My Penny Red

I bought this one for $8(free ship) and I just wanted to see what you guys thought about it:



I really, really want a penny black of course, but until I get more experienced I am not buying anything expensive like that. So when I came across this one, I bid, I figured it would go for more than that.
I like it. It looks better than a lot I've seen on ebay. And the postmark is nice. The histoy of this stamp is worth what I paid, to me. Thats kind of how I look at collecting. Of course, I will always try to find a better deal,but if its something I really like or want and its under 5 or 10 bucks,then its worth it to me, kwim?

I'm very excited to own a stamp this old! I have 2 of the 1858 penny reds, but they aren't as nice as this one. I will post a pic later of them.

I don't know much about the penny reds, but I think it's a nice looking stamp. Interesting postmark, and not so heavy that it detracts from the appearance of the stamp.

I wouldn't mind owning one like that myself. (And now that it's a new month, maybe I can! Had to make myself stop buying stamps last month! )

I get a real thrill out of these early stamps with Queen Victoria on them. Even the later ones with Queen Victoria give me a thrill. I think part of it is just thinking about how much has changed in the world since those stamps carried letters.

Nice stamp, Stefanib123.

I'm after a Penny black too, I tried a couple of weeks ago, but the bidding went to high. I'll keep trying. I seems only right that a philatelist should have the first stamp in their collection.




Makes you wonder what the next hundred or so years will bring.

Steve

wonderful stamp Stephanie

Dianne

Stefani, this is not the penny black but it is stamp #1 from the Leeward Islands...i am asking 50 cents for it on Stampoffers if you are interested !!

Nice red. I really like the postmark. --KS

Philb, there are a few stamps that you have on there that I am bidding on. This will be my first transaction on there. I don't have any stamps from New Caledonia and I just like like the purple on the Ivory coast one,lol!

And I don't have any Leeward Islands either, and I love the firsts! As Ricky Bobby says, if you're not first, you're last, haha!

Stefanib, I have seen penny blacks in average condition for 55 pounds from a British dealer. At the current rate of exchange, that translates to about 70-75 dollars. You probably won't be satisfied with average condition, since that usually means that at least one margin is cut into the design. You have to go a little more to get one in fine condition The penny red, imperf, is a fascinating stamp. You can really get into a lot of specialization. I have the first approximately 45 plates of the stamp. The shades are also interesting.

One area of the penny red is to get plates of the penny red which were also used to print the blacks.

The post mark on your copy is the Maltese cross. It was used in the first years until other cancellations came into use.

Your copy of the penny red is a quite nice example.

Stefani I really appreciate your bids..i have so much stuff, most of it under 50 cents..i will e mail you instead of using up space here !

Stefani, that's a very nice 3-margin Penny Red with a clear Maltese cross cancel.

I like to collect the numbered Maltese cross cancels. Here is an example of #12. It's only got 2 good margins, and the other two sides are lousy, and it's got a stain in the UR corner, but they aren't that easy to find so I can't be too picky.


This is my first visit/post to SCF. Seems like a very nice place. I hope to drop by more often!

Kim

Phil..I see you have a bidding war on that stamp !

khj..Kim, great looking cancel

And then you have the oddballs.... testing the perforation machines

khj, the maltese cross with the number in it increases the value of the stamp/cancellation. I have one example of the maltese cross with a number.

Many years ago, the penny red was so easy to find in excellent condition and it was cheap.( I realize that if by many years ago I mean a hundred years what I have said is obvious. I am talking of twenty years ago)

It was relatively easy to put together a collection of varieties, cancellations, plates, and shades. Go to Stanley Gibbons website and see what they want for plated copies of the penny red. (They do have a very high opinion of themselves) Other British dealers don't even offer them except for a few of the early plates.

I think I have posted this somewhere here before butI'll post it again.
A gentleman in my club is trying to collect all varieties of the penny red. There are 36,000. He recently passed the halfway point.

Richard

Welcome to the forum, kgj! I love the cancellation on it! I really like these stamps, and with 36,000, I'll have plenty to collect, should I decide to!

Bobg, you have some of the coolest stamps ever! Can you write me into your will?

Hey get in line sister

Dianne

I'll be your sister, but you have to put me in YOUR will, too!