Invest in a good quality Penny Black and it will stay in your collection with appreciating value. I like the ending sentence that goes "But the main point is that, like a good penny black, if you buy proven quality, like Ferdinand and Rooney, you'll more easily get your money back . . ." Read the full story here: http://www.newstatesman.com/200503210051
Monday 27 June 2011
PB06: A Penny Black with Generous Borders and a Well-Centered Crisp Cancellation
Code PB06: SG2 / 1840 issued Penny Black 1d Black: The well centered crisp strike of the deep red Maltese Cross cancellation gives this Penny Black a sense of spacious scale. This O-K stamp from the scarce Plate 6 has very generous borders all round. Unperforated Victorian stamps with large borders as this piece are very well sought after and hard to find. £255.00 SOLD shipped from the United Kingdom. A handsome stamp, worth every penny!
PB05: Outstanding Penny Black with Even Borders and Light Cancellation
Code PB05: SG2 / 1840 issued Penny Black 1d Intense Black: 4 evenly distributed margins on an intense black background makes this J-G Penny Black an excellent speciment. The Maltese Cross is slightly off-centered southwards which allows the Queen's portrait to be clearly seen with good details. More importantly, a clear watermark on the reverse is shown. This piece comes from Plate 2. £285.00 £275 SOLD plus postage, shipped from the United Kingdom. A real investment piece!
A Penny Black stamp exceeds estimate at auction
This Penny Black stamp on a letter posted to Sheffield in 1841 has sold at auction for £800. It was only expected to fetch up to £500. The stamp was on a letter sent to snuff manufacturer J&H Wilson in Sheffield from Nailsworth near Stroud in Gloucestershire. The Penny Black stamp was the first ever stamp to be issued in Britain and they have since become collectors' items. Before the invention of the adhesive stamp, Britain's postal system was complex and really only available to the wealthy. The cost of postage was paid by the recipient, who sometimes could not afford to pay to claim their letter. In 1837, teacher and postal reformer Rowland Hill submitted suggestions to the government of a uniform post rate of one penny.
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The Penny Black was used on a 'wrapper' (letter cover) sent to Sheffield |
Three years later his proposals became a reality and the Penny Black was born. It was replaced just a year later by the Penny Red. Dominic's firm were responsible for selling this Penny Black at auction in London and he was not surprised it had had done well: "The thing that really marks this one out as being a little bit special is the condition it's in. It is in very nice condition on a pretty uncreased wrapper and it's very attractive." The rarest and most valuable Penny Blacks are those issued on the first day, known as first day covers. One such item sold in April 2010 for more than £40,000.
Stamp Registration or “Imprimatur” sheets in the BPMA Collections
One of the most important parts of the philatelic collections of the BPMA is the series of registration sheets of stamps from the Penny Black to the present day. All are public records and part of the Royal Mail Archive. These sheets are in the process of being catalogued and made available online. However, the size of the sheets is such that they cannot at the moment be scanned so images available are rather restricted. Anyone wishing to view the original sheets must make an appointment with the Curator, Philately. The next section provides an overview of these Victorian registration sheets, under which the Penny Black is categorised under.
Queen Victoria (1840-c.1870)
All Victorian registration sheets (sometimes called “imprimatur” sheets by collectors) are imperforate. There are no scans of any part of the original sheets. Included in this are, of course, all sheets of Penny Blacks in the collection (10 in total, though not every plate is represented) and all sheets of Twopenny Blues from the 1841 and 1858 types. No registration sheets exist for plates 1 and 2 of the original Twopenny Blue. Also included are those Penny Red sheets from 1841 onwards which exist (from plate 12 onwards – 206 in total) and the new series of Penny Reds from 1855 (a total of 106, but excluding plate 77) There are also a very small number of other values.
All Victorian registration sheets (sometimes called “imprimatur” sheets by collectors) are imperforate. There are no scans of any part of the original sheets. Included in this are, of course, all sheets of Penny Blacks in the collection (10 in total, though not every plate is represented) and all sheets of Twopenny Blues from the 1841 and 1858 types. No registration sheets exist for plates 1 and 2 of the original Twopenny Blue. Also included are those Penny Red sheets from 1841 onwards which exist (from plate 12 onwards – 206 in total) and the new series of Penny Reds from 1855 (a total of 106, but excluding plate 77) There are also a very small number of other values.
Stamps created and issues during the reign of Queen Victoria. Consists largely of registration sheets of stamps, Mulready postal stationery and items produced in connection with the 1879 Tender for the production of the 1d value. On completion of each printing plate, six proof sheets were produced in the issued colour on watermarked paper, one of which was submitted to Somerset House for approval. This registration sheet is known as the imprimatur sheet (meaning 'let it be printed'), and its endorsement authorised the use of the plate. The collection of registration sheets is not complete, and existing sheets had samples removed by officials at Somerset House, these stamps are identified by the term 'missing check letters' in the descriptions, referring to the corner letters which guarded against forgery and which identifiy the position of the stamp on the sheet. Registration sheets are not gummed and are normally imperforate.
You may wish to obtain more information from the BPMA here: http://catalogue.postalheritage.org.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqServer=localhost&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqSearch=%28AltRefNo=%27POSt%20150%27%29
Source:
https://postalheritage.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/stamp-registration-or-%E2%80%9Cimprimatur%E2%80%9D-sheets-in-the-bpma-collections/
http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/archive-philatelic
The RM Phillips Collection
In 1965, Reginald M Phillips donated his award-winning collection of British Victorian stamps to the nation. The former National Postal Museum was in part established to house the collection. Today, The British Postal Museum & Archive has taken over responsibility for caring and developing access to the Phillips Collection.
The Phillips Collection is an essential resource for the understanding of postage stamps and philatelic research. It contains the world's very first, first day cover - that of the Penny Black. It also includes 1839 Treasury Essays for pre-paid postage, Rowland Hill letters and unique proofs and studies of stamps such as the Twopenny Blue and the Penny Red.
