Stamps On Masterpiece Theatre!

On Christmas Eve we were watching a PBS rebroadcast of "Victoria" (Season 1, Episode 2) on Masterpiece Theatre. It's quite a nice series, for those who haven't seen it. But I surprised and pleased by a scene in which Sir Rowland Hill presents the Queen with the first sheets of Penny Black stamps to examine! There is even some dialogue regarding postal history. She is dismayed to realize that to affix the stamps people will have to lick the backside of her image. But Hill assures her that the more demure postal patrons can moisten the gum with a little brush.

There is an 1840 poem on this:

"You must kiss our fair Queen, or her pictures, that's clear
Or the gummy medallion will never adhere;
You will not kiss her hand, you will readily find
But actually kiss little Vickey's behind."
--A ditty inspired by the newly issued "Penny Black" entitled "Lines on the Post Office Medallion," June 6, 1840, The Town

Nice! I look forward to watching this. I picked up a used U.K. DVD set of Series 1 for only $3, since people around here (California) tend not to have region-free DVD players. (I couldn't live without mine.)

That poem is a classic!