This is a classic Great Britain Penny Red stamp, first issued in 1841 as the successor to the famous Penny Black. Printed in red-brown, it features the profile of Queen Victoria facing left. The stamp shows the corner letters G–N, which were used to identify the position of the stamp in the printing sheet.

The cancellation is a Maltese Cross numeral obliterator with the number 280, which corresponds to the post office location of Knaresborough (Yorkshire). These numeral cancellations help collectors trace postal history routes and add significance to the piece.

The Penny Red is an essential item in Victorian philately and is widely collected for its numerous plate varieties, shades, and postmarks. Despite its wide circulation, examples with clear strikes or rare plate numbers are highly sought after by collectors.