As a hobby, stamp collecting remains a popular pastime enjoyed by over 50 million people worldwide. However, when we think about particular stamps, the icons, is it the design, the value, or perhaps a story behind the stamp that makes us, the collectors, tick?
Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic stamps from the UK and the Commonwealth. You may not agree with our choices, but we have to start somewhere!
The Penny Black
We have to start at the beginning! The black first went on sale on the 6th May 1840. The Post Office reforms by Rowland Hill resulted in the introduction of the first postage stamp after months of lobbying, with the implementation of a flat rate that would be prepaid when the letter was posted. Oddly enough, it is quite an affordable stamp with over 65 million printed. Another interesting thing to note is that, as Great Britain was the first country to issue postage stamps, we are not required to include the country’s name on stamp designs to this day.
The Five Pound Orange
Another Queen Victoria issue, and a special one at that, it was never a postage stamp in its own right, but instead started as a Telegraphs stamp for sending lengthy telegrams. The Telegraphs stamp was abandoned and the plates used for the stamp had the word telegraph replaced with ‘postage’. It was the highest pre-decimal stamp ever issued. It won’t surprise you that very few were actually used for postage, but many were used for excise duty on whisky, etc!
The Seahorses
These iconic stamps, designed by sculptor Betran Mackennal, were first issued in 1913 and printed by Waterlow & Bros originally in June and August of 1913. The £1 value featured here was only ever printed by Waterlow’s. The stamp itself depicts Britannia being pulled through choppy seas by three horses, along with to the left a striking portrait of George V. There were in addition three other high values from 2/6- to 10 shillings. These lower values were also printed by other Contractors, but as a set are considered by us and others as iconic in part due to the design and the longevity of their use.
The Postal Union Congress
These stamps were the second commemorative issues, after the British Empire Exhibition issue some 5 years earlier. The designer Harold Nelson depicts on the £1 value St George and the Dragon, along with the portrait of King George V. Although the stamp had a relatively low print run of under 70,000 stamps it does have a very good survival rate and is not that difficult to find.
The £10 Britannia
Possibly a contentious entry, but in our eyes this 1993 stamp deserves a place in this list. To date it remains the highest value stamp issued in Great Britain. We’ve included this stamp as it has many innovative design features including fluorescent coloured fibres in the paper, Braille embossed dots as well as double elliptical holes. By many its considered Britain’s most secure stamp released. A modern icon in our view.
The British Empire and Commonwealth
It would be wrong of us not to include at least one issue from the former British Empire, our decision here was tough to say the least with issues such as the Aden Dhows in contention, but we have gone with this George V issue from the Falkland Islands of 1933. During the early 1930’s many of the British colonies were moving to pictorial stamps to depict events or life in these Colonies. One such set from the Falkland Islands stands out. To commemorate the 100 year Anniversary of the British Administration. The set of 12 stamps depicts life on the Islands, and with the help of the stamp engravers and printers Bradbury Wilkinson, issued a stunning set and probably most recognisable sets of the 1930’s. Two values stand out the 5 Shilling King Penguin value, and the top £1 value depicting a frontal portrait of King George V. With the rather small print numbers of the higher values of this issue it is a difficult set to obtain. The King Penguin for interest can stand upto 3ft tall, and is the second largest of the Penguin family.
We would love to have your views on your iconic stamps. All of the stamps mentioned above feature in our Collectable Stamps, Cigarette Cards and Postcards 5 Auction starting on the 4th September. Pop along to Saleroom 3 to view and perhaps make your decision from there!