Collection Display:
Events that led to the World's First Postage Stamp

Royal Mail Post Office One Penny Regulations handbill
http://en.wikipedia.org - Royal Mail

That event had been preceded by a December 1839 implementation of the first substantial reform in Great Britain, when a Uniform Fourpenny Post postage rate was introduced.

Royal Mail Post Office Four Pence Regulations handbill
http://www.gbps.org.uk Letter Rates 1839-1840

December 5, 1839 folded letter, with manuscript 4 in center, First Day of the Uniform Four Pence rate

Folded letter mailed January 9, 1840, the last day of the 4p rate

Another One Penny rate first day cover

“Thanks for cheap postage!—May we soon get cheap bread!”

Essay for a postage stamp, submitted as part of a design contest leading up to the Penny Black
http://en.wikipedia.org - Penny Black

Another design essay

A Parliamentary envelope, paying Penny Postage when free Parliamentary mail was abolished Jan. 10, 1840
http://en.wikipedia.org - Free Frank

A privately produced Prepaid Letter Sheet used Jan. 11, 1840

All of this led to the Penny Black, here in a May 6, 1840 First Day use

A wrapper mailed May 2, 1840, before the Penny Black May 6 effective date

The same wrapper, a Mulready 1p wrapper, turned and used May 4, also before the May 6 effective date