Unused block of four "Penny Black" postage stamps of Queen Victoria
issued May 6, 1840
Medium
Engraving printed in black ink on paper
Dimensions
Overall: 1 7/8 × 2 1/8 in. (4.8 × 5.4 cm)
Classification
Postage Stamps|Prints
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Assunta Sommella Peluso, Ada Peluso, and Romano I. Peluso, in memory of Ignazio Peluso, 2002
Accession Number
2002.399.10
Tags
Art Historical Context
The Penny Black represents a landmark in postal history as the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, issued by Britain on May 6, 1840. Designed by William Wyon, chief engraver at the Royal Mint, the stamp features a finely detailed profile of the young Queen Victoria wearing a diadem, drawn from Wyon’s earlier medal commemorating her accession. Printed in black ink on imperforate paper, this unused block of four preserves the crisp lines of the original engraving, offering a rare glimpse into the beginnings of affordable, prepaid mail that transformed communication across the empire. Wyon’s n...
About the Artist
William Wyon · 1795–1851
British, Birmingham 1795–1851 Brighton