Why I love stamps

There’s something quietly magical about stamps and stamp collecting—something that has captivated me since I was a child in prep school, when I first began to collect pristine British mint stamps. It stirred a feeling of connection—to stories, to beauty, to history, and most personally, to my own heritage.

My mother is British, and those little gummed rectangles became a bridge between where I lived and where I came from. Each stamp felt like a fragment of Britain itself—its monarchy, its culture, its national pride—miniature windows into a place I felt instinctively drawn to. They connected me to the rhythms of a country I knew through my mother’s accounts and those of her parents (my beloved Gran and Gramps) who visited us and later emigrated to South Africa.

For me, stamp collecting has always been a celebration of aesthetics. There’s an artistry to stamps that is often overlooked: the vibrant colours, the careful engravings, the elegant typography. They’re tiny masterpieces, created not just to serve a postal function, but to express identity, commemorate milestones, and capture imagination. Through stamps, I witnessed the visual language of British history—royal jubilees, royal weddings, national achievements—all preserved in this rich, visual archive.

Part of the joy lies in the collector’s instinct itself, which runs strong in me. The thrill of discovery, the satisfaction of order, the simple joy of curating something meaningful—it’s deeply fulfilling. It felt like each stamp I acquired added to a growing sense of narrative and purpose, not unlike piecing together a personal museum.

There’s also the quiet pride in owning a piece of history. Stamps are time capsules. They carry the dust of decades, the whispers of moments past, and the marks of human endeavor. They’ve survived wars, coronations, revolutions, and recessions. When I hold one in my hand, I feel like I’m holding more than paper—I’m holding memory.

Looking back, I see now that stamp collecting wasn’t just a hobby—it was a way of rooting myself. A way of engaging with beauty and history and identity all at once. And even now, when I come across a particularly beautiful or significant stamp, that childhood wonder returns—undiminished, immediate, and true. 

Mike's stamp collection: The Halfpenny Rose Red

The Halfpenny Rose Red was first issued by the United Kingdom on 1 October 1870 to accommodate a reduced postal rate for newspapers and postcards. It was the first British stamp of this low denomination and marked a significant development in everyday postal communication. Printed using the line-engraved method, it features the profile of Queen Victoria and the denomination “½d” on either side. Owing to its exceptionally small dimensions—just 17.5 mm x 14 mm—it became known as the “Bantam.” The stamp was printed in sheets of 480 and remained in circulation until 1880. Today, it is highly valued by philatelists for its historical importance and distinctive design.

Some fascinating facts

• Issued in 1870 to cover reduced rates for newspapers and postcards under new postal reforms.
• Smallest British stamp ever—measuring only 17.5 mm x 14 mm, earning the nickname “Bantam.”
• Features Queen Victoria in profile, engraved in the traditional line-engraved style.
• Printed in sheets of 480 stamps (20 rows of 24), unlike the standard 240-stamp sheets of the Penny Red.
• Line-engraved printing method gave it crisp detail, but also made production slower and more complex.
• Each stamp was marked with check letters in the bottom corners to identify its position on the sheet.
• It was the first British stamp with a halfpenny value, reflecting the changing needs of the postal system.
• Withdrawn in 1880, making its period of circulation relatively brief compared to other Victorian issues.
• Designed by Orlando Jewitt, who also created the ornamental letters seen on early British stamps.
•  Its introduction helped increase access to postal services for the general public, especially for printed matter.

Mike's stamp collection: Two Penny Blue

Often overshadowed by its famous sibling, the Penny Black, the Two Penny Blue holds its own unique place in postal history. Issued just two days after the world’s first postage stamp in 1840, the 2d Blue shared the same elegant profile of Queen Victoria but was twice the value—and far scarcer. Created for heavier letters and double-rate postage, it was printed in limited quantities and never reissued in its original form. Though less well-known, the Two Penny Blue is a prized treasure for collectors and historians alike—a quiet symbol of how innovation unfolded in more than one shade.

Here are some fascinating facts about the Two Penny Blue

• Issued in 1840: The 2d Blue was released on May 8, 1840, just two days after the famous Penny Black.
• Same design, different color: It features the same profile of Queen Victoria as the Penny Black but was printed in blue ink to distinguish it from the 1d stamp.
• First blue postage stamp: It holds the title of being the first blue stamp in the world.
• Intended for heavier mail: The 2d Blue was used for letters weighing more than half an ounce, which required double the basic penny rate.
• Rarer than the Penny Black: While over 68 million Penny Blacks were printed, only around 600,000 of the original Two Penny Blues were issued—making it much rarer.
• Never reissued in original form: Unlike the Penny Black, the original 2d Blue was never reprinted, increasing its historical value.
• No country name: Like all British stamps, it bears no country name—a tradition begun with the Penny Black.
• Corner lettering system: Each stamp has two identifying letters in the bottom corners, indicating its exact position on the printed sheet.
• Produced from Plate 1 only: The original 2d Blue was printed from a single plate, known as Plate 1.
• Highly collectible: Due to its limited run and elegant design, the Two Penny Blue is considered a crown jewel among philatelists.

