Great Britain 1840 2d blue Plate 1, SG5.
A very fine used four margin example lettered "DL", neatly tied to a small piece by a crisp strike of the distinctive Dublin Maltese Cross.
A very attractive example of this distinctive Maltese Cross, very rarely seen in such fine quality.
GB Specialised Catalogue No: DS5vc.
SG Catalogue Value: £2,500.
Because the 2d blue was issued contemporary with the 1d black, it shares the distinction of being one of the world's first two postage stamps. The die for these first 2d stamps was taken indirectly from the original die of the 1d stamps.
The Twopenny Blue saw much lower postal usage than the Penny Black because it prepaid the double letter rate weighing up to a full ounce, where there was little demand at the dawn of the prepaid postal system. As a result, fine examples with attractive distinctive cancellations are much scarcer on the Twopenny Blue.
