170 Years of British Postage Stamps Quiz

Answer: 1840

The Penny Black was first issued in Great Britain in May 1840, just two days before the Two Penny Blue. The 1d black was intended for use on letters weighing up to half an ounce, whilst the 2d blue covered weights up to one ounce. With the exception of their colours and values, the design of both stamps was identical.

Contrary to popular belief, the Penny Black is not a particularly rare stamp, as 68,808,000 copies were printed in total, of which significant numbers remain in private collections today.

Answer: Maltese Cross

The hand-cut Maltese Cross design was in use from 1840 until 1844.

They varied considerably in their detail, and some of the more distinctive ones can be linked to their towns of origin.

Initially a red ink was used, but this was soon replaced by black. Maltese Cross obliterations do exist in other colours but are extremely rare and keenly sought after.

Answer: The omission of the country's name

Britain is the one and only country whose postage stamps do not include the name of the country within their design.

Owing to Britain having been the first country to issue stamps, the International Postal Union allowed them to continue the tradition of not printing the country name on the stamps even though it technically contradicts international treaties.

Answer: Five Pounds (£5.00)

An orange coloured rectangular stamp was issued in 1882 with a face value of £5.00, when a total of 246,826 such stamps were issued.

The stamp was probably used for registered letters, as parcel post was not available until the following year in 1883.

We then had to wait until 1977, 95 years later, for the next £5.00 postage stamp to be issued in Great Britain.

Answer: William Mulready

The artist William Mulready was commissioned to design envelopes to be used with the first postage stamps issued in 1840. These envelopes were provided in both black and blue colours to match the 1d black and 2d blue postage stamps.

Britannia was depicted at the top of the envelopes together with her shield and a reclining lion. Also portrayed were illustrations of certain Asian and North American Countries which were then under British control. Presumably this was intended to emphasise the benefits of a new postal system to those abroad.

Answer: Half Penny (1/2d)

In 1870 a rose-red coloured stamp was issued with a face value of One Half Penny (1/2d), specifically for use on postcards and newspapers.

Since that time a number of similarly priced stamps have been issued up to and including those issued (pre-decimalisation) during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. These later issues would have been used in tandem with other face values to meet the required rates of postage.

Answer: 1887

Most of the stamps in this set were bi-coloured and are known as the "Jubilee" issue, although it was apparently only coincidental that these stamps were issued at the same time as the Queen's Jubilee.

They were the first GB stamps to be printed in two colours.

Further values were issued shortly afterwards including a one pound (£1.00) green in January 1891.

Answer: The Centenary of the First Adhesive Postage Stamps

In January 1938 the Post Office decided it would mark the centenary of the Penny Black with commemorative stamps and an exhibition, but with the outbreak of war in 1939 the proposal was temporarily abandoned.

However, changes to the postal rates were in the pipeline so it was eventually decided to proceed and the stamps were issued on 6 May 1940.

A set of six stamps with profiles of Queen Victoria and King George VI were issued, comprising values of ½d green, 1d scarlet, 1½d red brown, 2d orange, 2½d ultramarine and 3d violet.

Answer: The Festival of Britain

Two stamps were issued in May 1951 to commemorate the Festival of Britain and also the centenary of the 1851 Great Exhibition.

Much of London was still in ruins following World War II and in desperate need of urban renovation. The Festival was organised to reassure Britons that recovery was well under way in relation to the rebuilding of towns and cities following the war.

Answer: Tower of London

Carrickfergus Castle (Northern Ireland) was shown on the 2/6 stamp, Caernarvon Castle (Wales) on the 5/- stamp, Edinburgh Castle (Scotland) on the 10/- stamp and Windsor Castle (England) on the £1.00 stamp.