Exhibits : The Queen's Own : Postal Reforms : World's First Stamps : The 1840 Penny Black The Queen's Own: Stamps That Changed the World The World's First Postage Stamps: The 1840 Penny Black Letter with uncanceled Penny Black, May 5, 1840 Ten Penny Blacks on cover, May 6, 1840 Plate 1 imprimatur impression, April 18, 1840 (pre-hardening) Plate 1 imprimatur corner single, April 18, 1840 (pre-hardening) Plate 1 imprimatur impression, April 27, 1840 (post-hardening) Plate 1 imprimatur corner single, April 27, 1840 (post-hardening) Letter with Plate 1 Penny Black and official Post Office cancel, June 6, 1840 Plate 2 imprimatur impression, April 22, 1840 (pre-hardening) Plate 2 imprimatur impression, April 27, 1840 (post-hardening) Block of 6 Penny Blacks, Plate 2 Plate 3 imprimatur impression, May 9, 1840 Plate 4 corner single, used Letter with Plate 4 Penny Black, first known use of black-ink cancel Plate 5 imprimatur impression, June 1, 1840 (pre-hardening) Plate 5 imprimatur impresssions, June 11, 1840 (post-hardening) Plate 5 corner strip of 6 Penny Blacks Plate 6 corner pair of Penny Blacks, unused Trial printing, Plate 7 Penny Blacks, June 1840 (24-pound paper) Trial printing, Plate 7 Penny Blacks, June 1840 (24 pound paper) Trial printing, Plate 7 Penny Blacks, June 1840 (26 pound paper) Trial printing, Plate 7 Penny Blacks, June 1840 (adhesion tests) Samples of adhesive gums Plate 8 imprimatur impression, July 31, 1840 Plate 11 corner pair of Penny Blacks < Preceding | Next > The Exhibition: Home Introduction Postal Reforms Treasury Competition World's First Stamps  >Early Development  >1840 Penny Black  >1840 Twopenny Blue Enter the Penny Red Reform Goes Global Mulready Stationery Embossed Envelopes Rarities Coronation Issue Supplemental Material: Kids Page Order Booklet Related Web Sites Sponsors & Credits

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