Penny Black Penny Black The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in Great Britain on 1 May 1840, but was not valid for use until 6 May. It features a profile of Queen Victoria. In 1837, British postal rates were high, complex and anomalous. To simplify matters, Sir Rowland Hill proposed an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment of postage. At the time it was normal for the recipient to pay postage on delivery, charged by the sheet and on distance travelled. By contrast, the Penny Black allowed letters of
Push penny Durham were people who kept this tradition going over the years, but the custom was stopped again in the middle of the 19th century. It is unlikely that this tradition will come back. During the monastic period, roughly 300-600 people would gather by the Prior's Mansion and pennies were thrown out at them. At Bishop Auckland the Bishop would throw pennies on specific days of the year. Push penny Push penny was a long-observed custom at Durham Cathedral in England which occurred three days in the year. During this tradition money was thrown into the crowd on the college-yard. The