Three Halfpence Red facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Three Halfpence Red |
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| Country of production | United Kingdom |
| Date of production | October 1, 1870–1880 |
| Depicts | Queen Victoria |
| Face value | 1+1⁄2d |
The Three Halfpence Red was an important postage stamp from the United Kingdom. It was the very first stamp in the UK to be worth one and a half pence. This stamp was first released on October 1, 1870.
Contents
What the Stamp Looked Like
The Three Halfpence Red stamp was worth one and a half pence (1½d). It was made using a method called line engraving. The stamp showed a picture of Queen Victoria's head from the side. This same picture was used on other famous stamps, like the Penny Black and Penny Red.
Around the queen's picture, the stamp said 'Postage Three Half Pence'. There were also numbers in the corners of the stamp. Most of these stamps were printed in rose-red and lake-red colors.
A Rare Version
There is also a very rare version of this stamp. It was made ten years earlier, in 1860, and was a rosy-mauve color. This earlier stamp was created because people thought postal rates might change. However, the new postal rate was not approved.
Because the rate didn't change, 10,000 sheets of these rosy-mauve stamps were destroyed in 1867. But a few of them still exist today. These unused stamps are very rare and special to collectors.
How the Stamps Were Made
Stamps are often made using printing plates. For the Three Halfpence Red, plates number 1 and 3 were used. Plate number 2 was not finished because it had a problem.
On plate 3, a special plate number was added to the design. You can find this number in the lacework on the left and right sides of the stamp. This helps collectors know which plate a stamp came from.
When It Was Replaced
The Three Halfpence Red stamp was used for about ten years. In 1880, a new stamp took its place. The new stamp was also worth three halfpence, but it was a venetian red color and made with a different printing method.
See also
