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Development & Usage of the World's First Postage Stamps

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Exhibit provided by
Simon Beresford-Wylie
This exhibit traces the development and usage of the world's first postage stamps, from the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post on 10 January 1840 to the 1d and 2d stamps issued in 1840 and 1841.

Included in the exhibit are examples of entries to the 1839 Treasury competition, original and late proof printings for the 1d and 2d issues (rejected and accepted dies), and examples (imprimaturs, mint, used and covers) from all of the first plates used to print the 1d and 2d issues (1d plates 1‑11 and 2d plates 1‑2).

The title sheet is the one used when eight frames of the exhibit were shown at the London 2022 international exhibition. The exhibit was awarded a Large Gold medal, and was shortlisted for the Grand Prix National. Additional material is included here making a total of seventeen frames.

The titles give a summary of the contents of each page, but closer inspection is recommended!

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Frame 1

  1. Introduction
THE BEGINNING – UNIFORM PENNY POST
  1. Post Office Notice announcing Uniform Penny Post
  2. First Day of Use
  3. First Day of Use
  4. First Day of Use
  5. First and Second Days of Use
  6. Second Day of Use
ESSAYS
  1. James Chalmers Essays (1890 Reprints)
  2. Pre‑issue letter sheet and envelope essays
  3. Pre‑issue letter sheet and envelope essays
  4. Treasury Competition – Charles Whiting
  5. Treasury Competition – Charles Whiting
  6. Treasury Competition – Charles Whiting
  7. Treasury Competition – Charles Whiting
  8. Treasury Competition – Charles Whiting and Robert Sievers
  9. Treasury Competition – Charles Whiting (1862 Reprints)
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Frame 2

ESSAYS (cont)
  1. Treasury Competition – James Bogardus and Francis Coffin
  2. Charles Whiting – Three‑Colour Printing in red, green and grey
  3. Charles Whiting – Three‑Colour Printing in yellow‑buff, flesh‑pink and brown
1d PROOFS AND TRIALS
  1. 'The Genesis Plate' – Original Pull 1825
  2. 'The Genesis Plate' – Reprint 1936
  3. 'The Genesis Plate' – Reprint 1936
  4. Rejected Die for the ld stamp – Original Pull 1840
  5. Rejected Die for the ld stamp – Reprints
  6. Combination Proof
  7. Accepted Head and Background
  8. Approved Die – Master Die Proof
  9. Approved Die – The Unique Used Master Die Proof
  10. Approved Die – Stars Added to Upper Corners – Late Proofs
  11. VR Official
  12. Rainbow Trials and Cancellation Experiments
  13. Rainbow Trials
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Frame 3

1d BLACK (GENERAL)
  1. Plate la to 11 – Unused Examples
1d PLATE 1 (State A)
  1. Introduction
  2. First Official Day of Use
  3. First Official Day of Use
  4. First Official Day of Use
  5. Block of Four and Strips of Four Early Impressions
  6. Second Official Day of Use
  7. Third Official Day of Use
  8. Fourth Official Day of Use
  9. First Sunday Usage
  10. Sixth Official Day of Use
  11. Seventh Official Day of Use
  12. Seventh Official Day of Use
  13. Eighth Official Day of Use
  14. Ninth Official Day of Use
  15. Ninth Official Day of Use
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Frame 4

1d PLATE 1 (State A) (cont)
  1. 15 May 1840 Usages
  2. May Usages
  3. Second Sunday Usage
  4. Thirteenth Official Day of Use
  5. Fourteenth Official Day of Use
  6. 19 May 1840
  7. 20 May 1840
  8. 20 May 1840
  9. 21 May 1840
  10. 23 May 1840
  11. 23 May 1840
  12. Third Sunday Usage
  13. June Usage
  14. Vertical and Horizontal Strips of Four
  15. Re‑Entries: HB, HD, OA and PB
  16. Examples Showing Moderate to Heavy Plate Wear
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Frame 5

