The Penny Black is the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system.
It was first issued in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840 but was not valid for use until 6 May.
The stamp features a profile of Queen Victoria.
The Penny Black was the brainchild of Rowland Hill, a British postal reformer.
Hill argued that the existing postal system was inefficient and unfair.
Under the old system, the recipient of a letter paid the postage, regardless of how far it had traveled.
This meant that people in rural areas often paid more for postage than people in urban areas.
Hill proposed a new system in which the sender would pay the postage in advance.
This would make the postal system more efficient and fairer.
Hill also proposed that the postage be a flat rate, regardless of the distance traveled.
This would make it easier for people to send letters, especially to distant destinations.
The Penny Black was a huge success.
It helped to simplify the postal system and make it more affordable for everyone.
The Penny Black also helped to increase the volume of mail being sent.
In the first year after its introduction, the number of letters posted in the UK increased by 50%.
The Penny Black is still considered a landmark in the history of the postal service.
It is one of the most popular and collectible stamps in the world.
The stamp is 1.
6 cm (0.
63 in) in diameter.
It is printed in black ink on a gummed paper backing.
The design features a profile of Queen Victoria, facing left.
The words "Postage One Penny" are printed above the portrait, and "Great Britain" is printed below.
The stamp is housed in a protective binder.
This will help to keep it in good condition.
The stamp was printed by Perkins, Bacon & Company.
About 68 million Penny Blacks were issued.
The Penny Black was followed by other denominations of postage stamps, including the Twopenny Blue and the Threepenny Orange.
The Penny Black remained in use until 1844, when it was replaced by the Penny Red.
However, it remains a symbol of the postal service and a reminder of the important role that Rowland Hill played in its history.
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