• A Royal Collection
  • George V, "Collector King"
    • Frame II
    • Frame III
  • George VI
    • Frame IV
  • Elizabeth II
    • Frame V
    • Frame VI
  • Modern Treasures
    • Frame VII
    • Frame VIII
    • Frame IX
    • Frame X

• The Birth of the Modern British Post
  • Rowland Hill
    • Frame 1
  • An Outpouring of Creativity
    • Frame 2
    • Frame 3
    • Frame 4
    • Frame 5
  • The Mythical Penny Black
    • Frame 6
    • Frame 7
    • Frame 8
    • Frame 9
    • Frame 10
    • Frame 11
    • Frame 12
    • Frame 13
  • Colours and Obliterations
    • Frame 14
    • Frame 15
    • Frame 16
    • Frame 17
  • Long Live the Penny Red!
    • Frame 18
  • The Mulreadys
    • Frame 19
    • Frame 20
    • Frame 21
    • Frame 22
    • Frame 23
    • Frame 24

• Canada Gains its Postal Autonomy
  • Canada Breaks New Ground
    • Frame 25
    • Frame 26
  • The Earliest Issues
    • Frame 27
    • Frame 28
    • Frame 29
    • Frame 30
    • Frame 31

• Canadian Treasures
  • A Philatelic Mystery
    • Frame 32
  • A Tribute to His Father
    • Frame 33
  • A Scandal in New Brunswick
    • Frame 34
  • Conquering the North Atlantic
    • Frame 35
    • Frame 36
    • Frame 37
    • Frame 38
    • Frame 39
    • Frame 40

• share your collection

The colour and obliteration trials enabled Rowland Hill to select a red ink for the new stamp and a black one for the cancel.

Introduced in February 1841, the Penny Red was a resounding success.

The Twopenny Blue was also improved. A blue ink developed during the trials made the stamp more resistant to forgery.

A winning pair, these two stamps remained in use for 38 years.

= Additional information