Thanks to Steve Logan, I have a new (to me) Penny Black for the 1st page of my 1st album. IMO, every collector should have a PB, just to pay homage to it for being the 1st stamp ever and what that means to our hobby. I don' collect anything but US, however, I am going to set up my page 1 a bit different than you might normally see. I am going to mount a 'stampless cover', representing the era before stamps, then my new Penny Black, and finally a US 1 and 2. That will be page one, and represent beginnings. I already have the stampless, a US 1, and now the PB... So all I need to build completely is a US 2. I'll get it set up with what I have, and scan it... but that'll be at least a week from now. Thanks Steve!
I hadn't heard of them until now, and after seeing the price and rarity, all I can say is wow and congrats. Can't wait to see it!
The Penny Black was not really a rare stamp, there were just over 68million issued in the year that they were in use. so even at a 2% survival rate would mean there 1.3million still kicking about around the world, i would think that it would be higher than 2% though! for me the most valueable stamp would have to be the SG43 1d Red Plate 77, now with only 1 sheet of these printed that would only be 240 stamps at time of issue, and it is estimated Cat Val is in excess of £150k, now if you find one of those lying about please send i will be happy to show it off for you lol But all that said, the Penny black was the first ever adhesive postage stamp and that in its own right means every collector would like at least one in their collection, i have 3 now, as i sent one out.
it depends on the quality and the plate number plate 11 only had 240,000 stamps issued, so that makes it a rare item and could go for 2-3k used and a lot more mint you can pick up nice lined 1d blacks from about £25.00 depending on plate and watermark, small crowns are a lot more common than large crowns then take in to account the cancel a red maltese cross makes the stamp a lot more valueable, than a black numbered cancel
I have heard of the penny black stamp, but haven't been able to get my hands on one. I've been close though!
If you check out my early GB thread you will see one went to stampex in London last week and spent quite a bit of time drooling over some early stuff until the stall owner asked me not to drown his stamps lOL
That's one crazy-interesting stamp, I'll have to be on the lookout on the auction sites. ratio411: I can't wait to see the scans!
No, lol. Originally, it costed one cent, but because of its rarity, the worth has gone up significantly. Depending on the condition, of course.
Not one cent but one Penny we do not use cents in the UK at the time we used Pounds/Shillings/Pence they were shown like this £/s/d today we have a decimal system and use pounds/pence shown like this £/p There were 240 old style pence to £1 12d to 1/- shilling 20/- shillings to £1 Now there is 100p to £1 Simple really LOL
and i am not quite old enought to remember the 1/4d or Farthing as it was known but do remember the 1/2d half penny, and you used to be able to get a bag of sweets when i was a boy for that, and tupence was a fortune lol what ever happened to all them lovely coins!
Alright, that's clears it up. I thought it was weird that you couldn't find a penny black if it was so common, but that clears stuff up, thanks.
I, being from the USA, was always curious about this topic. Are those denominations equal to (in terminology/nomenclature only as I know there is a monetary difference) our Cents & Dollars? You guys use measurements we can't even begin to understand! like "That must weigh 10 stone or more!" & "It was at least 5 hands high!". Always fascinated me and I am of English heritage (Mohican & German too). What's a "stone" equal in pounds? Also... Why did the chicken cross the road?
