What happens when you combine two instantly recognisable iconic images? Some may tut-tut and wring their hands, but many Cinderella collectors go Oh Wow!. The Penny Jacks cleverly combine the Penny Black and the Union Flag. They first appeared decorating post with a few loose stamps, both perforated and imperforate, and included with different orders. How many noticed whether anything was implied by the upper corner letters of the stamps on their postal wrapping?

A flier for personalised sheets of Penny Blanks appeared but collectors had to wait two years before receiving these perhaps almost unique items. In fact the buyers could say what they preferred to see as a motto, or text, in the sheet margins. The ultimate in personalised Cinderella stamps!

Most Penny Jacks had G and B as the lower corner letters. At least 65 combinations of upper initial letters have been recorded, with only partial duplication between perforated and unperforated stamps. There are examples where GB is replaced by other letters extending the initial concept.
As for design varieties there is an inverted head on one stamp on some sheets, and a mirror image stamp has been found. There have been printings noticeably paler than most.

What to look for in this issue?

• Your initials in the top corners
• Design variants
• Imperforate examples