The Maltese cross cancel changed from red to black in February 1841 primarily to prevent fraud, as the original red ink was easily cleaned off the Penny Black stamps, allowing them to be reused. Switching to a more durable black ink, and subsequently changing the stamp color from black to red, ensured the cancellation could not be removed without damaging the stamp. The penny black was changed to the penny red in order to make the black cancel more visible.

The eight points of the cross also represent the eight “lingue” (national groupings) of the Order's members, namely: Auvergne, Provence, France, Aragon, Castile and Portugal, Italy, Germany and England (with Scotland and Ireland). The complex, eight-pointed shape was designed to "obliterate" the stamp effectively so that the ink would be difficult to clean off, ensuring the stamp could not be used again