[3] Hill was given a two-year contract to run the new system, and together with Henry Cole he announced a competition to design the stamps.

Out of some 2,600 entries, none was considered suitable, however, so a rough design endorsed by Hill was chosen instead, featuring an easily recognisable profile of Queen Victoria.

The portrait of Victoria was engraved by Charles Heath and his son Frederick, based on a sketch provided by Henry Corbould.

Corbould's sketch was in turn based on the 1834 cameo-like head by William Wyon, which was used on a medal to commemorate the Queen's visit to the City of London in 1837.

The word "POSTAGE" at the top of the design distinguishes it from a revenue stamp which had long been used in the UK; "ONE PENNY."

In February 1841, the treasury switched to the Penny Red and began using black ink for cancellations instead, which was more effective and difficult to remove.

The actual imprimatur ('let it be printed') refers to the written permission of the Inland Revenue officials entered on the back of the sheet of stamps.

In the 19th century, it was common for officials to remove some stamps from each sheet to present as gifts to dignitaries and other important people.

A complete sheet of the Penny Black without check letters is held by the British Postal Museum.

[12] In addition to the general issue of the Penny Black, a similar stamp intended for official mail was produced, with the letters "V" and "R" replacing the crosses in the top corners.

Because the general public quickly accepted the postage stamps and ridiculed the Mulready stationery produced at the same time, vast supplies of Mulready letter sheets were given for official use to government departments such as the tax office, and the idea of introducing an official stamp was abandoned.