The first adhesive postage stamp issued in Britain 150 years ago. It was a small, square piece of paper, black in colour and showing the Queen's head and postage of one penny.This stamp is popularly known as "Penny Black". The Penny Black was put on sale on1st May, 1840, though it was valid for postage only from 6th May, 1840. This stamp, which became a trend-setter, has an interesting background.

In 1837, Sir Rowland Hill had published two pamphlets on Post Office Reforms and collection of postage by means of stamps. Though these pamphlets, he pleaded for the introduction of a uniform postage rate of one penny per half ounce weight regardless of the distance and prepayment of postage. In the context of payment of postage.Hill suggested the issue of 'small stamped labels". His idea of these lables was declared as "a bit of paper just large enough to bear a stamp".

To obtain a suitable design for the adhesive stamp, the Treasury organised a competition. Even though 2600 enteries were received, non was considered suitable for use.Ultimately, Hill decided to use the Queen's portrait in the size and formate a shown on the Tax Tables. For the portrait he selected the design of the Queen's head as engraved on the commemorative City Medal of1837 by William Wyon. Henry Corbould, a London artist, was commissioned to prepare the water colour based on Wyon's medal for the postage stamp. The design was printed in Black colour for the one penny stamps and in blue colour for the two pence stamps though the latter was not available till 8th May, 1840.

Items of stationary like letter sheets, wrapper and envelops (named after William Mulready the designer) were the most famous though the least popular. Phepenny Blacks were in use for less than a year and were replaced by the Penny red in 1841.

After the issue of the Penny Blacks, one country after the other started issuing postage stamps. India embarked on stamp issues in 1852 when the Scinde Dawk's were issued for use in Sind and on the Bombay-Karachi route.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India