Queen Victoria Penny Red, Imperforate

United Kingdom · 1841 · 1d (One Penny)

This iconic stamp features a left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria, based on a sketch by Henry Corbould. Known as the 'Penny Red', it replaced the Penny Black and was the primary postage stamp in the UK for nearly four decades. The design includes Maltese Cross cancellations and corner letters indicating its position on the printing plate.

Issued just one year after the world's first postage stamp (the Penny Black), the Penny Red was introduced to make the red cancellation ink more visible and prevent reuse. It represents a key development in the early days of the modern postal system.