As most stamp collector already know the Penny Black is the world’s first adhesive postage stamp and was issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on May 1st 1840. Due to its significance this stamps is very popular and following my past article What are the most famous rare and valuable stamps?, I have been receiving a lot of questions about its value. Well let’s try to understand a bit more about this famous stamp and what affects its value.
Rarity
The Penny Black is not that rare a stamp, as there were 68,808,000 issued, yes 68 million! A substantial number of these have survived, largely because envelopes were not commonly used yet, letters being written, folded and sealed with wax, with the stamp and the address on the obverse. This meant that whenever a letter was filed in a lawyer’s office, bank, etc., the whole thing would be kept.
Small Crown watermark
Printing plates
The stamps were printed in sheets of 240, from engraved steel plates, on gummed paper with a single small crown watermark on each stamp. They were imperforated and had to be cut out with scissors. Over time, due to excessive wear, eleven different printing plates were used (plate 1 is usually differentiated into plate 1a and plate 1b), and it is possible in almost every case to work out which plate any individual stamp was printed from by little characteristics. Things like the positioning of the corner letters within their squares, the presence of the “O flaw”, which rays of the stars in the upper corners are broken at what points, and so on, can point to a correct plate identification, but specialized literature is required in order to do this. Some plates are scarcer than others, plate 11 being the rarest, intended originally solely for the new red stamps, only 16800 stamps were printed from this plate. These are now very rare.
Penny Black Printing Plates
|
Plate number |
Registered | Number issued |
| 1a, 1b | 15 Apr 1840 | 10,052,400 |
| 2 | 22 Apr 1840 | 7,659,120 |
| 3 | 9 May 1840 | 4,786,800 |
| 4 | 19 May 1840 | 6,701,760 |
| 5 | 1 June 1840 | 8,616,480 |
| 6 | 17 June 1840 | 9,095,040 |
| 7 | 8 July 1840 | 8,137,680 |
| 8 | 31 July 1840 | 7,180,320 |
| 9 | 9 Nov 1840 | 3,840,000 |
| 10 | 9 Dec 1840 | 1,920,000 |
| 11 | 27 Jan 1841 | 168,000 |
Cancellation
A special postmark was also introduced to cancel the stamps. Popularly known as the Maltese Cross. It was to begin with, in black. But since it was difficult to see a black postmark on a black stamp the color was changed to red. Many used examples of the period have killer cancellations, so that it could not be used again. The postal authorities were clearly worried that people might ‘clean’ the stamp so that it could be used again. The colour of the Penny Black was later changed to red for this very reason. Used examples with a light cancellation command a much higher premium on the market than heavily obliterated ones.
Penny Black with red cross / Penny red with black cross
Corner letters
The stamps were printed in sheets of 240 (20×12) and the stamps had corner letters (bottom left and right of the stamp) corresponding to its position on the plate. Starting with AA, AB, AC…to AL for the top row, the second row goes from BA to BL and the twentieth row from TA to TL. Four different alphabets were used in the course of time to form the corner letters. A penny black with the corner letters «JF» is shown below, as well as its position on the sheet.
|
AA |
AB | AC | AD | AE | AF | AG | AH | AI | AJ | AK | |
| BA | BL | ||||||||||
| CA | CL | ||||||||||
| DA | DL | ||||||||||
| EA | EL | ||||||||||
| FA | FL | ||||||||||
| GA | GL | ||||||||||
| HA | HL | ||||||||||
| IA | IL | ||||||||||
| JA | JF | JL | |||||||||
| etc | etc | ||||||||||
| . | . | ||||||||||
| . | . | ||||||||||
| SA | SL | ||||||||||
| TA | TB | TC | TD | TE | TF | TG | TH | TI | TJ | TK | TL |
Main factors affecting Value
1- The condition grading and centering. An unused or mint stamp is generally worth much more than a used one. The number, size, and regularity of the margins make a big difference to value. The stamps were not perforated, and had to be separated using scissors. As there is only about 1mm between one stamp and another, it is very easy to wander off just a little and cut into the printed design of the stamp. A stamp with two full margins and perhaps a couple of other part margins is about average. Collectors will pay higher prices for examples with four good, wide, and even margins.
2- The plate the stamp was printed from.
3- The overall appearance of the stamp. Any fault such as a thin, tear, crease, or stain will lower the value
Conclusion
The Penny Black is readily available on the collectors’ market today. However, because of its significance, this stamp in fine condition is in demand by collectors and therefore not cheap. It can be dangerously misleading to suggest values, as some readers of this will be naturally optimistic, others being natural pessimists (or realists!). In 2009, a used Penny Black in poor condition can cost as little as $20 and up to $300 for one in very nice condition, an unused or mint example would average around $1000 to $7000, depending if it has the original gum or not and if the margins around the stamp are close or wide. The retail price on these is steadily rising. By contrast, a used Penny Red is only $20 and a mint $450 in nice condition.
Very informative! I enjoyed reading the article. The plating process is not as complicated as I had first thought. Thank you.
hi
i just wondered if you could help me with the age of the stamp that i have.
