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 (Brit–British) Compendium of postage stamp issuers (Brit–British) Each "article" in this category is a collection of entries about several stamp issuers, presented in alphabetical order. The entries are formulated on the micro model and so provide summary information about all known issuers. See the page for details of the project. Territory in southern Africa which was separated from Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana) by the Molopo river. British Bechuanaland became a British colony on 30 September 1885 but was added to Cape Colony on 16 November 1895. It is now the northern part of Cape Province in South Africa. The first stamps