---
title: "Penny Black Postage Stamp Issued"
year: 1840
country: "United Kingdom"
canonical: "https://recap.at/1840/penny-black-stamp"
slug: "penny-black-stamp"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "1840-01-01"
---

# Penny Black Postage Stamp Issued

> Britain's first adhesive postage stamp revolutionized mail systems globally and became the cornerstone of modern postal infrastructure.

## Summary

The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in the United Kingdom on 1 May 1840 but was not valid for use until 6 May. The stamp features a profile of 21-year-old Queen Victoria.

## Sources

- [Penny Black](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Black) - Wikipedia

---
Canonical: https://recap.at/1840/penny-black-stamp