The online resource can be accessed here: http://catalogue.postalheritage.org.uk/dserve/phillips/Phillips.html
For specific resources on Victorian Stamps including the Penny Black:
http://catalogue.postalheritage.org.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqServer=localhost&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqSearch=%28AltRefNo=%27POSt%20150%27%29
For specific resources on Victorian Stamps including the Penny Black:
http://catalogue.postalheritage.org.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqServer=localhost&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqSearch=%28AltRefNo=%27POSt%20150%27%29
Source: http://catalogue.postalheritage.org.uk/dserve/phillips/Phillips.html
Stamp Printing and Perforations
The first stamps were cut individually from each sheet using scissors. The original form of stamp printing was recess, or intaglio. The paper was wetted during this printing process, and when the paper dried it shrank. This made it very difficult to achieve precise spacing between the labels on a sheet, which hampered mechanical separation. Between 1847 and 1850 Henry Archer had been developing a machine that would punch out perforation holes to separate individuals stamps on a sheet. Archer advocated printing the stamps by letterpress, a dry printing process, avoiding the spacing problems caused by intaglio printing.
In April 1851 Archer worked with Robert Branston, a well-known wood-engraver, to produce an essay based on the Penny Black but with the portrait of Albert, the Prince Consort. This stamp was printed letterpress and perforated on Archer's machine. Although Archer and Branston failed to get the Treasury stamp contract they craved, letterpress printing came to be the standard Victorian technique for all stamp printing. The Prince Consort essay shown here can be regarded as the forerunner of later Victorian stamps.
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/Stamp-printing-perforations-2
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| Robert Branston and Henry Archer's essay for a stamp based on the Penny Black but featuring Albert, Prince Consort |
In April 1851 Archer worked with Robert Branston, a well-known wood-engraver, to produce an essay based on the Penny Black but with the portrait of Albert, the Prince Consort. This stamp was printed letterpress and perforated on Archer's machine. Although Archer and Branston failed to get the Treasury stamp contract they craved, letterpress printing came to be the standard Victorian technique for all stamp printing. The Prince Consort essay shown here can be regarded as the forerunner of later Victorian stamps.
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/Stamp-printing-perforations-2
The Treasury Competition and Outcomes of the Postal Reform
Treasury Competition
To implement the new forms of pre-paid postage, a competition was organised by the Treasury (the governing body of the Post Office) asking the public for ideas. Some 2,600 letters of suggestion were received, a few with examples of the method of prepayment proposed. These are now known as Treasury competition entries or essays. Rowland Hill's report on the competition used some of the suggestions submitted to reiterate his ideas for prepayment, the 'stamps' to be in four forms: lettersheets, envelopes, adhesive labels and stationery handed in by the public to be stamped to order. In his report Hill decided that postage should be prepaid by means of stamped covers, stamped envelopes, adhesive stamps and stamps struck on paper submitted by the public.
To implement the new forms of pre-paid postage, a competition was organised by the Treasury (the governing body of the Post Office) asking the public for ideas. Some 2,600 letters of suggestion were received, a few with examples of the method of prepayment proposed. These are now known as Treasury competition entries or essays. Rowland Hill's report on the competition used some of the suggestions submitted to reiterate his ideas for prepayment, the 'stamps' to be in four forms: lettersheets, envelopes, adhesive labels and stationery handed in by the public to be stamped to order. In his report Hill decided that postage should be prepaid by means of stamped covers, stamped envelopes, adhesive stamps and stamps struck on paper submitted by the public.
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| Essay Competition submitted by James Chalmers in 1839 |
The Need for Security
These needed to be designed with security uppermost in mind. The covers and envelopes were created by William Mulready with an imperial design which was widely caricatured when it was issued and had to be withdrawn. Adhesive stamps were based on an engraved head of Queen Victoria as this was the most difficult image to forge successfully. All items, with the exception of the stamped paper submitted by the public, became valid for postage on 6 May 1840. The most important and successful were the labels, the Penny Black and the Twopence Blue, the world’s first adhesive postage stamps.
Uniform postage charged by weight was first introduced on 5 December 1839 when it was reduced to 4d anywhere outside London. It was immediately successful, so much so that uniform penny postage was introduced on 10 January 1840. At the same time free franking was abolished, including that of Queen Victoria as an example to others.
These needed to be designed with security uppermost in mind. The covers and envelopes were created by William Mulready with an imperial design which was widely caricatured when it was issued and had to be withdrawn. Adhesive stamps were based on an engraved head of Queen Victoria as this was the most difficult image to forge successfully. All items, with the exception of the stamped paper submitted by the public, became valid for postage on 6 May 1840. The most important and successful were the labels, the Penny Black and the Twopence Blue, the world’s first adhesive postage stamps.
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| The Penny Black and Two Pence Blue |
Uniform postage charged by weight was first introduced on 5 December 1839 when it was reduced to 4d anywhere outside London. It was immediately successful, so much so that uniform penny postage was introduced on 10 January 1840. At the same time free franking was abolished, including that of Queen Victoria as an example to others.
Outcomes of the Reform
Postal reform was an immediate success. The number of chargeable letters in 1839 had been only about 76 million. By 1850 this had increased to almost 350 million and continued to grow dramatically. Revenue was initially cut but with the increase of letters it soon recovered. Adhesive postage stamps were gradually introduced throughout the world. With the change to charging by weight envelopes became normal for the first time.
