The Penny Black was first used in England in May 1840. Six million were printed in unperforated sheets of 240. Post Office staff had to cut the stamps into strips. It cost one penny to deliver a letter, whatever the distance.
At the time, rumours circulated that the stamp was one of the first Penny Blacks ever printed.
It took three years of research to prove that was true and get official authentication from The Royal Philatelic Society, London, and the British Philatelic Association.
That certification has raised its value significantly and a recent stamp sale has stoked Mr Holyoake’s hopes that The Wallace Document would fetch a record-breaking price.
Earlier this year, Sotheby’s auctioned a British Guiana One-Cent Magenta for $US8.3 million ($11 million) and Mr Holyoake believes his stamp is worth even more.
Credit : ABC News
Picture Credit : Google
