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
First stamp of the Russian Empire 10-kopeck stamps to the Postal Department for their further distribution to the provinces. Stamps were produced using two printing presses. One was received from Berlin, and it was used for printing the blue oval with the embossed Russian coat of arms and emblem of the Post Office. The brown frame of the stamp design was printed with the second press. The first Russian postage stamp was officially issued on , by the circular of the Postal Department "On the bringing of postal stamps for the common use" that also directed the following: Starting from 1 January of the next year