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/rowlandhill
http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/The-Treasury-competition-2
http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/The-Treasury-competition-2
The Postal Reforms
The Post Office Reform
Then in January 1837 Rowland Hill published his pamphlet Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability. He had no doubt that the source of trouble lay in the complexity of the charges and the mixture of paid and unpaid letters. His solution was prepayment. The charge should be low and uniform and he recommended that it be 1d up to one ounce in weight. No mention was made initially of the method of prepayment. Later that month he suggested the use of stamped covers, an idea put forward before by Charles Knight. An official inquiry into aspects of the Post Office was still continuing and Hill was summoned to give evidence. He outlined his plan and expanded his idea of stamped covers. Then, referring to possible difficulties with people unable to write, he suggested the use of "a bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash." This suggestion was made in a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
This was eventually to become the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. When the inquiry reported later in 1837 the commissioners recommended Hill’s plan to reduce postal charges. They appended examples of stamped covers printed on John Dickinson’s silk-thread security paper.
The Campaign to Reduce Postal Charges
After a campaign by Robert Wallace a parliamentary Select Committee was appointed with him as chairman to look into postal charges with a view to reducing them without loss of revenue. At the same time, in early 1838, a private Mercantile Committee on Postage was set up, consisting of merchants agitating for lower postal rates. Hill was a member of the Committee and Henry Cole was made its Secretary. Cole threw himself into organising petitions and arranged for a newspaper, The Post Circular, to be published as a propaganda sheet for postal reform. In the fourth issue of the newspaper a letter from James Chalmers of Dundee was reprinted. Chalmers had written to Wallace in December 1837, and later to the Post Office, suggesting for ‘slips’ to prepay postage. He also supplied examples which he had designed and printed, and which he cancelled with a datestamp to prevent re-use.
Uniform Penny Postage
Wallace published the final report of the parliamentary Select Committee in March 1839 recommending most of Hill’s ideas but with a uniform 2d rate. This resulted in a lot of activity and some action was demanded of the Government. Public pressure meant that Lord Melbourne, the Liberal prime minister, promised a bill in favour of uniform penny postage. This was passed and given the Royal Assent on 15 August. It enabled the reduction of postage rates to a uniform penny regardless of distance but measured by weight. Free franking would be abolished and prepayment would be in the form of stamped paper, stamped envelopes and labels, though this would not be compulsory. Rowland Hill was appointed to the Treasury to oversee the implementation of his ideas, with Henry Cole as his assistant.
Then in January 1837 Rowland Hill published his pamphlet Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability. He had no doubt that the source of trouble lay in the complexity of the charges and the mixture of paid and unpaid letters. His solution was prepayment. The charge should be low and uniform and he recommended that it be 1d up to one ounce in weight. No mention was made initially of the method of prepayment. Later that month he suggested the use of stamped covers, an idea put forward before by Charles Knight. An official inquiry into aspects of the Post Office was still continuing and Hill was summoned to give evidence. He outlined his plan and expanded his idea of stamped covers. Then, referring to possible difficulties with people unable to write, he suggested the use of "a bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash." This suggestion was made in a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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| Rowland Hill's letter to letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer |
This was eventually to become the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. When the inquiry reported later in 1837 the commissioners recommended Hill’s plan to reduce postal charges. They appended examples of stamped covers printed on John Dickinson’s silk-thread security paper.
The Campaign to Reduce Postal Charges
After a campaign by Robert Wallace a parliamentary Select Committee was appointed with him as chairman to look into postal charges with a view to reducing them without loss of revenue. At the same time, in early 1838, a private Mercantile Committee on Postage was set up, consisting of merchants agitating for lower postal rates. Hill was a member of the Committee and Henry Cole was made its Secretary. Cole threw himself into organising petitions and arranged for a newspaper, The Post Circular, to be published as a propaganda sheet for postal reform. In the fourth issue of the newspaper a letter from James Chalmers of Dundee was reprinted. Chalmers had written to Wallace in December 1837, and later to the Post Office, suggesting for ‘slips’ to prepay postage. He also supplied examples which he had designed and printed, and which he cancelled with a datestamp to prevent re-use.
Uniform Penny Postage
Wallace published the final report of the parliamentary Select Committee in March 1839 recommending most of Hill’s ideas but with a uniform 2d rate. This resulted in a lot of activity and some action was demanded of the Government. Public pressure meant that Lord Melbourne, the Liberal prime minister, promised a bill in favour of uniform penny postage. This was passed and given the Royal Assent on 15 August. It enabled the reduction of postage rates to a uniform penny regardless of distance but measured by weight. Free franking would be abolished and prepayment would be in the form of stamped paper, stamped envelopes and labels, though this would not be compulsory. Rowland Hill was appointed to the Treasury to oversee the implementation of his ideas, with Henry Cole as his assistant.
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/rowlandhill
Saturday 25 June 2011
What was it like before the Postal Reforms?
Rowland Hill's Reforms
The reforms introduced by Rowland Hill in the Victorian period changed the face of the British postal service for ever. He opened up what had been a complex and expensive system to a much wider public. This coincided with an increase in literacy and together with this, resulted in greatly increased communication.
The reforms introduced by Rowland Hill in the Victorian period changed the face of the British postal service for ever. He opened up what had been a complex and expensive system to a much wider public. This coincided with an increase in literacy and together with this, resulted in greatly increased communication.
Before the Reforms
Before 1840, the British postal system was highly complex and very expensive. Letters were charged by distance and the number of sheets of paper they contained. Normally, the charge was paid by the recipient. As a result people often 'cross-wrote' their letters to save money. However, a large number of items travelled free, especially a certain number of letters to and from Members of both Houses of Parliament, and things such as newspapers. There were also a lot of anomalies and a number of local systems with different charges. The system was widely abused and ripe for reform.
After the Napoleonic Wars postage rates were high. They were designed as a tax to raise revenue. A typical single letter from Dublin to London would cost 1s 3d - a lot of money in those days. Two sheets of paper doubled the cost, three tripled it. However, there were a lot of local services – Penny Posts – which charged an extra 1d for delivery, although only 1d in total was charged for mail within the extent of the local post. In the case of some cities this area was quite large, Glasgow, Manchester and Dublin being particular examples. The London area was originally a Penny Post but by this time the charge had risen to 2d, or 3d for outlying country areas. In Scotland there was an additional charge of ½d for all letters carried by mail coaches, and similar tolls were levied for certain bridges such as the Menai Bridge. All Members of Parliament, Commons and Lords, had the right to frank and receive a number of letters free. This also applied to others by virtue of their position. As a result, correspondents frequently asked their MP to frank their post so that it travelled free. Various ideas were proposed to improve the system and various official inquiries took place. Nothing happened, despite the best efforts of Robert Wallace, a persistent parliamentary critic.
