175th Anniversary of the "Penny Black"

175th Anniversary of the Pre-paid One Penny Uniform Post

The world’s first postage stamps were the 1d “Penny Black” and 2d “Twopenny Blue” based on a sketch by Henry Corbould showing the head of a young Queen Victoria.  Printing of the stamps in sheets of 240 began in April 1840 and the first official day of use was 6 May 1840.

© 2015 CILP

The Pre-paid Uniform One Penny Post was introduced in the UK on 10 January 1840. It was an immediate success and the volume of mail rose rapidly. Rowland Hill introduced adhesive postage stamps that could be stuck on the front of a letter to show the postage had been paid.  This proved a simple and practical innovation that spread across the world.  Postage stamps remain in use today, 175 years after their first use in Great Britain.

 © 2015 CILP

The CILP commemorates the “Penny Black” and the Uniform Penny Post with a tribute stamp based on the original design. A total of 288 stamps and twelve FDCs were issued.

Buy Canvey Island Local Post Stamps
 
Canvey Island Local Post Stamps, First Day Covers, Maxi FDI Cards, and Postcards are all issued in limited editions. All CILP philatelic material is obtainable from Alpha Thematics on eBid (subject to availability).

VE Day Commemorative Cover

'Victory in Europe' 70th Anniversary 1945 - 2015

Friday 8 May 2015, saw the anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), marking 70 years since the end of the second world war in Europe. At 2:41 a.m. on 7th May 1945, General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of German forces, which was to take effect from 8th May at 11:01 p.m., formally ending the war in Europe.

 © 2015 CILP

Great celebrations took place across Europe and North America. In  London over a million people celebrated and packed Trafalgar Square and outside Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace to cheering crowds. Canvey Island celebrated along with millions of exhausted but relieved British people.

Buy Canvey Island Local Post Stamps

Canvey Island Local Post Stamps, First Day Covers, Maxi FDI Cards, and Postcards are all issued in limited editions. All CILP philatelic material is obtainable from Alpha Thematics on eBid (subject to availability).