Crazy to imagine I know, but the start of today's incredible communications systems literally owes its humble beginnings...to a stamp.

If you’re a classic stamp collector, I assume you’re likely aware of the significance of the Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp. Issued on May 1, 1840, in the United Kingdom, the Penny Black revolutionized postal systems by introducing pre-paid postage for the first time. It features the iconic, easily recognizable profile of Queen Victoria, a symbol of leadership that helped cement this a groundbreaking moment in communication history. The stamp was officially valid for use starting May 6, 1840, and remains a revered piece among philatelists worldwide.

The Penny Black is not only significant for its historical context but also for its rarity and impact on future postage stamps. As the earliest example of a pre-paid postal system, it laid the groundwork for modern mail services, making the collection of stamps both a practical and highly collectible hobby. Its unique position in philatelic history has made it one of the most coveted items for collectors.

Per CNN & SOTHEBY'S, the 1st known piece is auctioning between $1.5 - $2.5 Million!

"The first known piece of mail sent using a prepaid stamp — “one of the greatest leaps forward in human communication” — could fetch between $1.5 million and $2.5 million when it comes up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York next month. If the piece realizes its estimate, Sotheby’s said it would become one of the most valuable pieces of postal history to have ever been auctioned.

Dated May 2, 1840, the letter’s original recipient was William Blenkinsop Jr., the 35-year-old manager of a Victorian iron works in Bedlington, a town in the north of England. Sotheby’s state that all that’s known about the letter’s sender is that they posted the missive in London — about 300 miles to the south — and paid for it with the Penny Black stamp."

Did You Also Know...?


The Penny Black image of Queen Victoria was based on a sketch when she was only 15, and was to remain on stamps for the entirety of her reign! Read more at the POSTAL MUSEUM website!

Moving into 21st Century stamp collecting, VeVe, one of the world’s leading digital collectibles platforms, is collaborating with prestigious Stanley Gibbons to offer a unique opportunity to own a piece of this history. Stanley Gibbons, the world's longest-established rare stamp dealer, has authenticated a selection of original Penny Black stamps that dropped Sunday, October 6th, 2024, of their first-ever digital representations on VeVe (learn more or sign up by visiting https://www.veve.me).

This collaboration marks another important step for both digital and traditional collectors, as it continues to bridge gaps between physical and digital ownership of historical items in very modern ways.



Note - these are digital firsts, created or minted onto the Ethereum blockchain, which are ownable - you can collect, stack, use in augmented reality or sell to anyone, anywhere on Earth at your choosing.  However, you DO NOT need to understand cryptocurrencies, blockchains etc., no different than you need to understand how the Internet works to bring content like this to your screen.  You simply download the app, create an account and use your credit card to access 1000’s of key pieces of Intellectual Property from some of the world’s largest brands, all participating and offering their assets in this space.  68 MILLION physical stamps, were originally created, where maybe 5% remain, where the amount of digital assets produced has been restricted.

Check out the USPS or New Zealand Postal Service offerings as well, where there are many stamp variants from baseball history to Christmas themes, US Presidents and the planets of our galaxy, to Chinese New Year variants.  Check them out at VEVE STAMPS: https://blog.veve.me/search?query=stamps

Back to the Penny Black VeVe release (drop), for those lucky enough to have secured a secret rare (SR) variant (most scarce), the rewards are extraordinary. These individuals will receive one of only 150 authenticated physical Penny Black stamps, housed in a special VeVe-branded case. Such an offering makes a rare and valuable piece of history more accessible to a broader audience.

This is a “stamp of approval” (OK…Groan!!) an exciting new chapter in stamp collecting. While traditionalists may have concerns about digital ownership or its impact on their physical asset collections, these digital initiatives open the book for new collectors who may have previously been priced out of owning such prestigious artifacts. This innovative move really, can only enhance the legacy of stamp collecting, while introducing assets like the historic Penny Black to a new generation of enthusiasts, who let’s be honest, may have never, ever heard or known this particular stamp even existed.

DID YOU KNOW?

A total of 286,700 sheets – containing 68,808,000 stamps – were made available and around 1.3 million are estimated to still exist. This 2% survival rate is probably higher than you would expect because the use of envelops was unusual in the 1840s. (Thanks to some great intel from Warwick & Warwick!)

As a comic collector, I’ll draw on an analogy to this - the book that really started the engines for Marvel was Marvel Comics #1, first published in August 1939 (then under the Timely Comics brand).  Turn the pages ahead to August 2021 and Marvel created this as a licensed digital collectible to drop on VeVe. Believe me - this led to THOUSANDS of people learning this book ever existed - even many PHYSICAL Marvel comic collectors I know.  It’d driven substantial revenues from new audiences now owning a piece of this incredible Marvel history which led to the development of Fantastic Four #1 that really launched the Marvel brand.

With pretty much any grade over a CGC 8.0, this book holds Fair Market Values (FMV) per GoCollect well north of $1,000,000, with only 69 graded copies in existence, the draw to owning a piece of Marvel history, even digitally is a pretty big deal.... Now, MORE people know about this than just a few short years ago, so there is no reason to believe it would be any different for the stamp collecting industry.

HERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY DIGITAL COLLECTIBLE VERSIONS OF THE PENNY BLACK STAMP WOULD BE DESIREABLE AMONG PHYSICAL STAMP COLLECTORS

(Special thanks to PHYGITAL Collector, Casual VeVe for curating this quick list!)

  • Historical Significance: Being the first-ever stamp, its a cornerstone of philatelic history

  • Iconic Design: Both recognizable & timeless, it appeals to both traditional and modern collectors

  • Scarcity: Limited release of digital editions mimic the rarity of remaining physical stamps

  • Accessibility: Digital assets are easier to acquire & trade globally without physical constraints

  • Preservation: Digital formats ensure longevity without risk of physical damage or loss

If you decide to investigate further, there is the opportunity to add some to your collection or find your favourite mint (edition) number in the after-release marketplace.  For those of you who enjoy video reviews, follow Collectors Gone Digital on X (Twitter) and check in on his this nifty YOUTUBE vid reviewing stamp collectible release!

And for whoever is fortunate enough to land Mint #1840 (the Release Year of the physical stamp) Penny Black IA-IC Ultra Rare digital collectible, those FINE GENTS over at Comics & Crypto are offering a $1000 BOUNTY - that's an immediate 10X on your drop purchase price of $10...if you're willing to part with it that quickly!

Happy Stamp Collecting & Thanks for Reading!