Quest for the Penny Black

The Quest for the Penny BlackVolume One of the Notting Hill TrilogyA comedy adventure set in London in 1974. A number of Londoners, with the help of clues which were contained in the diaries of a dishonest Equerry to Queen Victoria that hinted of some stolen penny black stamps hidden around London, discovered by an elderly eccentric widow of an eminent archaeologist, commence on a treasure hunt. The clues, as deciphered progressively by the lady, take her and a dysfunctional ex-merchant seaman lodger, plus a group of people, whom she thinks are private detectives (but are actually small-time gangsters) to the icons of London, including Tower Bridge, Hampstead Hospital, Albert Bridge, Highgate Cemetery and some churches, to mention a few br> The search is hampered by the arrival of a big-time gangster whose interest in the matter is apparent. His efforts, however, are somewhat thwarted by the arrival of some mysterious minders, engaged by a man who owns much of Notting Hill and is a friend of the old lady. It is a story of discovery and self-redemption, which lead to the ultimate conclusion.