1853 the 1st royal mail
A great piece of postal history!
Yes, 1853 was a significant year for the Royal Mail, as it marked the introduction of the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp. The Penny Black was a major innovation in postal services, making it easier and more convenient for people to send letters.
Here are some interesting facts about the Penny Black:
- First adhesive stamp: The Penny Black was the first postage stamp to be printed with adhesive backing, making it easy to stick onto envelopes.
- Designed by Henry Corbould: The stamp was designed by Henry Corbould, a British artist and engraver.
- Queen Victoria's portrait: The stamp features a portrait of Queen Victoria, who was the monarch of the United Kingdom at the time.
- Penny postage: The stamp was priced at one penny, making it affordable for the average person to send a letter.
- Mass production: The Penny Black was printed in large quantities, with over 400 million stamps produced in the first year alone.
- Popular among the public: The Penny Black was a huge success, with many people collecting and using the stamps to send letters.
- End of the postage bill: The Penny Black marked the end of the postage bill system, where the recipient of a letter was responsible for paying the postage.
The Penny Black was a significant innovation in postal services, making it easier and more convenient for people to communicate with each other. It paved the way for the development of modern postal systems and the widespread use of postage stamps.