Great Britain Penny Black, Queen Victoria

Great Britain · 1840 · 1d

The Penny Black features a profile portrait of Queen Victoria, based on a sketch by Henry Corbould which was in turn based on the 1837 City Medal by William Wyon. The design is simple yet elegant, with intricate engine-turned background patterns to deter forgery, and corner letters indicating the stamp's position on the printing plate.

Issued on May 1, 1840, the Penny Black is the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. Its introduction was a key part of the postal reforms championed by Rowland Hill, which standardized rates and introduced the concept of prepayment.