Valour and Victory: Royal Mail’s Tribute to WWII Heroes

As part of its ongoing effort to honour the nation’s past through philately, Royal Mail has issued a remarkable new stamp set titled “Valour and Victory: Stories of the Second World War.” Released on 1 May, this powerful issue marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, shining a spotlight on the extraordinary […]

The Penny Black: A Revolutionary Milestone in Postal History

Date Issued: 1 May 1840 Catalogue Reference: Stanley Gibbons No. 1 Watermark: Small Crown Cancellation: Red Maltese Cross The Penny Black holds a special place in the history of philately as the world’s first adhesive postage stamp issued for public use. Its debut on 1 May 1840 forever changed how postage was handled, marking the […]

The Birth of the Two Penny Blue

Following the success of the Penny Black, the Two Penny Blue was introduced to cover the postage cost for double-weight letters or for unstamped mail sent collect. Designed to encourage prepayment of postage, it bore the same iconic engraving of Queen Victoria but distinguished itself with a striking blue hue and a higher denomination. Despite […]