Great Britain 1840 1d black "VR" Official (Before Hardening) imprimatur, SGV1 Zanzibar stamps These were the first stamps

These were the first stamps to be overprinted this way depicting King Edward VII

9ca yellow-green

right hand wing margin example lettered 'BH'

A very fine unused B12(c) corner marginal control block of six

Macdonald) 1c orange

Great Britain 1840 1d black "VR" Official (Before Hardening) imprimatur, SGV1 Zanzibar stamps These were the first stampsGreat Britain 1840 1d black "VR" Official (Before Hardening) imprimatur, SGV1. A very fine unused imperforate imprimatur lettered 'TI'. Rare, one of only 33 possible examples many of which are in institutional collections. The V. R. Official penny black stamps were intended for the sole use on official correspondence from government departments. It was prepared for use in April 1840 but was not issued. The upper corners bore the letters "V" and "R"