The stamp depicts Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in profile on a black background and has “postage” and “penny”
The first letter sent with a prepaid, self-adhesive stamp can sell for up to $2.5 million.
Sotheby’s is organizing an auction in New York on February 2 to sell the 183-year-old file.
“We take for granted today the ease with which we can seamlessly connect with friends and loved ones almost instantly from anywhere in the world,” says Richard Austin, head of books and manuscripts at Sotheby’s.
The top right corner of the envelope bears a “Penny Black” stamp, the first issued in Britain and worldwide. The stamp depicts Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in profile on a black background and has “postage” and “penny”.
Invention of social reformer and teacher Rowland Hill was the world’s first self-adhesive postage stamp.
The envelope shows two dates on which it was mailed: May 2, 1840, and May 4, 1840. On the first date, an unknown sender mails the letter from London to William Blenkinsop J., who lived and worked in Bedlington, England. Blenkinsop ran the Bedlington Iron Works, which produced railway tracks and locomotives, according to Sotheby’s.
After receiving the letter, Blenkinsop removed the letter and turned the envelope inside out. He then sent the envelope to a man named “Mr. Blenkinsop’—probably to his father—in the village of Dalston.
“One of the greatest leaps forward in human communication is commemorated with an envelope featuring the first stamp,” the auction house said.
Source :Skai
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