My Personnal Penny Red Challenge

Hello everyone!
Yesterday, I had an idea. I'm surely not the first one to have had this idea.

This is a real challenge for a passionated stamp collector like me. Here's my challenge: getting every perforated Penny Red stamps from the 1864-79 issue from each plate (except plate 77 and 126) For now, I have two ones: plate 145 and 162. I need 152 more Penny Reds!

Every time i'll get another Penny Red, i'll be sharing it to you, i'll be sharing you what I learned, and what I want to learn. My goal is to get a (almost) completed perforated 1864-1879 Penny Red collection, and to learn as much as possible about these awesome stamps! I'll be taking my time, stamp by stamp, buying a different plate number when I can, and doing research at the same time.

What is also fun is that almost none of these stamps are expensive, they have some really nice different color shades, and, when they're used, they have a huge variety of different numeral cancellations.

Can't wait to share all this with you!

CS

To find one of each plate in sound condition is a worthwhile challenge!

You'll need deep pockets for a plate 225 and there's one other plate that doesn't exist. I'm away from my books but I think it's plate 125. Will check and confirm later, if someone doesn't beat me to it

I'll maybe won't be buying a plate 225, but I'll check how much it is. I'll maybe check for an average condition one.

Aye-aye, Captain! I applaud the effort and enthusiasm and I am glad I am not alone in the Penny Red endeavor! I have achieved the complete run (including #225) and I enjoy adding to the collection. The cancels on that series of stamps are fun to collect as well. I wish you well and the best of luck while you search! Oh, FYI ..a digital microscope changed my life on these things!!!

Yes! Thanks! I already have a digital microscope! That's really useful, that's true! Penny Red are really interesting, they also have a lot of history, can't wait to learn more about it

I have a partially-completed run that I haven't looked at in five or more years. Actually, more, because COVID has been here for five years. It's all a blur.

I think I was missing five or six. You've motivated me to dig it out and see what I can do. I have two bourses coming up in the next four weeks, both of which have dealers who bring hundreds of red boxes of 102 cards.

There is no plate 75, 126 and 128.

Forgetting plates 77 & 225, plates 219, 222, 223 & 224 are the most expensive.

cjd, glad to motivate you!

Here's the first stamp I just bought for the beginning of my challenge! It's a plate 90. It's a nice one, do you think too?

Thanks for information, Bobby! I'll check for some plates in the #220 numbers for a good price. I didn't hurry to complete my challenge, I take my time and I enjoy.

Collections of all plates, frequently, come up at auctions.

Ok! This is why I say that I'm not the only one to have had this idea! But it's really fun to collect these stamps.

My point was that you can save yourself a lot of money looking for such (part) collections when they come up for auction, unless you want to have (unmounted) mint stamps.

NSK read my mind. These collections come up quite a bit since the idea is a popular one. Unless of course you want the hunt which you likely do.

Well, heck, if you are going to take the challenge on, try and do it with only your initials for the check letters. I'm always on the lookout for 'SB' stamps...

NSK and rogdcam, I prefer to choose my own Penny Red stamps, one by one, and enjoy the challenge, even if I pay more. But thanks for the proposition.

billsey, I prefer to choose them for their color, cancellations, and condition. But anyway, if I wanted to, I couldn't, because my initials are EV, and V doesn't exist on these stamps. Thanks for proposing me.

Captain - I understand that.