Two Penny Blue: Britain’s Second Official Postage Stamp

The Two Penny Blue (2d Blue) was the second official adhesive British postage stamp, issued in 1840 alongside the Penny Black. This article covers its design, history, rarity and significance.

Overview

The Two Penny Blue, commonly called the 2d Blue, is the world's second official adhesive postage stamp issued for public use. Introduced in the United Kingdom in May 1840, it accompanied the better known Penny Black as part of the postal reforms that introduced pre-paid postage. Both stamps bear a left-facing profile of Queen Victoria and were produced to simplify and reduce the cost of letter carriage.

Design and characteristics

Visually the Two Penny Blue closely resembles the Penny Black: the same engraved portrait of Queen Victoria appears at the center, with the denomination shown in lettering rather than numerals. Early impressions were printed in blue ink on unperforated sheets and were line-engraved. Like the Penny Black, the stamps were produced without perforations, requiring them to be cut from sheets by hand.

History and issuance

As part of the reforms promoted by Rowland Hill, the new adhesive stamps were intended to be released together. The Penny Black entered use on 6 May 1840; surviving postmarks show the earliest known use of a Two Penny Blue on 8 May 1840, two days later. Production and distribution logistics account for this slight delay. The 2d denomination was introduced to cover a higher rate for heavier or longer-distance letters where two pence was required.

Printing, varieties and collecting

Printer and technique: line-engraved impressions were produced in sheets and sold imperforate.
Variations: surviving examples show plate wear, marginal markings and different cancellations that are of interest to philatelists.
Rarity: fewer used and unused Two Penny Blues survive compared with the Penny Black, making them generally rarer and more sought after by collectors.

Significance and distinctions

The Two Penny Blue is important both as part of the first adhesive stamp issues and as a functional complement to the Penny Black. It illustrates how a simple change of ink colour and denomination extended the new pre-paid system to different postal rates. For general background on the Penny Black and early stamps see Penny Black overview and for postal reform context consult postal reform sources. For British philately and collecting resources see British stamp collecting and general references at philatelic guides.

Because the Two Penny Blue is both historically significant and comparatively scarce, it remains a highlight in many collections and a subject of study for those interested in the origins of modern postage.