The Penny Red Returns: VeVe and Stanley Gibbons Reignite the Legacy of Rare Stamps

July 23, 2025 | VeVe News | By VeVe Editorial Team

The 1841 Penny Red has made history all over again.

VeVe has teamed up with Stanley Gibbons, the most trusted name in rare stamp collecting and trading since 1856, to release a digital version of one of the 19th century’s most iconic stamps. First issued in 1841 as a response to the visibility issues of the Penny Black, the Penny Red went on to define an entire era of British postage.

Now, collectors on VeVe have the chance to own a piece of that legacy, both digitally and physically.

"We have a responsibility, as the world's largest and most well known digital collecting platform, to ensure we provide our global community with amazing IPs to collect," explained David Yu, CEO and Co-Founder of VeVe. "But we also take pride in being able to digitize and preserve historic artifacts, tell their stories, and inform the next generations of collectors."

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Why the Penny Red Matters

"The Penny Red came into being when they, after some color trials, changed the Penny Black to the Penny Red that we all know and love today," said Oscar Young, philatelist at Stanley Gibbons. "They were first issued in 1841, the year after the Penny Black, and lasted in various forms right up until 1879."

This change wasn’t aesthetic. It was practical.

“You couldn't see a black postmark on a black stamp,” explained Young. “And so they thought, well, we cannot have a black stamp and a black postmark. We must change the color of the stamp.”

From that moment on, the Penny Red became a canvas for endless experimentation. This included the introduction of different plates, paper tones, postmarks, and engraving quirks that make each stamp a story in itself.

Rarity Hides in the Details

Oscar described the sheer variety that makes the Penny Red a lifetime pursuit for collectors, in a recent interview on the VeVe Official YouTube Channel.

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“You get them on very blue papers, very white papers, very cream papers... you also get what is known as an ivory head,” explained Young. “A ghostly impression on the back of the stamp of the Queen’s head. That was a security measure as well.”

Perforation experiments, mismarked plates, and even broken machinery added to the charm. And then there’s the holy grail: Plate 77.

“Plate 77 is the rarest Penny Red of all. There are only nine recorded, about three which are in public ownership,” said Oscar. “When the plate was engraved, it wasn’t done very well. It was very wonky... they destroyed the plate and destroyed the stamps. But some got out.”

One of those ones that got out was sold by Stanley Gibbons for over half a million pounds.

A New Way to Collect

‍VeVe’s Penny Red digital collectible brings this deep history to life in a fully digital experience. Collectors can view it in high resolution, augmented reality, or place it in their own VeVeVerse showroom.
On VeVe, collectibles can be placed in augmented reality, scaled to immense sizes, and viewed with exceptional detail. And given the digital Penny Red  is faithful to its historical counterpart, using archival references to ensure accuracy from every angle, it lets philatelists put down the magnifying glass. 

“It certainly helps. And also, it's a good way to look at your stamp in a way in which most people can't,” Oscar said. “And that is to get really up close and personal with it.” 

Physical Redemption: 100 Originals

This drop comes with something truly special. Collectors who receive the Secret Rare Penny Red edition will receive one of only 100 original 1841 Penny Red NK stamps—an authenticated, physical artifact from the era of Queen Victoria.

"You can't own everything," said Oscar. “A museum may have it. An actual collection may have it. Or it simply doesn’t exist anymore. But having the opportunity to acquire something digitally does democratize it somewhat.”

Each physical Penny Red will be matched to its digital collectible counterpart, bridging two centuries of collecting.

For Newcomers and Lifelong Collectors

Oscar also had advice for anyone joining the hobby through this release.

“Start small and enjoy and learn and meet other collectors,” he said. “Be mindful that good quality and good stamps will always retain a value long after price is forgotten. All the best collections take a lifetime to make up. And you’ll be amazed where it will take you.”