Index · Edition · sg-penny-black-2024
Stanley Gibbons – Penny Black
Penny Black
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Penny Black NFTs exist per rarity tier?
8,888 in total: Common 4,058 (used single), Rare 2,840 (mint single), Ultra Rare 1,840 (mint strip of 3, Plate 5) and Secret Rare 150 (mint block of 4, Plate 8).
What do Secret Rare holders receive?
Buyers who got a Secret Rare directly from the VeVe store, not on the secondary market, receive one original 1840 Penny Black, authenticated by Stanley Gibbons and housed in a VeVe display case. Stanley Gibbons sourced the 150 stamps from its existing stock.
What did it cost, and where are the NFTs held?
All four designs were offered at USD 10 on VeVe, which runs on Immutable X; the drop opened on 6 October 2024. VeVe charges a 2.5% fee on secondary sales. No contract address is recorded in the wiki.
References
- pressVeVe Blog — Stanley Gibbons Penny Blacken
- officialVeVe Penny Black Series Pageen