Famous and rare stamps on stamps
Penny
Black - G.B. #1
Visit: The Penny Black Plate project
http://www.arcieriminerva.it/SOS/homeSOS.htm
The
Inverted Jenny (or Jenny Invert) is a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_Jenny
In Progress
First stamps 
Blog
The first stamp of France, which is Republic since
1789, bears the face of the goddess Ceres although the official name of the
stamp is “Republic”. The stamp n°1 of the Yvert et Tellier catalogue is the 10c
bistre with the effigy of Ceres. It was issued in 1850, which is special
because the first stamp issued is listed as N°3. It is the 20c bearing the same
face of Ceres.
Spain: The first Spanish stamp dates back to 1850,
it depicts Queen Isabella II in profile in white on a black background. This
stamp has a face value of 6c and is part of a series of 5 stamps (other values
: 12c lilac, 5r red-brown, 6r blue, 10r light green).
Great Britain: Not knowing about the One Penny
black of Great Britain issued in 1840 is unforgivable as it is simply the first
stamp issued in the world. Bearing the face of Queen Victoria in white on a
black background, it is recognisable by its small crown watermark which
differentiates it from the 1864 reprints. The 2p blue was issued at the same
time.
In Luxembourg, the first stamp issued is in the
effigy of William III in profile in medallion on a brown-black background. It
dates from 1852 and is part of a series of 2 stamps (the other value is 1s
brown-red). In order to differentiate these first stamps from the following
print, the watermark of the first issue is a W.
The first Swiss stamp comes from the canton of
Geneva. It is a double 2*5c stamp printed in black on a green background with
the inscription “Port Cantonal” on the top. It bears the coat of arms of the
Canton of Geneva. However, it was not until 1850 that the first stamp valid for
the whole of Switzerland was issued.
The first stamp of the former Italian States
before unification was a series of 5 stamps of Lombardy-Venetia issued in 1850.
When Italy became an independent nation in 1861, 4 stamps of the 4th issue of
the Kingdom of Sardinia were first used, perforating them. It was not until
1863 that the first stamp bearing the word “Italian” appeared, a 15c stamp with
the effigy of Victor-Emmanuel II.
The first Belgian stamp is bearing the effigy of
Leopold I. It is the Epaulettes issue which includes a set of two stamps, the
10c brown and the 20c blue. The first one is the 10c stamp issued in 1849.
There are many different shades of this stamp.
As for Switzerland, the first German stamps were
local stamps. The first Empire stamp dates from 1872. With a face value of ¼
groschen it bears an embossed eagle in a medallion which is printed in purple.
The first stamps of the United States were first
of all local stamps including the famous Blue Boy of Alexandria. We have to
wait until 1847 for the first general issue: the first stamp of 5c with the
effigy of Benjamin Franklin. It is part of a series of two stamps, the other
bearing the face of George Washington and with a face value of 10c.
In the Netherlands, the first stamp issued is in
the effigy of William III in profile, as a medallion on a blue background. Its
face value is 5c. It dates from 1852 and is part of a set of three stamps (the
other values : 10c carmine rose, 15c orange).
Best website related:
The world’s five most
valuable stamps
http://www.stampland.net/?p=7823#more-7823
http://www.stamp2.com/gallery/rarities/index.html
