Penny Black stamped letter has antiques valuation of £3k

A letter nearly 200 years old with a Penny Black stamp on has been given an antiques valuation of £3,000, it has been reported.

According to STV, the item - which was sent from Perth to Leven - also features an unusual Maltese cross, which the auctioneers have said is the reason why it is so valuable.

What's more, the publication pointed out the stamp is rare and it was put on the letter in the year the Penny Black was introduced.

Dominic Savastano, postage stamps expert at Spink, said the Maltese cross was placed on the letter on May 6th 1840, the same day the Penny Black was introduced.

He added: "The black Maltese cross was introduced in February 1841, although there were earlier experimental usages in London."

This comes after the Northern Echo revealed previously this month that a letter written by Stan Laurel had failed to make its antiques valuation of between £400 and £600.

Posted by Keith Leicester