categories

- [Thematic postage stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/thematic/) - Thematic postage stamps from around the world
- [Victorian Line Engraved Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/victorian-line-engraved/) - Images and descriptions from various plates to help you identify your Victorian line engraved stamp collection
- [GB stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/gb-stamps/) - Modern British postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail
- [Penny Black](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/victorian-line-engraved/penny-black/)
- [1d Red](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/victorian-line-engraved/penny-red/) - Images and descriptions of the Penny Red from various plates to help you identify your Victorian line engraved stamp collection
- [2d Blue](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/victorian-line-engraved/two-pence-blue/) - Images and descriptions of the Two Pence Blue from various plates to help you identify your Victorian line engraved stamp collection
- [Elvis on Stamps](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/elvis-on-stamps/) - Collecting Elvis Presley postage stamps from around the world!
- [Victorian Surface-Printed](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/category/victorian-surface-printed/)

## Tags

- [Plate 9](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/plate-9/)
- [Black Maltese Cross](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/black-maltese-cross/)
- [2d Blue](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/2d-blue/)
- [Red Maltese Cross](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/red-maltese-cross/)
- [1d red](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/1d-red/)
- [plate 5](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/plate-5/)
- [London number](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/london-number/)
- [Penny Black](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/penny-black/)
- [Plate 11](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/plate-11/)
- [Commemorative](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/commemorative/)
- [Sport](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/sport/)
- [First Day Covers](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/first-day-covers/)
- [Animals](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/animals/)
- [Famous People](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/famous-people/)
- [History](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/history/)
- [George VI](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/george-vi/)
- [US Presidents](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/us-presidents/)
- [Birds](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/birds/)
- [Space](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/space/)
- [Environment](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/environment/)
- [Italy](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/italy/)
- [Disney](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/disney/)
- [Flowers](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/flowers/)
- [Landscape](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/landscape/)
- [Food](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/food/)
- [Aircraft](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/aircraft/)
- [Cities](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/cities/)
- [Art](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/art/)
- [US Air Mail](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/us-air-mail/)
- [Cats](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/cats/)
- [Insects](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/insects/)
- [Transport](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/tag/transport/)

## Link Library Categories

- [Links](https://www.pennyblack1840.com/?link_library_category=links)