{"product_id":"1840-penny-black-t-g-w-red-maltese-cross-certified-presentation-collection-national-postal-museum-book","title":"1840 Penny Black T-G w\/ Red Maltese Cross – Certified Presentation Collection + National Postal Museum Book","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"493\" data-end=\"584\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"493\" data-end=\"584\"\u003eTHE STAMP THAT CHANGED THE WORLD - AN EXTRAORDINARY PENNY BLACK PRESENTATION COLLECTION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"586\" data-end=\"857\"\u003eOffered here is a remarkable collector’s presentation built around one of the most important objects in postal history: an \u003cstrong data-start=\"709\" data-end=\"752\"\u003eoriginal Great Britain 1840 Penny Black\u003c\/strong\u003e, widely recognized as the world’s first adhesive postage stamp issued for use in a public postal system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"859\" data-end=\"1219\"\u003eThis is far more compelling than a single loose stamp. The Penny Black is preserved in a handsome presentation portfolio and accompanied by \u003cstrong data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1126\"\u003e“The Story of the Penny Black and its Contemporaries” by A. G. Rigo de Righi, Curator of The National Postal Museum, London\u003c\/strong\u003e, together with the original accompanying letter from \u003cstrong data-start=\"1180\" data-end=\"1219\"\u003eThe Excelsior Collectors Guild Ltd.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1221\" data-end=\"1520\"\u003eThe stamp itself displays a \u003cstrong data-start=\"1249\" data-end=\"1292\"\u003estriking red Maltese Cross cancellation\u003c\/strong\u003e, the classic cancellation associated with the earliest days of British prepaid postage. The lower corner check letters appear to read \u003cstrong data-start=\"1427\" data-end=\"1434\"\u003eT–G\u003c\/strong\u003e, allowing the stamp to be associated with its original position on the printed sheet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1522\" data-end=\"1585\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1522\" data-end=\"1585\"\u003eA small piece of paper that helped create the modern world.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1888\"\u003eBefore 1840, postage was generally complicated and often paid by the recipient. Sir Rowland Hill’s postal reforms introduced a revolutionary idea: a simple, uniform postal rate that could be \u003cstrong data-start=\"1778\" data-end=\"1824\"\u003eprepaid by attaching a stamp to the letter\u003c\/strong\u003e. The Penny Black became the physical symbol of that revolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1890\" data-end=\"2174\"\u003eIt was officially placed into use on \u003cstrong data-start=\"1927\" data-end=\"1941\"\u003e6 May 1840\u003c\/strong\u003e, during the reign of the young Queen Victoria. Its famous portrait was based on an image of Victoria created from a medal design by \u003cstrong data-start=\"2074\" data-end=\"2090\"\u003eWilliam Wyon\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the engraved profile became one of the most recognizable designs in philately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2176\" data-end=\"2417\"\u003eOne fascinating feature of genuine Penny Blacks is that they \u003cstrong data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2266\"\u003edid not have perforations\u003c\/strong\u003e. Each stamp had to be cut by hand from a sheet with scissors, which is why the margins surrounding individual surviving examples vary so dramatically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2419\" data-end=\"2953\"\u003eEven the cancellation tells part of the story. Early Penny Blacks were normally cancelled with the elaborate \u003cstrong data-start=\"2528\" data-end=\"2545\"\u003eMaltese Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e handstamp. The cancellation was initially applied in red ink, as seen on this example. Postal authorities later discovered that the red cancellation could sometimes be removed, creating the possibility of reuse. This contributed to the move toward black cancellation ink - and ultimately to the replacement of the black stamp itself by the \u003cstrong data-start=\"2884\" data-end=\"2897\"\u003ePenny Red\u003c\/strong\u003e, where a black cancellation could be seen more clearly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"2955\" data-end=\"3113\"\u003eThat makes the combination of a \u003cstrong data-start=\"2987\" data-end=\"3037\"\u003eblack 1840 stamp and visible red Maltese Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e one of the quintessential visual signatures of the birth of postage stamps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3115\" data-end=\"3146\"\u003eIncluded in this