1d PLATE 1 (State A) (cont)
  1. Early Examples Showing Little to No Plate Wear
  2. Late Examples Showing Moderate Plate Wear
  3. Late Examples Showing Moderate to Heavy Plate Wear
  4. Late Use and Late Examples
1d PLATE 1 (States B and C, Repaired and Hardened)
  1. Block of Thirteen and Block of Four
  2. Unused Block of Four and Mixed Usages
  3. 4d Rate, up to Two Ounces
  4. Block of Four and Strips of Six and Four
  5. Non‑Coincident Re‑Entries
  6. Re‑Entries
  7. 6d Rate, up to Three Ounces
  8. CL, on Letter‑Sheets, Showing Re‑Entry
  9. Mixed Usage – Plate lb and 3
  10. Vertical and Horizontal Strips of Three
  11. Single Examples
  12. Single Examples
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Frame 6

1d PLATE 1 (States B and C, Repaired and Hardened) (cont)
  1. Single Examples (Black and Red)
  2. Single Examples
  3. Single Examples (Black and Red)
  4. Single Examples (Black and Red)
  5. Colour changed to Red
  6. Plate 1c – Second Repair to Plate 1
1d PLATE 2
  1. Imprimaturs, Unused Pair, Used Block of eight
  2. Block of Eight, Strip of Eight
  3. Block of Four and Single Examples
  4. Tenth Day of Use
  5. 18 May 1840
  6. 29 May 1840
  7. Fourth Sunday Usage
  8. Falkland Receiving House Mark Used as Charge Mark
  9. 8 July 1840 – Irish Usage
  10. 18 July 1840 – Block of Four
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Frame 7

1d PLATE 2 (cont)
  1. Blood Red Maltese Cross – 19 June 1840
  2. Blocks of Four on Cover in Black and Red
  3. Single Examples
  4. First State
  5. 16 December 1840 – Ipswich to London
  6. Interesting Postmarks
  7. Single Examples (including re‑entries)
  8. Single Examples (including re‑entries)
  9. Turned Entire
  10. Plate 2 in Red – Multiples
  11. Plate 2 in Red – Ray Flaws
  12. Plate 2 in Red – Repaired Impressions
1d PLATE 3
  1. Imprimatur and Multiples
  2. Unused and Block of Four
  3. Mixed Plate Usage (3 and 6)
  4. 'Penny Post' Cancellations
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Frame 8

1d PLATE 3 (cont)
  1. Distinctive Check Letters
  2. Letter‑sheet from Falmouth to Dublin
  3. Letter‑sheets
  4. Used on Piece with Pen Cancellation
  5. Single Examples
1d PLATE 4
  1. Multiples and Sheet Marginal Examples
  2. Block of Four and Fraudulent Use
  3. Magenta Maltese Cross
  4. Multiples
  5. Adhesive on Reverse of Wrapper (Contrary to Regulations)
  6. Multiples
  7. The 'Spotted Plate'
  8. Late Fee
  9. Very Early Usage 25 May 1840
  10. Unused, Used Pair and Single Examples
  11. 30 May 1840 – Very early use for Plate 4
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Frame 9

1d PLATE 4 (cont)
  1. 2d Rate – Up to One Ounce
  2. Single Examples
  3. Plate 2 and Plate 4 on Turned Cover
1d PLATE 5
  1. Imprimaturs, Unused Marginal Block of Six, First Three States {PB)
  2. Unused Pair, Blocks of Four, Interesting Postmarks
  3. Multiples and Sheet Marginal Examples
  4. Wotton‑Under‑Edge Maltese Crosses
  5. First State
  6. First State
  7. Mixed Usage with 2d Blues, Spilsby Additional Strike
  8. First State
  9. First State
  10. First State and Second State DC
  11. First State in Red – Block of Eight and Strip of Six
  12. First State in Black and Red
  13. First, Second and Third States in Red
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Frame 10