Robert Wallace (1773 – 1855) was a Scottish politician. He was an electoral franchise reformer and agitator for postal service reform. He was elected to the Westminster Parliament as the member for Greenock in 1832, sitting for that constituency until 1845.Robert Wallace was the founder of the campaign for cheap postage. He appeared in 1835 before the commission of enquiry set up to consider postal service reform.
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| A Cross-written Letter |
After the Napoleonic Wars postage rates were high. They were designed as a tax to raise revenue. A typical single letter from Dublin to London would cost 1s 3d - a lot of money in those days. Two sheets of paper doubled the cost, three tripled it. However, there were a lot of local services – Penny Posts – which charged an extra 1d for delivery, although only 1d in total was charged for mail within the extent of the local post. In the case of some cities this area was quite large, Glasgow, Manchester and Dublin being particular examples. The London area was originally a Penny Post but by this time the charge had risen to 2d, or 3d for outlying country areas. In Scotland there was an additional charge of ½d for all letters carried by mail coaches, and similar tolls were levied for certain bridges such as the Menai Bridge. All Members of Parliament, Commons and Lords, had the right to frank and receive a number of letters free. This also applied to others by virtue of their position. As a result, correspondents frequently asked their MP to frank their post so that it travelled free. Various ideas were proposed to improve the system and various official inquiries took place. Nothing happened, despite the best efforts of Robert Wallace, a persistent parliamentary critic.
Robert Wallace (1773 – 1855) was a Scottish politician. He was an electoral franchise reformer and agitator for postal service reform. He was elected to the Westminster Parliament as the member for Greenock in 1832, sitting for that constituency until 1845.Robert Wallace was the founder of the campaign for cheap postage. He appeared in 1835 before the commission of enquiry set up to consider postal service reform.
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/rowlandhill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wallace_%28MP_for_Greenock%2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wallace_%28MP_for_Greenock%2
Treasures of the Archive at the BPMA
The British Postal Museum and Archive (BPMA) is custodian of two significant collections that together span 400 years of postal heritage: the Royal Mail Archive and the museum collection of the former National Postal Museum. Records in the Royal Mail Archive are Designated as being of outstanding national importance.
An exhibition of treasures from the collections of the BPMA. From a pistol carried by a Mail Coach Guard in the 1800s, to a bag of evidence from the Great Train Robbery of 1963, the objects on display represent the great wealth of material looked after by the BPMA in The Royal Mail Archive and Museum Collection. Special highlights of the exhibition include one of the only complete sheets of Penny Blacks in the world, and the Old Original die of 1840 from which all Penny Blacks and many Penny Reds were created. From September 2011, the exhibition will also include unique material celebrating the centenary of the world's first regular Aerial Post from Hendon to Windsor established as part of the celebrations for the coronation of King George V.
An exhibition of treasures from the collections of the BPMA. From a pistol carried by a Mail Coach Guard in the 1800s, to a bag of evidence from the Great Train Robbery of 1963, the objects on display represent the great wealth of material looked after by the BPMA in The Royal Mail Archive and Museum Collection. Special highlights of the exhibition include one of the only complete sheets of Penny Blacks in the world, and the Old Original die of 1840 from which all Penny Blacks and many Penny Reds were created. From September 2011, the exhibition will also include unique material celebrating the centenary of the world's first regular Aerial Post from Hendon to Windsor established as part of the celebrations for the coronation of King George V.
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| The "Old Original" die from which most Penny Blacks and Penny Reds were made from. |
BPMA Search Room
Freeling House
Phoenix Place
London
WC1X 0DL
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/treasures#-Gallery
The 1840 Rainbow Colour Trials
The colour trials are popularly known as the rainbow trials. They start in March 1840, for selecting the colour of the stamp, the penny black was issued on May 6th. The first trial plate had only three impressions. The "Rainbow" Color Trials were produced to experiment with various different combinations of stamp andcancellation inks. The First Trial was a small plate of three impressions without corner letters and with the topright corner of each impression voided. The impressions of this trial show the "O" Flaw later seen on the issued stamps from Plates 7, 8, 9 and 10. Proofs are known:
a) On paper watermarked Small Crown in mauve-pink, lilac-brown, blue-black.
b) On similar paper dipped in prussiate of potash in blue-black.
c) On white wove paper in deep blue.
d) On white wove paper dipped in prussiate of potash in deep blue.
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| First trial plate of three stamps (DP19) |
The Second Trial Plate produced twelve impressions instead of three in the case of the first trial. The second trial exists in three states. The trial produced impressions without the "O" Flaw and Flaw and thecorner letters were also voided. The upper right corner of each plate was by filling in the plate grooves with wax. The second trial was for experimenting with printing inks, cancellation ink and different papers. The stamps for these trials were printed in blocks of twelve, they had voided corner and no corner letters. The trials continued until Nov 1840. The work on the second series of trials resulted in the stamp colour changing from black to red in Feb 1841 and the cancellation from red to black as well as a new ink for the 1841 two pence stamp.The three states are described as follows:
State 1: Proof sheets in this state are known in black, orange-red, reddish-brown and deep blue.
