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On 13 February 1837, Sir Rowland Hill proposed to a government inquiry both the idea of a prepaid stamp and a prepaid envelope, a separate sheet folded to form an enclosure for carrying letters. Hill was given a two-year contract to run the new system, and together with Henry Cole he announced a competition to design the new stamps. There were some 2,600 entries, but none was considered suitable; instead a rough design endorsed by Hill was chosen, featuring an easily recognisable profile of the former Princess Victoria. Hill believed this would be difficult to forge.

Also known as: Penny Black Plate