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On May 1, 1840 an adhesive postage stamp, called the penny black because it was black and cost one penny, was issued for use from May 6. Until this date it was normal for the person receiving the letter to pay when it was delivered. There was no standard charge; it all depended on how far the letter had come and how many sheets of paper. The new stamp meant that any letter weighing less than 14 grams would cost one penny to send, regardless of how far it was going, within the UK of course.
The idea was suggested by Sir Rowland Hill (nice Christian name) in 1837 and the government gave him a two-year contract to sort it out. The stamp had a portrait of Queen Victoria. The portrait was taken from a drawing made in 1834 when Victoria was 15. That picture remained on all stamps until her death in 1901, when she was 81 and, I guess, didn't look much like she did when she was 15. I don't anyway. Look like me at 15, I never looked like her at any age. A two penny stamp, for letters up to 28 grams followed a few days later and was blue.
The penny black didn't last very long as it was discovered that it was easy to rub off the red “used” ink placed over the stamp and so use the stamp again. In February 1841 a new stamp, the penny red, was issued and the cancellation stamping changed to black. This proved harder to remove.
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