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 |