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Until the mid-19th century, Great Britain's postal system was in a state of chaos. Sending a letter was an expensive and complicated affair, full of illogical rules. The main burden of the cost fell not on the sender, but on the recipient, which often led to refusals to accept correspondence.
Until the mid-19th century, Great Britain's postal system was in a state of chaos. Sending a letter was an expensive and complicated affair, full of illogical rules. The main burden of the cost fell not on the sender, but on the recipient, which often led to refusals to accept correspondence.
The cost of postage depended not on weight, but on the distance and the number of sheets in the letter. This encouraged people to resort to tricks: writing in small letters and using the thinnest paper. A complex system of tariffs and widespread corruption made the mail a service accessible only to wealthy citizens.
The solution to the problem was proposed by the British reformer Rowland Hill. In 1837, he published a pamphlet, 'Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability,' in which he laid out revolutionary ideas. The key proposal was the prepayment of postage at a single low rate, regardless of distance.
To confirm payment, Hill proposed using a small piece of paper with an adhesive layer on the back—a postage stamp. Thus, on May 1, 1840, the world's first stamp, the 'Penny Black,' went on sale. It featured a profile of the young Queen Victoria and had a face value of one penny. It officially began to be used for sending letters on May 6, 1840.
The appearance of the 'Penny Black' caused a real revolution. The postal service became accessible to everyone, leading to a sharp increase in correspondence volume. This contributed to improving literacy, developing trade, and strengthening social ties between people separated by distance.
At the same time, people began to pay attention to the stamps themselves. Their elegant design and the variety of postmarks sparked interest. Gradually, simple gathering turned into systematic collecting, which became known as 'philately.' Thus, a small piece of paper not only changed the communication system but also created a new global hobby.
Many believe that the world's first stamp should also be the most expensive, but this is not the case. In philately, value is primarily determined by rarity, not historical significance. The 'Penny Black' was issued in a huge print run for its time—more than 68 million copies.
Thanks to such a large print run, many copies have survived to this day, and a common 'Penny Black' in good condition can be purchased for a relatively modest sum. The most expensive stamps in the world are those issued in very limited quantities or having unique printing errors, such as the 'British Guiana 1c Magenta,' of which only a single copy exists.
| Valuation Factor | Description |
| Margins | Stamps were printed without perforations and were cut by hand. Specimens with wide, even margins on all four sides are valued significantly higher. |
| Cancellation | Initially, a red 'Maltese Cross' postmark was used. Black, blue, or other cancellation colors, as well as unusual postmarks, can increase the value. |
| Condition | Any defects—tears, creases, thin spots in the paper, or stains—drastically reduce the stamp's price. |
| Printing Plate | A total of 11 printing plates were used. Stamps printed from the last, 11th plate, are the rarest and most expensive, as their print run was minimal. |
Despite its general availability, the value of a specific 'Penny Black' specimen can range from tens to tens of thousands of dollars. The value is determined by a combination of several key factors that every collector should know.
To distinguish an ordinary specimen from a real treasure, one must pay attention to the details. The stamp's condition, margin width, type and color of the postmark, and the printing plate number all play a crucial role in determining the final price at auctions.
