Berømte frimærker
Penny Black: hvad verdens første frimærke er værd i dag
Opdateret · 5 min. læsning · StampGo-teamet
Kort svar
En stemplet Penny Black går typisk for nogle tiere til nogle hundrede dollars, afhængigt af hvor mange af dens fire marginer der er hele, hvilken plade der trykte den, og hvordan den er stemplet. Ubrugte eksemplarer koster tusinder. Omkring 68 millioner blev trykt fra 11 plader i 1840-41, så den er berømt, men ikke sjælden. Plade 11 og ubrugte eksemplarer er de sjældneste.
Nøglefakta
- Udsendt
- Til salg 1. maj 1840, gyldig som porto fra 6. maj 1840
- Oplag
- Omkring 68 millioner, fra 11 plader, i ark à 240
- Trykkeri
- Perkins, Bacon & Petch, London
- Motiv
- Dronning Victorias profil, graveret efter William Wyons City Medal fra 1837
- Værdi stemplet
- Typisk nogle tiere til nogle hundrede dollars, afhængigt af marginer og stempel
- Sjældnest
- Plade 11, ubrugte eksemplarer og enheder som par og blokke
How much is a Penny Black worth?
A used Penny Black typically sells for tens to a few hundred dollars, depending mostly on its margins, plate and cancellation. Unused examples cost thousands, and rare plates and multiples cost more.
| Condition | Typical value range |
|---|---|
| Used, cut into the design on one or more sides | Tens of dollars |
| Used, three clear margins | Roughly $50–$150 |
| Used, four clear margins and a neat cancel | Roughly $150–$500+ |
| Unused (mint) | Thousands of dollars |
| Plate 11, pairs, blocks, or on the original letter | Considerably more |
Why do the margins matter so much?
Penny Blacks were imperforate and cut from the sheet with scissors, so many were trimmed into the design. A copy with four clear margins is much scarcer, and worth several times more, than one cut close.
Britain didn't introduce perforations until the 1850s. Clerks and customers cut stamps apart by hand, and the gaps between stamps on the sheet were narrow. Collectors describe Penny Blacks by how many margins are intact, from four margins down, and wide, even margins command a premium. See stamp condition grades.
What do the letters in the corners of a Penny Black mean?
The check letters in the two bottom corners show the stamp's position on the sheet of 240. The left letter is the row (A–T) and the right letter the column (A–L). They were added to deter forgery.
Sheets had 20 rows of 12 stamps, so positions run from AA to TL. Specialists use the check letters, together with tiny differences between plates, to work out which of the 11 plates printed a stamp. Early plates such as 1a, 1b and 2 are among the most common. Plate 11 is by far the scarcest, because it printed black stamps only briefly before the switch to red.
Does the cancellation affect a Penny Black's value?
Yes. Penny Blacks were cancelled with a Maltese cross, usually in red. A neat, clear cross adds value, black crosses are scarcer on Penny Blacks, and unusual colors or numbered crosses carry a premium.
The red cancelling ink could be cleaned off and the stamps reused, so in February 1841 the Post Office switched to red stamps, the Penny Red, cancelled in black. Maltese crosses in other colors, and London crosses with a number in the center (used in 1843–44), are sought after by specialists. See UK stamp values for the Penny Reds that followed.
How can I tell if my Penny Black is real?
A genuine Penny Black is imperforate, printed in black from an engraved plate, has letters in the two bottom corners only, and has a small crown watermark. Reproductions are common, often perforated or on modern paper.
- No perforations. A perforated “Penny Black” is a reproduction.
- Letters only in the bottom corners. Stamps with letters in all four corners are later issues, such as later Penny Reds.
- A small crown watermark, visible in a watermark tray.
- Fine engraved lines. Under a magnifier, genuine stamps show crisp engraving, while printed replicas look flat or dotted.
- Shade. Genuine stamps range from grey-black to intense black.
If a stamp passes these checks and has good margins or an unusual cancel, get an expert opinion. The Royal Philatelic Society London and BPA Expertising both issue certificates for British classics.
What's the difference between a Penny Black and a Penny Red?
The Penny Red replaced the Penny Black in February 1841 and was printed in red-brown so that black cancellations would show clearly. It's far more common: billions were printed, and it stayed in use for nearly 40 years.
- Color: black (1840–41) versus red-brown or red (1841–1879).
- Perforations: early Penny Reds were imperforate like the Black. Perforated versions followed from 1854.
- Corner letters: Penny Blacks have letters in the bottom corners only. Penny Reds from 1858 have letters in all four corners.
- Plate numbers: Penny Reds from 1864 show a plate number in the side frame, which is how scarce plates such as plate 77 are identified.
Most Penny Reds sell for small sums, but plate and condition matter just as they do for the Black. See UK stamp values.
Trin for trin
How to value a Penny Black with StampGo
StampGo confirms the issue and gives a reference range. The checklist above then tells you where your copy falls within it.
- 1
Scan the stamp
Photograph the Penny Black flat and square with Scan Now, so all four edges are visible.
- 2
Confirm the issue and price range
Check that StampGo identifies it as the 1840 1d black, and note the reference price range and rarity score.
- 3
Count the margins and check the cancel
Four clear margins and a neat Maltese cross put your copy toward the top of the range. Cut-into margins put it toward the bottom.
- 4
Save it to your collection
Add it, so it shows in your collection with its estimate.
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Ofte stillede spørgsmål
Hvad er en Penny Black værd i dag?
Nogle tiere til nogle hundrede dollars for et stemplet eksemplar, afhængigt af marginer, plade og stempling, og tusinder for et ubrugt. Standen forklarer næsten hele forskellen.
Hvor mange Penny Black findes der stadig?
Omkring 68 millioner blev trykt. Ingen ved præcis, hvor mange der er tilbage, men stemplede eksemplarer er så udbredte, at de fleste går for beskedne beløb.
Hvilken Penny Black er sjældnest?
Dem fra plade 11 er sjældnest, fordi den plade kun trykte sorte mærker i kort tid. Endnu sjældnere er ubrugte blokke og tjenestemærket »VR« fra 1840, der blev forberedt, men aldrig udsendt til almindelig brug.
Er en Penny Black mere værd på kuvert?
Ofte ja. En Penny Black på sit originale brev, især med en læsbar dato, kan være mere værd end mærket alene. Lad være med at tage det af.
Hvem tegnede Penny Black?
Den kom ud af Rowland Hills postreformer. Portrættet af dronning Victoria blev graveret af Charles og Frederick Heath efter en skitse af Henry Corbould, der igen byggede på William Wyons City Medal fra 1837.
