Transfer roller
Encyclopedia
The transfer roller was used in the production of the first postage stamp
s, (the Penny Black
, Two pence blue
and the VR official
). It transferred the image of the stamp from the master die to the printing plate.
The roller was sufficient in size to take between 2 and 8 impressions from the original master die.
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s, (the Penny Black
Penny Black
The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was issued in Britain on 1 May 1840, for official use from 6 May of that year....
, Two pence blue
Two pence blue
The Two Penny Blue was the world’s second official postage stamp, issued after the Penny Black.It was issued in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and was first sold to the public at the London Inland revenue office in the afternoon of May 8th 1840. Except for its denomination of the...
and the VR official
VR official
The VR official was one of three postage stamps introduced by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in May 1840 for the pre-payment of postage. While the Penny Black and the Two Pence Blue were for use by the general public, as were the Mulready envelopes and letter sheets, the VR...
). It transferred the image of the stamp from the master die to the printing plate.
The roller was sufficient in size to take between 2 and 8 impressions from the original master die.