Stamping Out Ignorance
Sunday
The “Penny Black” and “Twopenny Blue” were the world’s first adhesive postage stamps, released two days apart, and began circulation in England in May 1840. One cost a penny and showed Queen Victoria’s profile in black and white, the other cost double with the same image in blue.
Monday
Before stamps, the receiver had to pay the cost of the letter when it was delivered, unless the sender already had. Price was based on distance traveled and how many sheets of paper the letter contained.
Tuesday
“Philately” is the collection, study, and appreciation of postage stamps.
Wednesday
The “British Guiana 1 cent Magenta,” a bright red, 8-sided stamp from 1856, is currently the world’s most valuable. The only one known to exist most recently sold for $9.48 million USD.
Thursday
Rarity makes a stamp valuable, but so does human error. Many of the world’s most valuable stamps were printed in the wrong color, contained the wrong text, or in the case of the “Inverted Jenny,” featured an airplane flying upside down.
Friday
“Stamps” are really stickers, but before the modern postage stamp, an ink and stamp pad were used for the same function, hence the name.
Saturday
An image of the monarch’s head appears somewhere on every British stamp, so these are the only stamps on Earth which don’t bear the name of the issuing nation.