Guest Author - Lin

Although we complain in modern times about a letter taking more than 2 or 3 days to go very long distances, it wasn't that long ago that standard delivery was nearly impossible. It was only in 1840 that the first official stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in Great Britain.

Rowland Hill was responsible for bringing the Penny Black to the public. Its price--one cent. Its design--then Queen Victoria, a cameo-style portrait.

Millions of the stamp were sold as the British eagerly embraced the idea of regular mail delivery. Mail was delivered twice a day in some areas, and letter writing became a huge passion for many.

The stamp is much loved by stamp collectors, although its value isn't very high. The value of the stamp comes in it being the very first universally issued postage stamp. Later issues used the same design as the Penny Black, but collectors will always be fond of an item that was, at the time, characterized by critics as "ugly."