Updated: Jul 5

The Penny black was the world’s first stamp and it was issued on the 1st of May 1840. But it was first used on the 6th of May 1840.

The Penny black has a portrait of queen Victoria. It was drawn by Charles Heath and his son Fredrick.

The Penny black lasted less than a year in circulation because the red seal was hard to see on the black design so people re-used the stamp. Therefore in 1841 the Penny Red was issued with black ink for the seal.

In 2019, a Penny Black can cost as little as £15 to £30 if it’s in poor to reasonable condition.
You might have to pay between £40 to £150 for a specimen of better quality, whereas a fine used example could fetch around £250 to £400.