The 175th anniversary of the world's first
postage stamp is being marked with a new set of stamps.
The Penny Black went on
sale on May 1, 1840, for use on letters being delivered anywhere in the UK, a
system that is still in place today through the one-price-goes-anywhere
universal service.
The stamp would cost
£3.07 in today's terms.
The Penny Black was
part of huge changes in the postal service, including charges by weight for a
letter to go anywhere, as opposed to prices being worked out by distance and
number of sheets in a letter.
Philip Parker of the
Royal Mail said: "Royal Mail has a long and rich heritage which includes
issuing the Penny Black, the world's first and arguably most famous, postage
stamp.
"The Penny Black
also signified a communication revolution, enabling people to send letters
anywhere in the country for the same price.
"It was the
internet of its day as mail became accessible for more people than ever before.
The universal service is still the principal that underpins Royal Mail's
service today and helps us to connect people and businesses together for a
uniform price, wherever they are in the UK."
The set of stamps,
which include images of the Penny Black and the Twopenny Blue stamp, goes on
sale from May 6.
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