Penny Black, Queen Victoria

United Kingdom · 1840 · 1d (One Penny)

The world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black features a profile portrait of Queen Victoria. The design, based on a medal by William Wyon, is set against an intricate engine-turned background. The corners feature star-like designs, and the letters at the bottom indicate the stamp's position on the printing plate.

Issued as part of Sir Rowland Hill's postal reforms, the Penny Black revolutionized communication by introducing a prepaid, uniform postage rate. Its issuance on May 1, 1840, marks the birth of modern philately.