1d Black

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The Penny Black, issued on the 1st May 1840 by Perkins Bacon & Co., was the world’s first adhesive stamp. The design by William Wyon shows Her Majesty Queen Victoria in profile. The Penny Black was the first stamp to depict a British monarch, but also the first to depict a woman. 127 years later and the iconic artwork of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin is the most reproduced image in the world. Since it was issued in 1967, over 300 billion copies have been printed by Royal Mail. Women have been represented on stamps for their titles, for momentous occasions and for their contributions to society. In the next two display cases, we will be highlighting some of these influential women. Object: A pair of rhodium plated cufflinks with Penny Black design. Donated by Brian Birch in 2014.