Penny Black

Bought my Penny Black from a UK stamp dealer in the latter half of the 1990s. Shown above, it is cancelled with a red Maltese Cross design.

It's difficult to imagine a stamp collector who wouldn't want to own a Penny Black...what with used copies readily available and prices quite affordable!

To the uninitiated, here are five facts about the Penny Black:

1, It's the nickname of the world's first adhesive postage stamp.

2. It was issued by Great Britain on May 1, 1840, for use beginning May 6.

3. The profile is that of Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch at the time.

4. Printed in unperforated sheets, the stamps had to be scissored for individual use.

5. A total of 68,808,000 Penny Blacks were printed.