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Postcards to Michigan’s Past

Postcards to Michigan's Past

The earliest known picture postcard was a hand-painted design — posted with a “Penny Black Stamp” in London, to the writer Theodore Hook in 1840. The Penny Black was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp — issued on May 1, 1840. Displaying a portrait of Queen Victoria, it was primarily black in color and was one cent — thus, it became known as the Penny Black. (click here or on image to see edited/published version)