GB QUEEN VICTORIA 1840, 1d BLACK PENNY, Pl.1a H-J, BOTTOM DOUBLE, ROY FLAW

This particular stamp from Plate 1a with check letters H-J is notable for several philatelic varieties that make it a significant collector's piece.

Major Characteristics:

Plate 1a (First State): Plate 1 was the first used and wore down quickly, leading to extensive repairs that created "Plate 1b". Plate 1a represents the earliest state of the first-ever printing plate.

H-J Check Letters: These letters indicate the stamp's position on the original sheet of 240, where "H" is the 8th row and "J" is the 10th column.

Bottom Double (Double Letter): This variety occurs when the letter punch was struck twice during the plate's manufacture, resulting in a visible doubling of the check letters.

Ray Flaw: A characteristic of Plate 1a where the stars in the upper corners have missing or shortened rays. Specifically, Plate 1a is known for the 5 o'clock ray flaw in the North-West star.

Black Maltese Cross: While most early Penny Blacks were cancelled with a red Maltese Cross, the switch to black ink occurred in early 1841 to prevent cleaning and reuse. A black cross on a Plate 1a stamp is a less common combination compared to red.

4 Margins: A "4-margin" example.