It is s burgubdy red colour, one penny with the letters L top left and O in the top right
The bottom right is also an L but it is difficlut to see what the bottom wleft is
any advice would be appreciated
regarsd
Your stamp is probably the Penny Red. The Penny Red was Great Britain’s longest running stamp, from February 1841 to the end of November 1879. It was used for the standard letter postage rate of 1d and approximately 21 billion were issued.
A very informative article and has been useful in helping me to make my purchase. Tell me how does one know which plate the stamp came from, I understand the length of rays on the stars on the top left & right corners is the key is this true and are there any other clues ?
Yes Ade, other clues like the presence of the “O flaw” can point to a correct plate identification, but specialized literature is required for precise identification.
What would a 4 block of mint penny blacks be worth?
I haven’t seen the stamps yet to determine their condition but have been informed that they are mint.
Just a ball-park figure as I’m sure the owner would wish to sell!
i have a pennyblack 1840 plate 8 JL initials, how much would this be worth?
i have black one penny
We have a Penny Black on a marriage certificate dated 1919 what would an estimated value be for this?
My penny black has four margins, one is a bit wonky,one thinner than the other 3 and 2 fairly even.It has the red stamp mark which is quite pale over head neck and face.It has the letter I and E in the bottom corners,it is in excellent condition.Can you give me a rough valuation,thanks Catherine
I have a Penny Black on cover dated August 4 1841 with an accompanying letter of Mr Grodeski from Gibbons,my brother
paid 1765 Pounds for it 30 years ago,he gave it to me ,but any Idea of its worth now ?
Many Thanks
G.D.Flynn
Dear Sir,
We got a letter dated Jan 1841 with penny black stamp with letters M and F on corners and the wax seal at the back of the letter , the stamp have good even egde all around , any ideas of the value ?
Thanks
I have a Penny Black Stamp/ May of 1840/ Issued in England/ Portrait of Queen Victoria. #0560. I would like to know the value if possible and I am interested in selling it.
It is in a plastic case in excellent condition. The bottom left has letter T and right G.
Please help me what this stamp is worth. Jo
I have a 1840 ( December 6th) cover penny black with letters JA on the corners. I purchased it in 2004 for £195 any idea of it’s value now?
many thanks
can you please tell me the value of penny black stamp with letters pl (philympia 1970)
hi there, I have a used penny red , J and E corner letters and a nice clean bold number 9 in black , it also has one penny printed on the top end of the stamp below perperations and nothing at bottom , is this a common fault ,
can you give me any info and possibly a value on a particular stamp details as follows, queen victoria , 3 shilings, light green in colour, titled judicature fees, C.R.O 77 perforated in the center. thank you
i have a penny black , used , in bottom corners it has A , D , could you please give me any idea of its worth , thank you it is in good condition
Hi there
I was just wondering if you would give me an idea how much a never used penny black is worth. It has the letters AA on the bottom and the glue is still on the back.
Thank you
Hi,
I have ‘The Penny Black’ May 6, 1840 stamped with the red Maltese Cross.
‘O’ in the bottom left and ‘C’ in the bottom right. The stamp comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and is housed in a capsule.
Is this stamp valuable?
Thank you!
Hello
Very informative.
My father has a penny black with a pale red Maltese cross over part of the Victoria’s head. Three of the margins are good but the right one goes in slightly at the top by the star. The bottom left reads G and right reads C. It’s in a black presentation wallet with the Summer collection printed on the back.
Would you be able to give us an idea of it’s value?
Thank you
i would like to know how mutch is a penny black letters 1d in the corners with a red maltease mark on the stamp would be valued i know it was the first issue and it was the forth row when printed
dear sir
can you please tell me the value of penny black stamp with letters pl
durai from tamil nadu
hi i have a rare black stamp whitch has a crown and the letters v and r on it and it was printed in 1866,can anyone help me with what it is plz
I have used penny black with letters dh in corners is it worth anything.
I have penny black with penny black gold coin from london mint company letters d and h in corners how much is it worth
I have an unused Penny Black Plate 9 cut close one margin and regummed.
Certificate. What would be it’s value?
I have a penny black plate with the letters P and L. It has 4 markings on the back : RC in a five sided box, and star within a circle, a lion, and the letter D in italix. What would this be worth?
Are you sure about the Maltese Cross colour change from BLACK to RED
Surely it was RED to BLACK !!
Barry, it went from black to red on the penny black, then back to black for the penny red.
i have two sheets each has 25 stamps (5 across 5 down) marked on aa to ee (both identical sheets). Is there any value in these?
ha- its a commemorative issue. What a hoot!
Hello, I have a used Penny Black with letter E and G.
Any idea how much it’s roughly worth please?
Thanks.
I have a 1840 Penny Black with letters G L. Clear to large margins. Fine used. Any idea of the worth please?
i have a used 1840 penny black stamp with 4 margins with the letters J on bottom left and letter A bottom right.. how muchis this worth??
I have 5ea. penny black stamps, i’ve been trying to find out the price of these unused stamps, no one seems to know, can’t find any info on the plate letters… 1ea. 1840 mk., 1ea.1854-57ba., 1ea.lb., 1880-81ce., 1883-84 1ea. Ia…need some help from anyone… john northrop
I also have a Penny Black, SK, but I don’t know how much.
I have a penny black with the letters m e at the bottom, 3 good margins, the top margin has part of the above stamp. Need to know what plate it is from, many thanks.