State 2: Same as State 1 but with a tiny dash at the bottom line of the south-east corner square of the second stamp of the third row. Proof sheets are known as follows:
a) On white wove paper dipped in prussiate of potash in lilac-pink, lilac- rose, dull rose-red, deep blue.
b) On stout rough white wove paper in black, rose-red, deep blue.
c) On thin white wove paper in bright pink, lilac-rose, dull rose-red, deep rose-red, lilac-brown, deep red-brown, black, red, blue, deep dull lue, prussian-blue, dull lilac.
d) On thick bluish laid paper (June 1840) in dull red, brownish rose-red, deep rose-red.
e) A proof in black on paper stained with prussiate of potash, logwood and cochineal, giving a lilac- rose tinge to the paper (August 1840).
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| Second trial plate of twelve stamps (3x4) DP20 |
In State 3 the voided corners are more uniform in shape compared with the ragged corners of the States 1 and 2. Proof sheets are known as follows:
a) On white wove paper dipped in prusiate of potash in red, red-brown, rose-red, deep blue, black.
b) On white wove paper in red, pale red, red-brown, crimson red, dull blue, deep blue, prussian blue, yellow-green, deep green. (See illustred example above).
c) On Small Crown watermarked paper, usually sideways (September 1840), in red-brown, blue d) On thick bluish laid paper (November 20 1840), in blue, dull blue, green, bluish-green, dark olive-green, drab.
e) On thick bluish laid paper dipped in prussiate of pot ash (November 1840), in dark olive-green.
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| Rainbow Trial in red-brown Second Trial State 3 |
http://www.imagesoftheworld.org/stamps/colour-trials-1840.htm
Ormond Hill die proofs - Die I and Die II
Take note of the variations of the portrait showing Queen Victoria. That will quickly help you discern the different die proofs. From left to right: Die I (1840) OLD ORIGINAL; Die 2 (1854) New; and Die 2
Source: http://www.imagesoftheworld.org/stamps/old_original_and_new.html Scans courtesy Mark Bloxham Stamps
Friday 24 June 2011
William Wyon and the Portrait of Queen Victoria
Princess Victoria was born May 24 1819, she became Queen in 1837 aged 18, and died in Jan 22, 1901 aged 81, she reigned for 63 years. She was twenty when the penny black was issued on 6th May 1840. Over her 61 year reign, she never ages, all the stamps are based on William Wyon's head.
William Wyon (1795-1851) became chief engraver at the Royal Mint in 1828, in 1834 he modelled the head of Princess Victoria when she was 15, and this was subsequently used for the City Medal struck in 1837 to celibrate her first visit to the City of London after her accession to the throne when she was 18. This was the model for the head on the line-engraved stamps of 1840-79, the embossed stamps of 1847-54 and the postal stationary 1841-1901. The primary die used for the embossed issue was engraved by William Wyon, and the 1s and 10d stamps have the initials ww along with the die number at the base of the neck. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1838.
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| Wyon medal in silver, note: W. Wyon. R.A. detail (R.A.=Royal Academy) |
His design also influenced the surface-printed stamps first printed in 1855. The name of William Wyon is also well known amongst coin and medal collectors because of his prodigious output and artistic skill. In all portraits of Queen Victoria on British stamps the hair goes above the ear and over the crown as on the Wyon medal. Queen Victoria also faces to the left on all the stamps.
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| Wyon city medal 1837 (Bronze) |
Source: http://www.imagesoftheworld.org/stamps/wyon.htm
Recommended Books on Great Britain Postage Stamps 1840-1901
Catalogues
1. Stanley Gibbons. Great Britain Specialised Stamp Catalogue Vol 1: Queen Victoria 15th ed. 2008 (new edition every ~2-4 years) a "Must Have" for the QV specialist
2. Collect British Postmarks: The Handbook to British Postal Markings and Their Values, J.T.P. Whitney
2. Collect British Postmarks: The Handbook to British Postal Markings and Their Values, J.T.P. Whitney
3. GB Concise. Useful as a handy reference, useful if you do not want to become too specialised or if you just want updated catalogue values (new edition every year)
Historical Info
Historical Info
1. Robson Lowe. The British Postage Stamp of the nineteenth century, 1968 (This is an excellent book both for historical info and pictures of rare Victorian stamps)
Plating guides
Plating guides
1. J B Seymour and C. Gardiner-Hill. The Postage Stamps of Great Britain. Part 1 Imperforate line-engraved Issues (useful for historical info, this contains sheet marginal markings of line-engraved stamps)
2. Litchfield, Guide lines to the Penny Black
2. Litchfield, Guide lines to the Penny Black
Source: http://www.imagesoftheworld.org/stamps/books.htm
The V.R. Official Penny Black
In addition to the general issue of the Penny Black postage stamps, a similar stamp was produced which had the letters V and R in the top corners replacing the stars. The intention of this issue was that it would be for use on official mail. Following the general public's acceptance of the postage stamps and the ridicule of the Mulready letter sheets which had been produced at the same time, vast supplies of the letter sheets were given to government departments, such as the tax office, for official use. The idea of introducing an official stamp, as such, was abandoned. Only a few postally used examples exist, which probably originated from the Post Office circulars sent out as advance notice that the new stamps would be brought into use. Four are known on cover; all four were cut from their envelopes, but then replaced. However, most of the cancelled examples are from trials which were made for cancellation types, inks, and experiments with their removal. These trials led to the change from black to red stamps and vice versa for the cancellations.
The VR official is stated to have been made from the original master die. However, this cannot be the case as this die still exists with the original stars intact; this is housed in the National Postal Museum in London. It is believed that the master for this stamp was produced from the transfer roller used for the production of plate 1 with the stars removed from the top corners as some impressions show traces of these original stars.
Intended purely for use by official government departments, the V.R Official Penny Black featured the letters ‘V’ and ‘R’ (the Latin initials for ‘Victoria Regina’ - Queen Victoria) in the top corners but was never issued, in fact nearly all were destroyed. 3471 sheets were printed but only 21 were saved of which 13 were sent to Somerset House to be used on circulars to postmasters. One further sheet was sent to postmasters as a guide of what the new 1d Black issue would look like. The vast majority of the supplies which had been printed were destroyed on 25 January 1843. 21 sheets survived, a few of the stamp passed (invalidly) through the posts, and Rowland Hill used some to experiment with cancellation techniques. Unused examples today go for above US$5,000.
