PENNY BLACK USED 4 MARGINS + Souvenir Sheet & FDC

The Penny Black was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. It was first issued in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840 but was not valid for use until 6 May. The simple, yet elegant, design features a youthful profile of Queen Victoria, who was only 21 at the time of issue and she had only been on the throne for three years. The stamps were printed in sheets of 240 stamps but were imperforate so had to be cut by hand individually with scissors so some stamps come with tightly trimmed margins and some come with wider margins which are more desirable. The stamps were franked with either a black, or red, Maltese Cross to show that they had been used. This we can offer them in four margins showing. With each Penny Black stamp you will also receive a commemorative cover issued in 1980 to mark the 140th anniversary of the Penny Black, together with a souvenir sheet of 20 Isle of Man 1p stamps issued in 2015 to mark the 175th anniversary.