By William Hartston
In terms of the Retail Price Index, one penny in 1840 would be worth 32p at today’s prices. In terms of average income, however, it would be worth £5.61.- The word ‘stamp-collector’ predates postage stamps by more than a century. In 1710, it was used for a collector or receiver of stamp duties.
- The word ‘philately’ was first recorded in 1865.
- A British Guiana one-cent magenta stamp was sold at auction in New York in 2014 for a record £5.6 million.
- The previous owner of the stamp had died in jail in 2010 after being convicted of murdering an Olympic wrestling champion.
- The Royal Mail was created by Henry VIII in 1516. From then until 1840, postage was generally paid by the recipient rather than the sender.
- In 1973, Bhutan issued a stamp that could play their national anthem if put on a record player.
- The UK is the only country that does not display its name on its postage stamps.
- The first non-royal to appear on UK postage stamps was William Shakespeare in 1964.
- In 2013, Belgium issued stamps that smelt and tasted of chocolate.(Source-express.co.uk)