Penny Blacks coupled with the rarity of the V.R Official variety make these particular Penny Blacks immensely desirable. The figures reflect this. The catalogue value for a single unused example has shown growth of 300% over the past decade whilst used examples from the cancellation trials have gained a very healthy 133.33% in value. At the time of writing we have 3 investment grade examples: a very fine unused strip of three, signed on the reverse by Postmaster General and postal reformer Sir Rowland Hill, a pristine unmounted mint example and a very fine unused imprimatur; Imprimatur stamps are from the first sheet printed from an approved and finished printing plate, therefore making this example one of only 33 possible.
Source: http://www.hotlinecy.com/Stamps/PennyBlackLayout.pdf
http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/columns/high-value-rarities/5317/the-rarest-of-penny-blacks-high-value-rarities-5317.html
http://mousely.com/encyclopedia/VR_official/
Imperforate Penny Blacks
Penny Black stamps were imperforate. This meant that the postmaster or mistress had to cut out the stamps from the sheet by hand. As a result of careless cutting, many of the stamps have incomplete margins, the cuts often extending into the printed area of the stamp.
Because the Penny Blacks were not perforated, the seller had to cut out the stamps from the sheet using scissors or a knife. There was only about 1mm between the stamps and it was not unusual to accidentally cut into the printed section of the stamp, resulting in irregular margins. The number, size, and regularity of the margins make all contribute to the value of the Penny Black stamp. For example, a Penny Black with two full margins and a reasonable amount of the other two margins is regarded as an average specimen. Stamps with four, regular margins are exceptional, and collectors will pay higher prices for these stamps.
Between 1848 and 1854 trials were carried out in order to find a better and more acceptable way of separating stamps than the scissors and in early 1854 the first ‘perforated’ penny red was issued.
Between 1848 and 1854 trials were carried out in order to find a better and more acceptable way of separating stamps than the scissors and in early 1854 the first ‘perforated’ penny red was issued.
Source: http://www.pennyblackstamp.co.uk/printing_penny_black_stamps.html
The Printing of Penny Black Stamps
The Penny Black, also known as the 1d black, was printed from eleven plates, each of which being individually identifiable. The stamps were printed using the line engraved (gravure, recess) printing method. Penny Black stamps were printed by Perkins, Bacon and Petch. The actual presses used were very old dating from 1819 having been built by an American from Boston, called Joseph Perkins. However, they were efficient and continued producing British stamps until 1870. Stamps for the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Trinidad and Western Australia were also printed on the press. 11 different printing plates were used. However, many of the 11 plates had more than one state due to various repairs and re-entries. Plate 1, the first plate to be use, deteriorated in quality very quickly and had to undergo serious repairs so that it is generally considered as two separate plates - 1a and 1b. Serious collectors of Penny Black stamps can usually work out what stamp a plate was printed from by identifying the small characteristics of each plate. Examples of these characteristics include the "O flaw", ray flaws, guide lines or double. Some plates are rarer than other plates and plate 11 is the scarcest. Plate 11 is unusual in that the first printings were made in red ink at the end of January 1841. However, they were followed on the first and second of February by a short two-day run of 700 sheets. Despite this, plate 11 is still considered on of the ‘black’ plates.
When the printing plates were produced the lower squares were blank, and the letters were punched in by hand into the printing plate. As a consequence, the position of the letters in relation to the edges of the surrounding square varied. This attribute of the stamps allows expert collectors to be able to identify which plate an individual stamp comes from. The corner letters of stamps were hand punched up until 1864. These stamps all have letters in the 2 bottom corner squares only. The upper corner squares contain stars. After 1864, line engraved issues had letters in all 4 corner squares and these letters were engraved rather than being hand punched. More significantly, they also had the plate numbers engraved onto the stamp, making the process of identifying a plate much simpler.
Source: http://www.pennyblackstamp.co.uk/printing_penny_black_stamps.html
Buying Penny Blacks from eBay
All in all, knowledge is power. Buy from a reputable source for a peace of mind. Here at Pennyblackstore, we offer stamps that are genuine and of high quality, assuring collectors stamps of value. The main problem when buying Penny Black stamps is that there are many forgeries on the market. For example, an expert forger can take a stamp and 'clean' it so that it appears to be in mint condition. Evidence of cleaning can only be confirmed by expert dealers such as Stanley Gibbons in London. Here are some tips to follow when buying Penny Black stamps on eBay:
1. If you buy from an auction, always make sure you have full contact details of the person who sold you the stamp.
1. If you buy from an auction, always make sure you have full contact details of the person who sold you the stamp.
2. Take it to an expert dealer for valuation if you are unsure.
3. Never bid for a stamp if the photograph looks vague or blurred or the wording of the listing is ambiguous.
4. Feedbacks scores are a good indicator of a sellers reliability, but be cautions. Some people selling stamps might not be aware themselves that they are selling forgeries.
5. Always pay with PayPal as this will allow you to open a dispute if a Penny Black stamp that you buy turns out to be a forgery. Once you supply a written description of the true nature of the stamp provided by an expert, PayPal will refund your money.
Source: http://www.pennyblackstamp.co.uk/buying_penny_black_stamps_on_ebay.html
Last Penny Black Press Unveiled
The ancient contraption, dating from 1819, was one of several presses housed in the London printers Perkins, Bacon and Petch. Invented by an expatriate American from Boston, called Joseph Perkins, it continued producing British stamps until 1870. The press was also used to produce stamps in the colonies, including those for the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Trinidad and Western Australia. David Beech, head of philatelic collections at the British Library, said: "In 1840 Britain's postal service led the world. "Reforms of the Post Office brought about an inexpensive service and the introduction of the first postage stamp, the One Penny Black - an idea since copied throughout the world.
