| Postal Stamp Image |
: |
 |
| Stamp Issue Date |
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06/05/1990 |
| Postage Stamp Dinomination |
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6.00 |
| Postal Stamp Serial Number |
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1404 |
| Postal Stamp Name |
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PENNY POST |
| Stamp Information |
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150th Anniversary of First Postage Stamp
The first adhesive postage stamp issued in Britain 150 years ago. It was a small, square piece of paper, black in colour and showing the Queen's head and postage of one penny.This stamp is popularly known as "Penny Black". The Penny Black was put on sale on1st May, 1840, though it was valid for postage only from 6th May, 1840. This stamp, which became a trend-setter, hasan interesting background.
In 1837, Sir Rowland Hill had published two pamphlets on Post Office Reforms and collection of postage by means of stamps. Though these pamphlets, he pleaded forthe introduction of a uniform postage rateof one penny per half ounce weight regardless of the distance and prepayment of postage. In the context of payment of postage.Hill suggested the issue of 'small stamped labels". His idea of these lables was declared as "a bit of paper just large enough to bear a stamp".
To obtain a suitable design for the adhesive stamp, the Treasury organised a competition. Even though 2600 enteries were received, non was considered suitable for use.Ultimately, Hill decided to use the Queen's portrait in the size and formate a shown on the Tax Tables. For the portrait he selected the design of the Queen's head as engraved on the commemorative City Medal of1837 by WilliamWyon. Henry Corbould, a London artist, was commissioned to prepare the water colour based on Wyon's medal for the postage stamp. The design was printed i Black colour for the one penny stamps and in blue colour for the two pence samps though the latter was not available till 8thMay, 1840.
Items of stationary like letter sheets, wrapper and envelops (named after William Mulready the designer) were the most famous though the least popular. Phepenny Blacks were in use for less than a year and were replaced by the Penny red in 1841.
After the issue of the Penny Blacks, one country after the other started issuing postage stamps. India embarked on stamp issues in 1852 when the Scinde Dawk's were isued for use in Sind and on the Bombay-Karachi route. |
| Philatelic Stamp Description |
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The stamp depicts the Penny Black on a cover "cancelled as the first postage stamp." The stamp has been designed by Madhukar Deogawanka. The First Day Cover reproduces an outline of the Mulready envelop Cancellation design is by Smt. Alka Sharma. |
| Stamp Currency |
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R |
| Stamp Type |
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COMMEMORATIVE |
| Stamp Language |
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English |
| Stamp Overall Size |
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2.90 X 2.90 cms |
| Postal Stamp Print Size |
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2.54 X 2.5 cms. |
| Number of Stamps Per Sheet |
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55 |
| Stamp Perforations |
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13 x 13 |
| Postal Stamp Shape |
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Diagonal |
| Postage Stamp Paper |
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Unwatermarked adhesive Gravure coated stamp paper |
| Indian Stamp Process |
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Photogravure |
| Number of stamps printed |
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15,00,000 |
| Stamp Printed At |
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India Security Press |
| Indian Stamp's Color |
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Multicolour |
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