he development of the line-engraved 2d blue mirrored that of the 1d black and 1d red. The 1840 2d blue, printed from Plates 1 and 2, with no white lines below ‘POSTAGE’ and above ‘TWO PENCE’ (Figures 1–3), was concurrent with the 1d black. When the black colour of the 1d was changed to red in 1841, there was a corresponding change to the blue ink of the 2d value. On 18 November 1840, Rowland Hill had written ‘As it may be important to be able to distinguish the new from the old Twopenny labels I would recommend that the new ones be printed with a white line above and below the head… The distinction of colour between the new and old Penny labels obviates the necessity for any alteration of the plates as regards them.’ Thus, the 2d ‘white lines’ issue was born, and the design lasted until the end of the line-engraved 2d. The only other major alteration to the design of the 2d again mirrored a similar one made to the 1d – the introduction of letters in all four corners and the inclusion of the plate number in the design of each stamp, thus making the identification of the plate a relatively easy exercise. The issue of these new 2d stamps was in July