The British Library is now exhibiting the only remaining printing press used to print the famous Penny Black postage stamp in its production. You can find information on the opening times of the British Library here: http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/quickinfo/loc/stp/opening/index.html
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2618419.stm
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Recommended Books
Guide Lines to the Penny Black by P.C. Litchfield
One of the most authoritative guides on the Penny Black. This book provides a detailed description of each one of the 2880 stamps produced and the plates from which it was printed. This book was originally published in September 1949 and remains an essential guide for anyone who collects Penny Black Stamps or who is interested in early Victorian line engraved issues. Litchfield takes the reader through the varied history of the Penny Black stamp providing clear explanations of how it was produced from its initial conception and design to the finished product. The book looks at the setting of the soft steel rollers, the hardened steel plates and defects in the printing technique that results in flaws. Litchfield lists the position of every letter from AA, AB, AC etc. to TJ, TK and TL. He also notes the characteristics of a stamp that may help link the stamp to a particular plate. These oddities are printing defects such as the presence ray flaws, “O” flaws, guide lines or double impressions. The book is currently out of print but second hand copies can be obtained from Amazon or occasionally on ebay.
External Book Review:
Nearly 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 collecting the Penny Black stamp or whose stamp collection centres on early Victorian line engraved issues. Litchfield's lively history and clear explanations of the entire process of creating the world's first stamp from its initial conception and design through to the setting of the soft steel rollers and eventual hardened steel plates and the consequential tell-tale “defects” that this complicated procedure left behind is essential reading for all philatelists regardless of their individual specializations.
Undoubtedly Litchfield's greatest contribution to the study of the Penny Black, as the title suggests, is in his guide lines to identifying and plating individual stamps. Starting at check letters AA, then AB, AC etc. working through to TJ, TK and TL, he lists the position of each and every letter and notes all known oddities that may help link the stamp to a particular plate such as the presence or not of ray flaws, “O” flaws, guide lines or double impressions. Illustrated throughout with helpful diagrams, this is a book philatelists of all ages and experiences will turn to again and again.
Source: http://www.pennyblackstamp.co.uk/penny_black_books.html
One of the most authoritative guides on the Penny Black. This book provides a detailed description of each one of the 2880 stamps produced and the plates from which it was printed. This book was originally published in September 1949 and remains an essential guide for anyone who collects Penny Black Stamps or who is interested in early Victorian line engraved issues. Litchfield takes the reader through the varied history of the Penny Black stamp providing clear explanations of how it was produced from its initial conception and design to the finished product. The book looks at the setting of the soft steel rollers, the hardened steel plates and defects in the printing technique that results in flaws. Litchfield lists the position of every letter from AA, AB, AC etc. to TJ, TK and TL. He also notes the characteristics of a stamp that may help link the stamp to a particular plate. These oddities are printing defects such as the presence ray flaws, “O” flaws, guide lines or double impressions. The book is currently out of print but second hand copies can be obtained from Amazon or occasionally on ebay.
External Book Review:
Nearly 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 collecting the Penny Black stamp or whose stamp collection centres on early Victorian line engraved issues. Litchfield's lively history and clear explanations of the entire process of creating the world's first stamp from its initial conception and design through to the setting of the soft steel rollers and eventual hardened steel plates and the consequential tell-tale “defects” that this complicated procedure left behind is essential reading for all philatelists regardless of their individual specializations.
Undoubtedly Litchfield's greatest contribution to the study of the Penny Black, as the title suggests, is in his guide lines to identifying and plating individual stamps. Starting at check letters AA, then AB, AC etc. working through to TJ, TK and TL, he lists the position of each and every letter and notes all known oddities that may help link the stamp to a particular plate such as the presence or not of ray flaws, “O” flaws, guide lines or double impressions. Illustrated throughout with helpful diagrams, this is a book philatelists of all ages and experiences will turn to again and again.
Source: http://www.pennyblackstamp.co.uk/penny_black_books.html
http://www.pennyblack1840.com/guidelines-to-the-penny-black/
How Many Penny Blacks were Printed?
The low value (½d, 1d, 1½d and 2d) line-engraved stamps continued to be used until 1879. The ½d and 1½d stamps were introduced in 1870, the ½d stamp was used for the popular new postcard rate. Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co completed their printing contract for the line-engraved stamps on 31 Dec 1879. The total number of stamps produced from the Penny Black Plates were:
Source: http://www.imagesoftheworld.org/stamps/sg2.htm
| Plate | Registered | Number issued (in black) | In red |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1a | 15 Apr 1840 | 10,052,400 | - |
| 1b | - | - | yes |
| 2 | 22 Apr 1840 | 7,659,120 | yes |
| 3 | 9 May 1840 | 4,786,800 | - |
| 4 | 19 May 1840 | 6,701,760 | - |
| 5 | 1 June 1840 | 8,616,480 | yes |
| 6 | 17 June 1840 | 9,095,040 | - |
| 7 | 8 July 1840 | 8,137,680 | - |
| 8 | 31 July 1840 | 7,180,320 | yes |
| 9 | 9 Nov 1840 | 3,840,000 | yes |
| 10 | 9 Dec 1840 | 1,920,000 | yes |
| 11 | 27 Jan 1841 | 168,000 | yes |
Source: http://www.imagesoftheworld.org/stamps/sg2.htm
Rare Penny Black Stamp fetches £15,000
Rare stamps found on a stack of letters hidden in an attic have been sold at an auction for more than £10,000. The most valuable was a rare Penny Black - among the first postage stamps issued by the UK in 1840 - which fetched £4,500.The letters and over 400 stamps had been found encrusted in bird droppings in a derelict building in north Wales. Auctioneer Gordon Morris said: "The owner's very happy, we did as well as we could in the present climate." The most expensive Penny Black - from a rare issue, plate 11 - has a catalogue value of £15,000. But Mr Morris said it went for a good price "even with the recession biting hard". "Just a few days ago I watched an auction but the stamps were not selling," he said. About 100 people had turned up to the sale at Aqueduct Auctions in Froncysyllte, Denbighshire, with more placing bids via the telephone and internet.
