2016-02-18 Thu

The Penny Red’s 175th anniversary is being celebrated Wednesday at Stampex, the London stamp exhibition that runs from 17th February to 20th February.

The Penny Red replaced the Penny Black on10th February, 1841 because the latter was taken out of circulation due to its illegal use. To find out the ideal colour for the stamp, Rainbow Colour Trials was conducted. The Penny Red was in circulation for around 40 years and the first were printed on Penny Black plates with the new ink colouring.

Stampex is celebrating through hosting a court of honour for the stamp bringing together collectors and stamp businesses including Edward Klempka and Stanley Gibbons.

Pieces of note will include:

-- Rainbow Colour Trials Sheet

-- Presentation of the first run of the red/black penny red on Mulready

-- 1841 penny red black plate 5 mint block of 18 with selvage (held in private collection)

-- 1841 penny red black plate 10 pre provisional printing block of 16 with selvage (held in a private collection)

-- 1841 penny red black plate 11 block 30 mint condition (held in a private collection)

-- 1841 Actual post office document used to pick the Penny Red Stamp that was issued (held in private collection)

-- The Finest Channel Island Maltese cross on cover in existence

-- The Finest Red Maltese cross on cover in existence

The 60th Anniversary show, organised by The Philatelic Traders’ Society, will take place at The Business Design Centre (BDC) in Islington from 17th February and 20th February.