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WHEN THE BLACK PENNYS WERE ISSUED IN 1840 THE POST OFFICE ALSO INTRODUCED A SPECIAL POSTMARK TO CANCEL THEM. POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE MALTESE CROSS,THOUGH IT IS MORE CORRECT A CROSS PATTEE, THE POSTMARK WAS NORMALLY STRUCK IN BLACK. AS THIS WAS DIFFICULT TO SEA ON A BLACK STAMP THE POST OFFICE CHANGED IT TO BROWNISH RED IN 1841.WHIT MINOR CHANGES SUCH AS THE INSERTION OF CHECK LETTERS IN ALL THE FOUR CORNERS AND THE INTRDUCTION IN 1854 OF PERFORATIONS, THE THE PENNY RED STAMPS REMAINED IN USE UNTIL 1880,WHEN THEY WERE REPLACED BY PENNY STAMPS IN A NEW DESIGN AND PRINTED IN BRICK RED, KNOWN AS THE VENETIAN REDS, THESE WERE IN TURN REPLACED THE FOLLOWING YEARS BY STAMPS IN A NEW COLOUR UNTIL THE QUEENS DEATH IN 1901.
MEANWHILE THE POSTOFFICE HAS BEEN ISSUING STAMPS IN OTHER VALUES FOR USE ON LETTERS GOING OVERSEAS, ON TELEGAMS AND ON PARCELS SENT BY THE NEW PARCEL SERVICE STARTED IN 1883.ALTHOUGH PRINTED IN MANY COLOURS AND SIZES ALL THESE BRITISH STAMPS HAD ONE FEATURE IN COMMON, THEIR PROFILE PORTAIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA.IT REMAINED UNCHANGED THROUGH HER LONG REIGN.STAMPS ISSUED IN 1900 STILL SHOWED HER AS THE PLUMP-FACED, UNWRINKLED GIRL OF 1840.
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