History; The world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in May 1840. From the outset, the Post Office was concerned about the postmarks on these; red postmarks were not entirely secure, but black postmarks did not show up so well against the black print of the stamp. It was therefore decided to keep the same design of stamp but change the colour to a brownish-red against which the black postmark would be distinct.
Different Types, and the Reasons for their Issue;
Plate Numbers;
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Postmarks; Useful links on GBPS site; interesting Scottish types e.g. Edinburgh Brunswick Star, Glasgow Madeleine Smith, possibility of collecting many different numbers.
useful lists of po numbers
http://www.gbps.org.uk/information/po-numbers/scotland.php
http://www.gbps.org.uk/information/po-numbers/provincial1.php
http://www.gbps.org.uk/information/po-numbers/provincial2.php
http://www.gbps.org.uk/information/po-numbers/ireland.php
http://www.gbps.org.uk/information/po-numbers/london.php
Values;
PAGE STILL IN CONSTRUCTION -
look back soon !