1d PLATE 6
  1. Unused Marginal Strip of Three, Block of Four
  2. Block of Six, Pairs
  3. 4d Rate Up to 2 Ounces and Returned Entire bearing two 1d Blacks Lettered SF
  4. Blocks of Four
  5. Strips and Sheet Marginal Examples
  6. Distinctive Double‑Lined Maltese Cross of Stonehaven
  7. Turned Entire (Plate 1b and Plate 6)
  8. Block of Four and Uses
  9. 8d Rate – Up to Four Ounces
  10. Experimental Black Maltese Cross
  11. First State, Re‑Entry, Interesting Postmarks
  12. Early Use of the Experimental Black Maltese Cross
  13. First State
  14. First State
  15. Single Examples
  16. Single Examples
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Frame 11

1d PLATE 7
  1. Unused and Used Blocks of Four
  2. Trial Cancellations – Irregular Reconstructed Strip of Eight on Experimental Paper
  3. Block of Four on Large Wrapper
  4. Pair Used Together With 2d Blue
  5. 'O' Flaw Stage 2 Multiples
  6. No 'O' Flaw Multiples
  7. Used on Cover
  8. No 'O' Flaw Single Examples
  9. Block of Four on Letter‑sheet
  10. Unused and Single Examples 'O' Flaw Stage 2
  11. Turned Cover – Correspondence From One Lady to Another
  12. Letter sheet from Lancashire to London
  13. Wrapper to Kirkcudbright
  14. Early Stage of 'O' Flaw and No 'O' Flaw, Re‑entry
1d PLATE 8
  1. Imprimatur and Block of Four
  2. Unused Sheet Marginal Examples Showing 'O' Flaw Stage 1, Brown Maltese Cross
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Frame 12

1d PLATE 8 (cont)
  1. Multiples
  2. Multiples – 'O' Flaw Stage 2
  3. Cancelled by Red and Black Maltese Crosses, Amlwch Penny Post Handstamp
  4. A Very Strange Cover
  5. 1d Red Brown GF First State, Showing Stage 2 'O' Flaw on Cover
  6. Single Examples with Re‑entries DL, DL, TJ and TJ
  7. Single Examples – Black and Red
  8. Letter sheet from Manchester to London
  9. Single examples 'O' flaw Stage 2
  10. Single examples 'O' flaw Stage 2
  11. 'O' Flaw Stage 2 – Edinburgh Local Use Letter Sheet Bearing 1d Red
  12. 1d Red Multiples
  13. 1d Red – First and Second States
  14. 1d Red – Examples Showing 'O' Flaw Stage 2
  15. 1d Red – Farnham to Falmouth Cover and Vertical Strip of Five
1d PLATE 9
  1. Unused Block of Six in Black and Unused Block of Four in Red
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Frame 13

1d PLATE 9 (cont)
  1. Matched Blocks of Four DK‑EL in Black and Red, Sheet Marginal Examples
  2. London Experimental Black Maltese Cross Hand‑Stamp
  3. Multiples – 'O' flaw Stage 2
  4. Letter‑sheet to Sunderland with 1d Deep Black MA, Matched 1d Red
  5. Single Examples – 'O' flaw Stage 2
  6. Single Examples – 'O' flaw Stage 2
  7. 1d Red – The Two Known Re‑Entries EH and NK, Double letters OA, HB and TB, Multiples
  8. 1d Red – London Head Office Numbers 2 and 7 in Maltese Cross
  9. 1d Red – First State – Multiples
  10. 1d Red – Small letter sheet from Edinburgh to Aberdeen
  11. 1d Red – London to Abingdon, Interesting Postmarks
  12. 1d Red – First, Second and Third States
1d PLATE 10
  1. Multiples
  2. Entire Bearing a Strip of Six
  3. Second State Unused and Used Examples, Matched Marginal Examples JL, Red Maltese Crosses
  4. Violet Maltese Cross, P Converted to R
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Frame 14

