Great Britain - The Imperforate Issues (1840-1853)

Penny Black (plate 1a)

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Plate 1a | Plate 1b | Plate 2 | Plate 3 | Plate 4 | Plate 5 | Plate 6 | Plate 7 | Plate 8 | Plate 9 | Plate 10 | Plate 11 |
 Unplated

Plate 1a was put to press between 8 and 11 April 1840. 

In total, across both plate 1a (unhardened) and 1b (hardened), 42,000 sheets were printed.

The earliest recorded usage is 2 May 1840, four days before the stamps were valid for postage on 6 May 1840.

[PG] cancelled with
two red Maltese crosses

[RB] cancelled with
a red-brown Maltese cross

[CJ] cancelled with
a red Maltese cross

[SL] cancelled with
a red Maltese cross
shows heavy shifted transfer

[HC] from Blandford to London, dated 25 May 1840,
cancelled with an orange-red Maltese cross
some signs of wear

[AI] cancelled with
a brown Maltese cross [e]

[DA-DB] pair, cancelled with
red Maltese crosses

[BH] cancelled with
a dark red Maltese cross

[IE] from London to Chudleigh, dated 25 September 1840,
cancelled with two red Maltese crosses

[MB] cancelled with
a black Maltese cross

[ME] cancelled with
 an orange-red Maltese cross

[AI] plate 1a, from Renfrew to Edinburgh, dated 27 May 1840,
cancelled with a “watery” black Maltese cross
Also has Renfrew straight line in a shade matching the cross

Very early and unofficial use of the black Maltese cross
Only three earlier examples are recorded
 

[CL] plate 4, from Otley to London, dated 11 November 1840,
cancelled with a red Maltese cross

then re-directed, within London, on 14 November 1840, by the addition of
[IK] cancelled with the experimental black Mlatese cross

The first 1d black was also re-cancelled with the black Maltese cross