Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black

The Penny Black is one of the most significant inventions in human history! It’s hard to believe today, but this piece of adhesive paper launched in 1840 and featuring the profile of Queen Victoria ushered in the age of mass communication, allowing people from all walks of life to correspond with others across the United Kingdom!  Prior to its invention, only the very wealthy could afford to exchange letters using messengers in the employ of the King, the Church, or the Universities; incredibly, it was the recipient who would have to pay for the delivery!

The Self-adhesive stamp, Invented by school teacher Rowland Hill, was originally labelled as wild and preposterous by those running the national messenger service, but with the support of Robert Wallace, a respected politician, it soon paved the way for global communication. Now recognized and coveted by collectors all over the world, original Penny Blacks can be valued at anything from £100 to several million depending on provenance, condition and rarity!

Dropping in blind box Waitlist format.

1840 Penny Black QB used
1840 Penny Black. Superb used four margin example lettered QB, beautifully cancelled by a crisp red Maltese Cross.

Drop Date: 6 October 2024, 8 AM PT
List Price: 10.00
Editions: 4,058
Rarity: Common
Edition Type: First Edition
First Available Public Edition: #41
License: Stanley Gibbons
Brand: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Series: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Available: Globally

‍_{A total of 90 editions will be withheld by VeVe for licensor, promotional, team and comp distribution.}‍

1840 Penny Black Ol mint
1840 Penny Black. Very fine and fresh four margin unused example lettered OI. Wonderful colour, spectacular gum and a lovely clear impression.

Drop Date: 6 October 2024, 8 AM PT
List Price: 10.00
Editions: 2,840
Rarity: Rare
Edition Type: First Edition
First Available Public Edition: #41
License: Stanley Gibbons
Brand: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Series: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Available: Globally

‍_{A total of 90 editions will be withheld by VeVe for licensor, promotional, team and comp distribution.}‍

1840 Penny Black IA-IC
1840 Penny black Pl.5. Exceptionally fine and fresh large four margin unused o.g. left hand marginal horizontal strip of three lettered IA-IC showing part sheet inscription "D SIDE of the Letter".

Drop Date: 6 October 2024, 8 AM PT
List Price: 10.00
Editions: 1,840
Rarity: Ultra Rare
Edition Type: First Edition
First Available Public Edition: #41
License: Stanley Gibbons
Brand: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Series: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Available: Globally

‍_{A total of 90 editions will be withheld by VeVe for licensor, promotional, team and comp distribution.}

1840 Penny Black BE-CF mint block (phygital)
1840 Penny Black Pl.8. Superb unused with original gum, four margin block of four lettered BE-CF. Mint blocks from this plate are of the utmost rarity, a magnificent exhibition piece.

Drop Date: 6 October 2024, 8 AM PT
List Price: 10.00
Editions: 150
Rarity: Secret Rare
Edition Type: First Edition
First Available Public Edition: #7
License: Stanley Gibbons
Brand: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Series: Stanley Gibbons - Penny Black
Available: Globally

_{A total of 6 editions will be withheld by VeVe for licensor, promotional, team and comp distribution.}

‍

1840 Penny Black Phygital details
‍Collectors who secure an 1840 Penny Black BE-CF mint block - Secret Rare digital collectible ON THE DROP from the VeVe store will receive one of only 150 original, 1840 Penny Black physical stamps displayed in a VeVe-exclusive case. Collectors who secure the physical stamp will be contacted via email for shipping information and the recipient will need to respond within 60 days to claim the physical stamp. Ships internationally.

*This image is for concept purposes only and will differ from the physical stamp being delivered.

‍_{A total of 6 editions will be withheld by VeVe for licensor, promotional, team and comp distribution.}

_{40% of reservations will be allocated in the Waitlist for MCP Priority Bidding. There is a 5,000 minimum Points bid for this drop.}

_{© STANLEY GIBBONS}

Waitlist Drop - Blind Box

Waitlist will open 30 minutes before drop time. If you enter the Waitlist and are lucky enough to secure a reservation, you will have 7 minutes to complete the purchase process. If you do not complete the purchase, your collectible reservation will be returned to the public pool and be available for users to purchase directly from the VeVe Store. More info on Waitlist Drops HERE.

‍These digital collectibles will be available for purchase as a blind box, meaning you won’t know which rarity you have acquired until after your successful purchase.

MCP Priority Bidding

Upon entering the drop Waitlist, Collectors can opt to redeem Master Collector Program Points to bid on priority Waitlist selection for a collectible reservation. After a bid is placed, Collectors can increase their bid, and/or withdraw their bid up until the Waitlist closes.

At drop time, the highest bidders will be awarded a collectible reservation for the opportunity to complete their purchase using Gems at the Store price. At this point users MCP Points are deducted from their MCP points balance. If users decide not to make a purchase, their MCP Points WILL NOT be refunded.

If a Collector is NOT successful in securing a collectible reservation using Priority Bidding, their MCP Points WILL NOT be deducted. These Collectors are considered in the Waitlist entry pool and still have a chance to win the drop via normal Waitlist selection logic.

Note: Collectors will only be able to secure a single purchase per successful reservation. Additional collectibles can be purchased after the reservation period ends, if inventory is available.

‍

_{Secondary Market Fees
A standard 2.5% secondary market fee will be added to all Stanley Gibbons sales in the secondary market.}

_{Stanley Gibbons}

^{Established in 1856, Stanley Gibbons can trace its origins back almost as far as the Penny Black and is the oldest Stamp dealer in the world! From the humble beginnings of a small stamp counter located at his father’s chemist shop, the business grew exponentially, and by the turn of the century, Stanley Gibbons was the leading light of stamp collecting, with bustling auctions, encyclopaedic catalogues and a publication which still leads the market today.}

^{Stanley Gibbons is now one of the most established brands in collectables, maintaining its commitment to philately to this very day, recognised by the coveted ‘Royal Warrant’ for philately first awarded by King George V in 1914. Committed to modernising and introducing the hobby to a new generation, Stanley Gibbons are thrilled to work with Veve, creating an exciting and unique opportunity for collectors which combines modern digital collecting with a traditional, physical twist!}