A must for collectors - the six classic stamps in this remarkable set are presented in their original sizes, recognising each monarch’s reign during the past 150 years of philately.
These stamps feature:
- Queen Victoria £1 green of 1891.
- King Edward VII 2d Tyrian Plum of 1910.King George V 2s 6d of 1913.
- King Edward VIII 1s ½d of 1936.
- King George VI Penny Black
- Centenary ½d of 1940.
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation 2s ½d of 1953
Description
Stamp Classics Miniature Sheet includes Six Special Stamps.
Queen Victoria, £1 green of 1891
The Queen Victoria £1 value was changed to green on 28 January 1891, the design having originally been issued in brown-lilac in 1884. The horizontal design replaced an earlier £1 released in 1878. The ornate style is typical of the stamps of the reign, created to prevent forgery. The corner letters, changing from stamp to stamp in the sheet, served the same purpose.
King Edward VII, 2d Tyrian Plum of 1910
A move from two-colour stamps, to reduce costs, saw the King Edward VII 2d re-designed and, in April 1910, printed in Tyrian plum. Post offices still held stocks of the former 2d, so the new stamp was not released. On the death of the King, the Postmaster General decided not to issue the stamp. Only one is known to have been used, on an envelope addressed to the Prince of Wales: itarrived on 6 May 1910, the day on which he became King George V.
King George V, 2s 6d of 1913
The high values of King George V, known as the ‘Seahorses’, are widely regarded as classic stamps of the world. The design was by Bertram Mackennal with lettering by George Eve. The 2s 6d and 5s were issued on 30 June 1913; the 10s and £1 on 1 August 1913. Four different printers produced the stamps, and the work of each is identifiable.
King Edward VIII,1 ½d of 1936
Ambitious plans were made for Accession, Coronation and Permanent issues for King Edward VIII, although only four values of the Accession set were issued. These were the ½d, 1½d and 2½d on 1 September 1936, and the 1d on 14 September. In April 1936, a 17-year-old student called Hubert J Brown submitted a speculative design to the Postmaster General, and this became the basis of the issued stamp.
King George VI Penny Black Centenary, ½d of 1940
The Post Office planned to celebrate the centenary of the Penny Black, for which designs were invited. However, following the outbreak of war, the issue was abandoned − until December 1939, when the Postmaster General felt that the decision had been premature. The King, in consultation with the Queen, favoured a design by Harold Palmer, issued on 6 May 1940 in six values from ½d to 3d in a size unusual for British stamps.
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation,2 ½d of 1953
To celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953, four stamps were issued on the following day. As always in those days, many designers were invited to compete and over 75 ideas were submitted. Four were chosen, each from a different artist: Edgar Fuller (2½d), Michael Goaman (4d), Edmund Dulac (1s 3d) and Michael Farrar-Bell (1s 6d). Consequently, the result is a mixture of styles.
- Value 3 x First Class, 3 x £1.55.
- Design Hat-trick Design.
- Acknowledgments All images @ Royal Mail Group Ltd 2019,
- courtesy of The Postal Museum.
- Stamp format Landscape.
- Stamp sizes.
- Queen Victoria £1 green of 1891 – 72.6mm x 29.4mm.
- King Edward VII 2d Tyrian Plum of 1910 – 31.2mm x 29.4mm.
- King George V 2s 6d of 1913 – 51.9mm x 29.4mm.
- King Edward VIII 1 ½ d of 1936 – 32.6mm x 29.4mm.
- King George VI Penny Black Centenary Postal Centenary½ d of 1940 – 41.6mm x 29.4mm.
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation 2 ½ d of 1953 – 51.9mm x 29.4mm.
- Miniature Sheet size 192mm x 74mm.
- Printer International Security Printers.
- Print process Lithography.
- Perforations Various.
- Phosphor All over.
- Gum PVA.