The first postage stamp "Black Penny" was released in the Great Britain in May,1840. The name of a postal miniature owes due to it's face value (1 penny) and it's black color.
The issue of the first postage stamp closely related with Mr. Roland Hill. He suggested to make the unify and easy method of payment of the postal correspondence: a sign with a face value for the postal service, which could be pasted on the envelope. It was a contest on the best sketch of a postage stamp. 2700 sketches were provided. The drawing depicted the profile of the Queen Victoria, made by Henry Cole, became a winner.
The "Black Penny" printed with intaglio method. There are notes "Postage" and "One penny" on the edges.
The state sign of postal payment of the Russian Federation depicts "Black Penny" stamp pasted on the envelope and cancelled with the postmark in the form of a Maltese cross, with panoramic views of London and Moscow on the background.
An illustrated cover has been prepared for the release with one postage stamp and an FDC with cancellation (Moscow) inside.
Design: M. Bodrova
Face value: 26,50 RUB
Size of stamp: 50x37 mm; size of sheet: 172x172 mm
Form of issue: a sheet with illustrated margins with 12 (3x4) stamps
Circulation: 438 thousand stamps (36,5 thousand sheets).
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