- Hill’s 1837 Pamphlet: In 1837, Hill published a pamphlet titled “Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability.” In it, he argued for a uniform, prepaid postal system where postage would be paid by the sender through the purchase of an adhesive stamp.
- Uniform Penny Post: Hill’s idea was to charge a uniform rate of one penny for letters weighing up to half an ounce, regardless of distance within the UK. This would dramatically lower costs and simplify the system.
- Adhesive Stamp Concept: Hill proposed using small adhesive labels to prepay postage, ensuring that letters were paid for upfront and would not be refused by recipients.
Hill’s reform proposals quickly gained public and political support, leading to parliamentary approval and the creation of a new postal system.
Designing and Issuing the Penny Black
With the reforms approved, the next step was designing the first postage stamp.
- The Penny Black’s Design: The stamp features a finely engraved profile of Queen Victoria, based on a cameo created by artist William Wyon when Victoria was just 15 years old. The image, set against a black background, was both elegant and authoritative.
- Technical Details: The stamp measured 19mm x 22mm and included corner letters to identify its position on the printing plate. The black color was chosen because it contrasted well with the red cancellation mark.
- Printing: The Penny Black was printed using line engraving by the firm Perkins, Bacon & Co., known for high-quality printing. The first stamps were produced in April 1840.
- Official Issue Date: The Penny Black became valid for use on May 6, 1840. Although it was officially issued on this date, pre-sale availability had begun on May 1 in some post offices. shutdown123