collection\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"3148\" data-end=\"3811\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3148\" data-end=\"3184\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3150\" data-end=\"3184\"\u003e1840 Great Britain Penny Black\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3185\" data-end=\"3249\"\u003eUsed example with prominent \u003cstrong data-start=\"3215\" data-end=\"3249\"\u003ered Maltese Cross cancellation\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3250\" data-end=\"3296\"\u003eLower corner letters appearing to be \u003cstrong data-start=\"3289\" data-end=\"3296\"\u003eT–G\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3297\" data-end=\"3348\"\u003eProtective display capsule and presentation mount\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3379\"\u003eBound presentation portfolio\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3380\" data-end=\"3439\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"3382\" data-end=\"3439\"\u003e“The Story of the Penny Black and its Contemporaries”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3440\" data-end=\"3556\"\u003eBook authored by \u003cstrong data-start=\"3459\" data-end=\"3482\"\u003eA. G. Rigo de Righi\u003c\/strong\u003e, identified on the cover as Curator of The National Postal Museum, London\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3557\" data-end=\"3623\"\u003eOriginal accompanying \u003cstrong data-start=\"3581\" data-end=\"3623\"\u003eExcelsior Collectors Guild Ltd. letter\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3624\" data-end=\"3752\"\u003eLetter states that the stamp was examined and certified as genuine by noted British philatelic expert \u003cstrong data-start=\"3728\" data-end=\"3752\"\u003eLeon Norman Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"3753\" data-end=\"3811\"\u003eAn unusually complete, display-ready historical ensemble\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3813\" data-end=\"3844\"\u003eWhy this example stands out\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"3846\" data-end=\"4230\"\u003eMany Penny Blacks encountered today are offered simply as individual stamps in dealer cards or plastic sleeves. \u003cstrong data-start=\"3958\" data-end=\"3998\"\u003eThis example tells the entire story.\u003c\/strong\u003e The stamp, early postal-history cancellation, museum publication, presentation materials and accompanying documentation combine into a collection that can be displayed and appreciated even by someone who has never collected stamps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4232\" data-end=\"4421\"\u003eIt represents a turning point when communication ceased to be primarily a privilege of distance and wealth and began moving toward the inexpensive, prepaid system we take for granted today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4423\" data-end=\"4554\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4423\" data-end=\"4554\"\u003eThe Penny Black lasted only a short time as Britain’s principal one-penny stamp—but the idea it introduced conquered the world.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4556\" data-end=\"4627\"\u003eThis would make an exceptional centerpiece for a collection devoted to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4629\" data-end=\"4810\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"4629\" data-end=\"4810\"\u003eGreat Britain • Queen Victoria • Penny Black • Classic Philately • Postal History • Victorian History • Firsts in History • Communications History • Museum \u0026amp; Historical Displays\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4812\" data-end=\"4825\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"4827\" data-end=\"5184\"\u003ePlease study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description. The stamp is used and shows the characteristics expected of a postage stamp approaching two centuries of age. Cancellation, margins, paper, mounting\/presentation materials and accompanying documents should all be judged from the supplied high-resolution photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"5186\" data-end=\"5427\"\u003eThe accompanying letter makes specific statements regarding prior examination\/authentication; these statements are being represented \u003cstrong data-start=\"5319\" data-end=\"5364\"\u003eas part of the accompanying documentation\u003c\/strong\u003e, rather than as a new independent certification by the seller.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sireena's Vintage Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67654523191577,"sku":"1","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/8995\/0233\/files\/IMG_2146.jpg?v=1791145703","url":"https:\/\/sireenasvintagegallery.com\/products\/1840-penny-black-t-g-w-red-maltese-cross-certified-presentation-collection-national-postal-museum-book","provider":"Sireena's Vintage Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}