(2 7/8 x 5 3/8” folded ) Original folded manuscript letter with the Penny Black (first postage stamp) properly posted October 19, 1840. The letter concerns finances.
A fine example of the world's first adhesive postage stamp issued by a public postal system, the famous British 1840 "Penny Black" one cent stamp with bust of Queen Victoria, facing left. It is properly used in 1840, the first year of issue. The cover bears a circular postmark from Kidderminster, England dated OC 19 1840 and was delivered to Warwick, England.
The portrait of Victoria was engraved by Charles and Frederick Heath, based on an 1837 medal by William Wyon. A portrait of Victoria remained on British stamps until her death in 1901. All British stamps still bear a portrait or silhouette of the monarch somewhere on the design. The first stamps did not need to show the issuing country, so no country name was included on them. The UK remains the only country in the world to omit its name on postage stamps; the monarch's image signifies the UK as the country of origin.
