Royal Mail unveils stamps displaying Britain's famous landmarks

Full Story: Daily Mail

Royal Mail is known for its aesthetically composed postage stamps which stand out from the rest. Philatelists around the world are always on the lookout for new issues of the Royal Mail to collect and preserve the beautiful damps of Great Britain. To project its famous landmarks, the Royal Mail has begun an alphabetical collection displaying the famous landmarks spread all over the UK. Like for instance the letter A is the Angel of the North, the Antony Gormley statue in Gateshead. The other stamps include Downing Street, Harlech Castle, Jodrell Bank and many more. A set of first six stamps is as shown above.

The entire range will be a philatelists' pleasure - read Full Story for details

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Royal Mail’s tribute to Steam Engines of the Yester Years

On 1st February 2011, the Royal Mail of the UK issued a set of four stamps to pay tribute to those rugged, smoky and steamy steam engines of the yester years that once hauled heavy load of bogies across the UK and even in foreign lands. Although, these still continue to ply is some countries, these gave way to the emerging technologies in diesel and electric engines in the 60s.

The stamps measuring 41mm x 30mm on a sheet of 179mm x 74mm were designed by Delaney Design Consultants with a perforation size of 14.5  x 14. The photos of the engines (top row left to right) includes BR Dean Goods No. 2532 and Peckett R2 Thor, while the lower row shows L & YR 1093 No. 1100 and BR WD No. 90662.

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Assorted stamps of UK from my collection

Awhile ago I shared the first page from my stamp collection of UK. Now am sharing the second page, which is generally from the earlier era of Queen Elizabeth. However, in the left columns, the last stamp is that of his father's time. The stamp above it dates back to 1948.

There are also commemorative stamps on the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill and Sherlock Holmes in the second column from the left.

Previous Reference: My collection of stamps of the Great Britain

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My collection of stamps of the Great Britain

The postal history of the Great Britain is the oldest in the world of philately, dating back to 1840. It also established one of the most efficient postal system ever laid out in the world. The Great Britain also introduced the same system in all its colonies and protectorates, where it is still functioning as efficiently as it is in the Great Britain today. It may be mentioned here that the first ever stamp of the South Asia was printed in 1852 from Karachi, Pakistan (then part of the British Empire) and was known as Scinde (Sind) Dawk.

Four major eras of the British postal system can be best described as the Victorian, King George V, King Edward VIII and the present Queen Elizabeth II. The Penny Black series of the Victorian times is the most famous that also includes the world’s first postage stamp in the shape as we know it.

My album starts from the King George V era and the stamps in the left lower column bear the portrait of King George V, issued in 1912s onwards. These are followed by stamps bearing portrait of King George VI, issued in 1930s (stamps in the left column over the King George V stamps and the second column from the left).

The bulk of my stamps are of the King Elizabeth II era, starting from her coronation in 1952 till date. I will continue to share pages from my stamp album of British stamps in days to come. 

Labels: Europe | UK |

Related Links:

The First Stamps

The Scinde Dak

Pakistan Post commemorating the Scinde Dawk centenary 1852-1952

A page from my stamp album - Lundy (UK)

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The royal wedding stamps

The Britons are once again gearing for a royal wedding on 29^th of April next month – this time it is Prince William who is being married to Kate Middleton. The stamp will be available for sale with effect from 21^st April, eight days prior to the wedding. The issue date of stamps also coincides with the Queen's birthday.

This is the third time that Prince William will be appearing on the UK’s stamps. He earlier appeared on the eve of the Queen Mother's 100th birthday in 2000 and in 2003 when he celebrated his 21^st birthday. He is also the first of the queen’s grandchildren to have a stamp issued on the eve his wedding.

The commemorative stamp sheet consists of two first class stamps and two 1.10 pound stamps, portraying the would-be couple in both formal and informal poses.

Beside the stamps, the Royal Mail will also put to sale a Souvenir Cover for £7.49, Presentation Pack for £3.65, First Day Cover for £4.22, Miniature Sheet for £3.12 and a Coin Cover for £17.50. The Coin Cover that includes a stamp of four stamps and a special coin of £ 5, a unique combination that will add to the interests of both stamp and coin collectors.

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