The World's First First Day Cover

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The World's First First Day Cover THE PENNY BLACK MAY 6, 1840 Postal systems have existed since ancient times and have played a vital role in shaping many societies. For much of that history this important form of long distance communication served rulers and the merchant class. As early as the fifth century B.C. the dedication of Persian postmen prompted Herodotus to write: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." But it was not until Rowland Hill reformed the British Post Office that the mails became an efficient means of mass communication - at a price that everyone could afford– and that the Although the need for better postal systems was apparent in almost every country as early as 1800, reform came first to Britain where a high literacy rate and the rapid development of commerce during the Industrial Revolution made postal reform essential. In 1837 the reform effort began in earnest with Rowland Hill's proposals for a uniform "Penny Post." Differing from traditional practice of charging fees based on distance, Hill advocated a flat rate of one penny for a one ounce letter regardless of the distance it would travel. This simplification paved the way for prepayment of postage by means of special wrappers and adhesive labels which could be stuck on a letter. After a bitter controversy, Hill's ideas were accepted in 1839 and a cormpetition was held for the design of what became The World's First Hill's own idea - a simple rectangle with a profile of the young Queen Victoria - was chosen. Designed by Henry Corbould after a medal by Wiliam Wyon, it was first valid for postage on May 6, 1840. The idea of postage stamps spread quickly. The United States issued its first in 1847 and Canada in 1851. More than five hundred postal administrations have existed since 1840, and The reverse of the firat First Day Cover exhibits the May 6, 1840, "First Day of issue" postmark as well as the date it arrived at its destination, May 8, 1840. many countries are remembered today only by the added to the backs of stamps "for convenience," and perforations have been added so that scissors are no longer needed. Designs have come to commemorate famous people, to mark important anniversaries, and to illustrate ways of life. But, today, the postage stamp functionally does no more than it originally did on May 6, 1840: it indicates prepayment of postage. 00000 000 THE first FIRST DAY COVER May 6, 1840, was the First Day of Issue of the "Penny Black," as the world's first postage starmp came to be known. Few pieces of mail postmarked that date exist today. The First Day Cover on display here is valued at $25,000. Áctually no more than a letter folded in the shape of an envelope and posted, it originally was an invoice from a London Tea and Coffee merchant to a firm in Dundee, Scotland. Backstamped in the custom of that day, its reverse shows us it left London May 6, 1840, and arrived May 8, 1840, in Scotland. At let Anearly complete intact sheet of the Penny Blacks can be seen in the British Postal Museum in London Note the comer letters of the stamps in the lower-left and lower-rught corners of each stamp row across and the column down in which the stamp was printed Some collectors seek out specific combinations of these letters in order to 000 ey identily the Ser Rowland H Britain's viSionary inventor of the postage stamp. gave the Wond the idea of a fat postage rate based on weight nor distance reconstruct sheets as they were ongnaily prnted

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The National First Day Cover Museum 702 Randall Boulevard Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 One of The National First Day Cover Museum's most fas- cinating exhibits features the world's very first First Day Cover of the world's first pos- tage stamp, Great Britain's "Penny Black.” In 1979 the First Day Cover was valued at $35,000. ©1979 The National First Day Cover Museum