The world's first official postage stamp was issued in May 1840: the legendary "One Penny Black"" with the profile of the Queen of England. The new payment system in the field of logistics by Sir Rowland Hill quickly gained hold all around the world. The postage stamp - a medium, a means of transport, a surface for signs and symbols. This book breaks new ground by highlighting the significance and function of the postage stamp as a high-profile element of communication design. The power inherent in these small visual universes, as well as the phenomenon of the highly specialized but at the same time hugely diverse visual language of this mass-society medium, are analyzed on the basis of over 40 design from Hans Günter Schmitzs image smithy. In addition to issued postage stamps, the book also presents designs and preliminary studies together with explanatory notes by the designer. Visual communcation expert Bernhard Uske has devoted an extensive essay to the books theme. From the contents: _Insight into the design practice of renowned specialist _Reflection about stamps in visual communication _Image analysis of selected motifs _With essay on the art of design