Most of the 27 Penny Black stamps and 400 Penny Reds and Penny Red-Browns, issued between 1841 and 1848, have now been sold for around £200 or less. One of the Penny Red-Brown stamps, which was postmarked for Wotton-under-Edge, was sold for £2000. The owner, who does not want to be identified or disclose the exact value of his sales, had attended the auction with his wife.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8052440.stm
Postal Reformer Sir Rowland Hill
Rowland Hill first started to take a serious interest in postal reforms in 1835. In 1836 the Robert Wallace MP, provided Hill with numerous books and documents, which Hill described as a “half hundred weight of material”. Hill commenced a detailed study of these documents and this led him to the publication, in early 1837, of a pamphlet entitled “Post Office Reform its Importance and Practicability”. He submitted a copy of this to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Thomas Spring-Rice, on 4 January 1837. This first edition was marked “private and confidential” and was not released to the general public. Hill was summoned by the Chancellor to a meeting at which the Chancellor made a number of suggestions and requested a supplement which Hill duly produced and supplied it to the Chancellor on 28 January 1837.
Rowland Hill then received a summons to give evidence, before the Commission for Post Office Enquiry, on 13 February 1837. During his evidence, Hill read from the letter he had written to the Chancellor which included the statement “…by using a bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash…”. This was the first publication of a very clear description of an adhesive postage stamp. It must be remembered that the phrase postage stamp did not yet exist at that time. Shortly afterwards the second edition of Hill’s booklet, dated 22 February 1837, was published and this was made available to the general public. This booklet, containing some 28,000 words, incorporated the supplement he gave to the Chancellor and the statements he made to the Commission. The proposals made by Rowland Hill led directly to the reform of the postal system in Great Britain and the introduction of the first postage stamp, the Penny Black.
Source: http://www.stampdomain.com/stamp_invention/index.htm
Security Measures on the Penny Black
To avoid defrauding the Post Office of revenue it was agreed that security had to be a major consideration. James Chalmers of Dundee reiterated his idea of labels which could be cancelled to indicate payment, some suggested envelopes and others, wafers or labels. It was decided that for security, the background was made of white-line machine engraving as used on banknotes and supplied by the printers Perkins Bacon & Petch. In addition, each stamp had its own 'small crown' watermark. After one false start when the die did not transfer well, a new die was engraved. For extra security Hill decided there should be variable lettering on each stamp, 'A A' to 'A L' horizontally in the sheet, and 'A A' to 'A A' vertically. There were 240 impressions as 240 pennies made £1. To prevent their re-use a cancellation was devised – the Maltese Cross – which was to be used with red ink. Unfortunately it proved possible to remove this without damaging the label, so within a year the colour of the printing ink had to be changed to red-brown and the cancellation to black.
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/pennyblack
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/pennyblack
The Design of the Penny Black
The design for the adhesive labels was based on the head of Queen Victoria sculpted by William Wyon for his so-called City Medal commemorating Queen Victoria’s visit to the City of London in November 1837 (shown below). This was based on a sketch when she was only 15 and was to remain as her image on stamps to the end of her reign. Wyon’s medal was sketched by Henry Corbould and this was used by Charles and Frederick Heath to engrave the head on to a die for printing by line engraving.
Source: http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/pennyblack
Rare Penny Black Hidden in Attic
A stack of Victorian letters hidden in the attic of a derelict building has proved a valuable find after a rare Penny Black stamp was found. It is among 27 Penny Blacks, first issued in the UK in 1840, and found on letters impaled on spikes in the loft. It has a catalogue value of £15,000 but its condition means auctioneers in Denbighshire value it at £5-6,000. The letters were encrusted with bird droppings which may have helped preserve the stamp collection of 400. The stamps, including Penny Reds, were found in the property in north Wales, with many valued at £200 each. Colin Knights, owner of Aqueduct Auctions in Froncysyllte in Denbighshire, said they were found by chance as the building was being cleared. He said the owner of the stamps had almost emptied the letters into a tip, "but by chance happened to see what was underneath a solidified crust of bird droppings". After removing the crust, old letters, some complete with stamps, were revealed. Among the find were 27 Penny Black stamps and 400 Penny Reds and Penny Red-Browns issued between 1841 and 1848. The most valuable Penny Black is from a rare issue, plate 11. Mr Knights said: "It seems an old business had saved all their old letters by impaling them on letter spikes, and they had been kept in the roof space where birds had been getting in." Most of the envelopes were postmarked for nearby areas including Wrexham, Mold and Liverpool, a few were marked to London and Manchester.
Mr Knights added: "It's interesting to think what other hidden items are lying about and awaiting discovery. "We just don't know what interesting and valuable items may still get thrown away because no-one looks at them properly." According to Mr Knights there were many more of these old letters but someone had thrown half of them away before the roof space was cleared. The auction was held at Aqueduct Auctions on 15 May 2009.A new post from us later will report more on the auction results for the Penny Black.
PB04: Crisp Detailing on a Rich Black Background, Very Nicely Cancelled
Code PB04: SG2 / 1840 issued Penny Black 1d Black: 4 margins. Rich black backrop, showing a good contrast to the Queen Victoria profile, the K-H stamp would have been cut from nearly the middle of the stamp sheet. As observed from the stamp, the words POSTAGE and ONE PENNY are printed with a thicker bold text. The rich red Maltese Cross superbly contrasts with the black background, making this a stunning piece for any serious collector. This particular piece comes from a very much less encountered, if not scarce Plate 6. £265.00 SOLD plus postage, shipped from the United Kingdom. A very nice and honest piece!
