An initial clipper was originally a clipper ship sent out to a whaling or sealing ground to initiate whaling or sealing operations. The term “initial clipper” is now used in philately to refer to the first postage stamp issued in a new design for a given country.
The first postage stamp was issued in the United Kingdom in 1840. This stamp was the Penny Black, and it featured a profile of Queen Victoria. The Penny Black was followed by a number of other stamps, including the Two Penny Blue and the Four Penny Red. These stamps were all printed using the same basic design, but they featured different colors and denominations.