1d PLATE 10 (cont)
  1. 'O' flaw Stage 2
  2. Red Maltese Cross Cancellation on 2d Rate Cover
  3. Newcastle on Tyne to Arbroath
  4. Local London Letter‑sheet
  5. 1d Red – Original State Re‑joined Block of Nine, Mint Vertical Pair, Strip of Six, Interesting Cancellations
  6. 1d Red – Re‑joined Block of Nine Ancillary Notes
  7. 1d Red – Original State – Mint and Used Multiples Stage 3 'O' flaw, Singles No 'O' flaw
  8. 1d Red – Blue Maltese Cross of Truro
  9. 1d Red – 'O' flaw Stage 2
1d PLATE 11
  1. Unused Block of Four and Strip of Five
  2. Red Maltese Cross handstamps, Matched Black and Red Pairs DC‑DD
  3. Single Examples
  4. Two Entires Addressed in the Same Hand
  5. Strip of Three and Single Examples
  6. Marginal Example, Covers
  7. Single Examples (including cover with matched red)
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Frame 15

1d PLATE 11 (cont)
  1. 1d Red – Strip of Six, Single Examples
  2. 1d Red – Unmounted Mint Block of Eight, Strip of Four and Pair Cancelled Red Maltese Crosses
  3. 1d Red – Multiples
  4. 1d Red – Multiples
  5. 1d Red – 4d Rate Up to Two Ounces – Block of Four
  6. 1d Red – Single Examples
  7. 1d Red – Original State with Matched Pairs
  8. 1d Red – Original State
  9. 1d Red – Original State
  10. 1d Red – Various States
2d PROOFS
  1. Two Pence Die – Lower Corners Blank, Upper Corners Stars Added
  2. Ormond Hill Die Proof – Lower Corners Blank, Upper Corners With Stars
  3. Ormond Hill Die Proof – Two Pence Retouched Die Proofs (1871)
2d PLATE 1
  1. Unused Block of Four, Used Multiples
  2. 10d Rate Up to 5 Ounces – Irregular Block of Five on Cover
  3. Multiples
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Frame 16

2d PLATE 1 (cont)
  1. Combination Cover With Two 2d Blues and a 1d Black
  2. Multiples, Singles including Wotton‑Under‑Edge Maltese Cross
  3. Brown Maltese Cross of Haddington
  4. Multiples
  5. The 'Three Kisses' Cover
  6. Multiples
  7. 4d Rate Up to Two Ounces – Two Shades of Blue on Cover
  8. Mixed Usage with 1d Reds
  9. 6d Rate (3‑4 Ounces)
  10. Multiples, Single Examples
  11. Forwarding Charge Shown By Means of a "2" Handstamp of Ayr
  12. Plate 1 Distinguishing Features
  13. Letter‑sheet dated 23 September 1840
  14. Scottish 'OHMS' wrapper, dated "27 Febry '44
  15. Strip of Four, Pairs, Singles
2d PLATE 2
  1. Block of Ten, Strip of Four, Pairs
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Frame 17

2d PLATE 2 (cont)
  1. Block of Six, Strips of Three, Pairs
  2. Block of Four, Private Roulette, Blue Maltese Cross, Vertical Pair, Wotton‑Under‑Edge Maltese Cross, Strip of Nine
  3. Strips of Four, Three and Six
  4. 1/- rate (up to six ounces) – Block of Six on Letter‑sheet
  5. Strip of Five, Strip of Four, Unused Marginal Pair, Strip of Three
  6. Distinguishing Features, TA Re‑Entry, Interesting Postmarks
  7. Mixed Usage With 1d Black, Single Examples
MISCELLANEOUS
  1. Prince Consort Essay (1850)
  2. 'Royal' Reprint and Paris Exhibition Proof
  3. South Kensington Reprint (1872)
  4. 1d Mulready Letter‑sheet – Very Late Usage
  5. 2d Mulready Envelope – Very Late Usage
  6. Charles Whiting – Printing Example
  7. Uniform Penny Post 6 May 1840 – Prepaid Lettersheet From Halifax to London
  8. Overseas Mail 6 May 1840 – Wrapper from London to Madeira
  9. 1d Black Cancelled by Nottingham Circular Date‑Stamp?