A SCOTS stamp shop has launched two books with genuine original postage stamps.
The Glasgow Stamp Shop’s new books include the Penny Black, Penny Red and two versions of the Two Penny Blue, providing an insight into the world’s first postage stamps.
The books titled The World’s First Postage Stamps 1840-1841: The Personal Collection and The Penny Black respectively, explain how stamps became a form of receipt.
The books also discuss how the stamp was a British invention that expanded worldwide.
Millions of the Penny Blacks were printed, but were thrown away as they were seen to have no value, but surviving prints are now worth fortunes.
During the Victorian era, the Post Office issued the Penny Red stamp and the Tuppeny Blue when they worried people were re-using the Penny Blacks.
The Glasgow Stamp Shop has a limited edition of the personal collection book starting at £850 and the shop said the value is likely to increase over the years.
The Penny Black book features all 12 versions of the world’s first stamp with the plates used to produce them and is available from the Glasgow Stamp Shop starting at £4,500.
The shop’s owner, Gordon Caroll explained his son Austin was behind the initiative for the project.
Mr Carroll said: “Austin thought it would be great to have a book, or some presentation of the stamps, so that while a collector can appreciate what it is, a non-collector can also understand the historical significance of the Penny Black.
“The Personal Collection is essentially a stamp album, with four original genuine Victorian stamps and a lot of explanatory text. It has never been done before and a lot of experts cannot now imagine why not.
“People are very, very interested. A lay person can pick up the book and it will make sense to them. It is not too technical, or in-depth – it is not meant to be.”
The shop resides in central Glasgow on West Nile Street. Caroll watches over what is considered to be the largest display of stamps in the UK with seating for customers.
He manages a full online marketplace as well as provides valuations for both stamps, postcards, coins, and banknotes.
Mr Carroll added: “The second book, The Penny Black, features the 12 plates used to produce the stamp, explaining each plate and the reasons why there are differences.
“Both books are based on a finite resource – Victorian stamps, of which there is not an endless supply – so, like everything else in life, there can be no guarantee of increased value but we believe they will appeal to investors who recognise two unique, legacy productions.”
