Article Archive March 2006
Article 140: UK The 1840 Penny Black
Here are two specimens of the first stamp, issued in 1840 by England (now U.K.). The penny black, along with the two pence blue stamp, was issued May 8, 1840, although there is an instance of postal use on May 6. The use of stamps became such an important innovation for England that, within 20 years, most countries had adopted the use of stamps (for example: Brazil in 1843, the United States in 1847, France in 1849, Spain in 1850). Quick links: main page / FB specimen / KL specimen / attempt at plating / design highlights
Article 139: India 5 Rupees Solar Energy definitive
This definitve received heavy usage in the early 1990s. This selection is from kiloware. Quick links: main page / examples with selvage / postmarks
Article 138: China Postal Receipts Part 3
Here is another selection of China postal receipts. Definitives from three issues were used on these receipts. Quick links: main page / receipt 1 / receipt 2 / receipt 3 / receipt 4
Article 137: US Americana Definitives
Here are representative signles of this issue. Follow the links and images to pages for each of the ranges. Quick links: main page / low values / first class values / middle values / high values / coils
Article 136: Cuba 1855-1863 Half Real
I have previously shown the color varieties of the 1855 half real. I expand here by adding some larger images for the 1855 printings, and many more from the later printings, including many plate varieties. Quick links: main page / 1855 Blue Paper / 1855 White Paper / 1856 / 1857-61 Dirty Plate / Postal Forgeries / Plate Varieties main page : CORRFOS / CORRFOS detailed image / Early line breaks / Late line breaks / Plate Wear / 1862 Cleaned Plate
Article 135: Pakistan 8 Annas Definitive
I show here a nice specimen and pair, as well as a page with selected postmarked specimens. Below are several postmarked specimens: the top stamp was postmarked again on arrival by Washington, D.C. slogan, the middle stamp has an unreadable marking that is often found on these stamps, and the bottom stamp bears a Pakistani "CRIPPLED CHILDREN" slogan marking. Quick links: main page / postmarks page