Stamps & Philately
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Please note that the History section is constantly under development. New pages will be added regularly. Until these History pages contain more information, it is best to refer to the PDFs on the main History page. |
The world's first ever postage stamp - the Penny Black - was issued in Britain by the Post Office in 1840. Since then, the concept of pre-paid postage with adhesive stamps has spread around the world.
Britain's role in innovating this idea is still recognised today. British stamps are identified only by the head of the reigning monarch, and not by carrying the name of the country. Britain is the only nation accorded this privilege by the Universal Postal Union (the international organisation for the coordination of mail services).
In the 20th century, 'definitive' stamps (those with the monarch's head) have been joined by designs used on special and commemorative stamps.
In this section:
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The Penny Black
- The Machin Design
- Internal Postage Rates
