
In general circulation for little over a year the Penny Black is something of an iconic stamp.
"…A bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash."
This was the first mention of what became the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. The quote came from Rowland Hill as he was answering the questions of a parliamentary enquiry into the Post Office service in February 1837.
Hill had recently published a pamphlet Post Office reform. Its Importance and Practicality, where he had challenged the expensive and extremely complex postal rates that were then in force.
His suggested solution was a low, uniform rate of prepaid postage based on weight.
At the time the postal service was prohibitively expensive for most people to use. Sending a single letter could cost as much as a working man’s daily wage.
MINIATURE SHEET
GUERNSEY POST PRICE: £2.00

FIRST DAY COVER (FDC)
GUERNSEY POST PRICE: £3.20

PRESENTATION PACK
GUERNSEY POST PRICE: £2.90

ISSUE DATE: | 1 May 2015 |
DENOMINATIONS: | £2 |
STAMP DESIGN: | Keith Robinson |
PRINTER: | Lowe-Martin |
PAPER: | 110gsm Unwatermarked PVA Adhesive |
PRINTING PROCESS: | Offset Lithography |
STAMP SIZE: | 70 mm x 110 mm |
MINIATURE SHEET STAMP SIZE: | 28.8 mm x 28.8 mm |
PERFORATION: | 12.5 |
SHEET LAYOUT: | - |
CYLINDER: | A |