Mike's stamp collection: Penny Black

Before email, before telephones, before even the typewriter—there was the Penny Black. Issued in 1840, it was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, a small square of innovation that quietly sparked a communications revolution. With the simple act of prepaying for a letter, the Penny Black didn’t just make sending mail more efficient—it democratized it, connecting people across class and distance like never before. This unassuming black-and-white stamp, bearing the young Queen Victoria’s profile, marked the beginning of modern postal systems and remains a symbol of how something tiny can change the world.

Here are some fascinating facts about the Penny Black

• First ever postage stamp: Issued in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1840, and valid for use from May 6, it was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system.
• Portrait of a young queen: It features a profile of Queen Victoria at age 15, based on a sketch by artist William Wyon—a design used throughout her reign.
• Uniform postage rate: The Penny Black allowed letters to be sent anywhere in the UK for a flat rate of one penny, regardless of distance—a revolutionary concept at the time.
• No country name: The UK was the first to issue a stamp, so it doesn’t include the country’s name—a tradition that continues for British stamps today.
• Color issue: The black ink made it difficult to see postmarks, which led to its replacement just a year later by the Penny Red.
• Short lifespan: The Penny Black was only in official use for about one year, from May 1840 to February 1841.
• Plate numbers: All Penny Blacks were printed from plates 1 to 11, making them collectible in different variations based on plate wear and corner lettering.
• Corner letters: Each stamp has two letters in the lower corners that indicate its position on the printing sheet—this made forgery harder and identification easier.
• Printed without gum: Early Penny Blacks were not gummed; users had to apply glue themselves.
• Millions printed, still rare in good condition: Although over 68 million were printed, finding one in mint condition today is very rare and highly valuable.

Mike's stamp collection: Penny Red

One of the great highlights of my time in South Africa was Mike showing me his incredible collection of stamps and gifting me several albums to potentially take the collection further. In this series, I'm going to celebrate some of the stamps in the collection with some research.

I'm starting with the Penny Red because it has special significance to me. When I was 9 years old and collecting British stamps, Mike gifted me a Penny Red and it made a huge impression on me.  I was so entranced by the fact I now owned something so old.  The sense of wonder it gave rise to is one of my favourite childhood memories.

About the Penny Red

The Penny Red was a British postage stamp issued in 1841 as the successor to the world’s first adhesive stamp, the Penny Black. While identical in design to its famous predecessor—featuring the profile of Queen Victoria—the Penny Red adopted a red-brown color to allow for clearer cancellation marks, solving a major flaw of the black-inked original. It became the mainstay of British postage for over three decades, reflecting the growing demand for efficient communication during the Industrial Revolution. With billions printed, it played a crucial role in democratizing mail and remains a beloved collectible among philatelists.

A list of fascinating facts about the Penny Red

• Issued in 1841 as the replacement for the Penny Black, primarily to improve postmark visibility.
• Same design as the Penny Black, featuring a profile of Queen Victoria engraved by William Wyon, but printed in red-brown ink.
• Used for over 38 years, making it one of the longest-running definitive stamps in British history.
• No perforations at first – early Penny Reds had to be cut from sheets with scissors. Perforations were introduced in 1854.
• Billions printed – estimated at over 21 billion stamps, making it one of the most common stamps ever produced.
• Corner letter system – each stamp had different letters in its lower corners (e.g., A-A, B-B) to prevent forgery and track plate positions.
• 120 different printing plates were used, and collectors often specialize in identifying them.
• Plate 77 rarity – despite billions printed, stamps from Plate 77 are among the rarest and most valuable due to a printing flaw and limited use.
• Still collectible – while common examples are inexpensive, rare variations and plate numbers can be worth thousands.
• Historical significance – the Penny Red reflects the rise of mass communication and the expansion of the British postal system during the Victorian era.

The Penny Red Mike gave me as a child

Penny Reds in Mike's collection

Stamp collecting: British mint stamps

I have rekindled my love of stamps of late. They bring so much nostalgia. Stamp collecting was my first true passion in life.  It is where my love of collecting and curating began. Nothing would excite me more as a kid than getting stamps on my birthday or going to the stamp shop to purchase a new set.

Here I will be posting my favourite British mint stamps so that I have a record online. It's been wonderful going through my albums.  A treasured possession.

I got the images from Stamp World, an awesome online catalogue of stamps.

1881

1935

1936

1937

1946

1948

1949

1951

1959

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

 

1980

1981

1982

1983

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1986

1987

1988