It succeeded the Penny Black and continued as the main type of postage stamp in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until 1879, with only minor changes to the design during that time.

About 21 billion Penny Reds were printed by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co.[2] The stamps were printed in sheets of 240 (20 rows of 12 stamps), so one row cost 1 shilling and a complete sheet one pound.

On 1 April 1864, the stamp was issued with the plate number engraved in the design, in the left and right side lace work.

Later printings showed a revised watermark on which these central lines are not present (Type 2).

[5] The era of the Penny Red came to its close at the end of 1879, along with Perkins Bacon's contract.