Index · Edition · sg-penny-black-2024
Penny Black 1840 — Crypto Stamp Penny Black Phygital
Penny Black 1840
Stanley Gibbons released a crypto stamp edition featuring the Penny Black of 1840 on 6 October 2024 on VeVe. The edition comprises four variants: Common — Penny Black QB used with Maltese Cross cancel (4,058 ex), Rare — Penny Black OI mint single (2,840 ex), Ultra Rare — Penny Black IA-IC mint strip of 3 Plate 5 (1,840 ex), and Secret Rare — Penny Black BE-CF mint block of 4 Plate 8 (150 ex). Primary buyers of all 150 Secret Rare NFTs receive a physical original Penny Black stamp from 1840, authenticated by Stanley Gibbons and housed in a VeVe-exclusive display case. All four designs were offered at USD 10 list price. Secondary market fee 2.5% on VeVe.
Variants
| Variant | Variant | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secret-Rare | 150 | 1 | |
| Ultra-Rare | 1,840 | 2 | |
| Rare | 2,840 | 3 | |
| Common | 4,058 | 4 |
History
Stanley Gibbons released 8,888 NFTs on 6 October 2024 via VeVe on Immutable X. The edition marked the first crypto stamp to include physical 1840 Penny Black stamps as rewards for 150 Secret Rare buyers.
Technical Specifications
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 6 October 2024, 8AM PT |
| Total Mintage | 8,888 |
| Price | USD 10 per NFT |
| Blockchain | Immutable X |
| Platform | VeVe |
| Physical Component | 150 original Penny Black stamps (1840) |
Variant Distribution and Rarity
| Rarity | Description | Mintage |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 1840 Penny Black QB used (Maltese Cross cancel) | 4,058 |
| Rare | 1840 Penny Black OI mint single | 2,840 |
| Ultra Rare | 1840 Penny Black IA-IC mint strip of 3, Plate 5 | 1,840 |
| Secret Rare | 1840 Penny Black BE-CF mint block of 4, Plate 8 | 150 |
Physical Redemption
Secret Rare NFT holders who purchased directly from the VeVe store (not secondary market) received:
- Email request for shipping address
- One physical Penny Black stamp (1840, 4-margin mint single, lettered)
- Authentication by Stanley Gibbons London
- VeVe-branded display case
Stanley Gibbons sourced the 150 physical stamps from existing inventory before the NFT release.
Historical Context
The Penny Black was issued on 1 May 1840 (valid from 6 May 1840). Sir Rowland Hill, a schoolteacher, designed it to reform the British postal system where recipients paid for delivery. The stamp features Queen Victoria in profile. Production totaled 286,700 sheets × 240 stamps = approximately 68 million stamps. An estimated 1.3 million survive, representing a 2% survival rate.
References
- pressVeVe Blog — Stanley Gibbons Penny Blacken
- officialVeVe Penny Black Series Pageen