Postage stamp prepaying. From when the first postage stamps were used, postmarks were applied to prevent the stamps being used again. The first stamp, the "Penny black", became available for purchase 1 May 1840, to be valid as of 6 May 1840. Two days later, 8 May 1840, the Two penny blue was introduced. The Penny black was sufficient for a letter less than half an ounce to be sent anywhere within the UK. Both stamps included an engraving of the young Queen Victoria, without perforations, as the first stamps were separated from their sheets by cutting them with scissors. The first
Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Q) Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Q) Each "article" in this category is in fact a collection of entries about several stamp issuers, presented in alphabetical order. The entries themselves are formulated on the micro model and so provide summary information about all known issuers. See the page for details of the project. Qatar had special treaty relations with Great Britain from 1916 until 3 September 1971, when it became an independent state. British Agency general issues were used at Doha from August 1950 and at Umm Said from February 1956. On 1 April 1957, the agencies issued GB stamps overprinted