List of Great Britain commemorative stamps
Encyclopedia
This list of United Kingdom commemorative stamps deals with commemorative stamp
s issued by Royal Mail
, the postal administration of the United Kingdom.
on 6 May 1840, with the introduction of the world's first adhesive postage stamp
s, the Penny Black
and Two Pence Blue
.
Until 1924, all British stamps depicted only the portrait of the reigning monarch, with the exception of the 'High Value' stamps (the so-called "Sea Horses" design) issued in 1913, which were twice the size of normal stamps with added pictorial design.
In 1924, the first commemorative stamp
was issued for the British Empire Exhibition
. There were then occasional issues over the next thirty years, when the frequency of new issues became more regular. From the mid-sixties, in most years, six to nine sets of commemorative stamps have been issued every year. The General Post Office introduced official First Day Covers and Presentation Packs in the mid-1960s and PHQ Cards, postcard sized reproductions of commemorative stamps, have also been issued to accompany every new set of stamps since the mid-1970s.
Issue dates of the early British Commemorative stamps, 1924–1969.
Commemorative stamp
A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp, often issued on a significant date such as an anniversary, to honor or commemorate a place, event or person. The subject of the commemorative stamp is usually spelled out in print, unlike definitive stamps which normally depict the subject along with the...
s issued by Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
, the postal administration of the United Kingdom.
History
Postage stamps were first used in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
on 6 May 1840, with the introduction of the world's first adhesive postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s, the Penny Black
Penny Black
The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was issued in Britain on 1 May 1840, for official use from 6 May of that year....
and Two Pence Blue
Two pence blue
The Two Penny Blue was the world’s second official postage stamp, issued after the Penny Black.It was issued in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and was first sold to the public at the London Inland revenue office in the afternoon of May 8th 1840. Except for its denomination of the...
.
Until 1924, all British stamps depicted only the portrait of the reigning monarch, with the exception of the 'High Value' stamps (the so-called "Sea Horses" design) issued in 1913, which were twice the size of normal stamps with added pictorial design.
In 1924, the first commemorative stamp
Commemorative stamp
A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp, often issued on a significant date such as an anniversary, to honor or commemorate a place, event or person. The subject of the commemorative stamp is usually spelled out in print, unlike definitive stamps which normally depict the subject along with the...
was issued for the British Empire Exhibition
British Empire Exhibition
The British Empire Exhibition was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925.-History:It was opened by King George V on St George's Day, 23 April 1924. The British Empire contained 58 countries at that time, and only Gambia and Gibraltar did not take part...
. There were then occasional issues over the next thirty years, when the frequency of new issues became more regular. From the mid-sixties, in most years, six to nine sets of commemorative stamps have been issued every year. The General Post Office introduced official First Day Covers and Presentation Packs in the mid-1960s and PHQ Cards, postcard sized reproductions of commemorative stamps, have also been issued to accompany every new set of stamps since the mid-1970s.
| Issue Date | Commemorative Issue | No. in set | Designer(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | ||||
| 23 April 1924 | British Empire Exhibition British Empire Exhibition The British Empire Exhibition was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925.-History:It was opened by King George V on St George's Day, 23 April 1924. The British Empire contained 58 countries at that time, and only Gambia and Gibraltar did not take part... (Dated 1924) |
Two (1d, 11/2d) Both with Watermark | Harold Nelson | |
| 1925 | ||||
| 9 May 1925 | British Empire Exhibition (Dated 1925) | Two (1d, 11/2d) Both with Watermark | Harold Nelson | |
| 1929 | ||||
| 10 May 1929 | 9th U.P.U. Congress, London | Five (1/2d, 1d, 11/2d, 21/2d, £1) All with Watermark | F W Farleigh, Ernest Linzell, Harold Nelson | |
| 1935 | ||||
| 7 May 1935 | Silver Jubilee Silver Jubilee A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark... George V George V George V was king of the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1910 to 1936.George V or similar terms may also refer to:-People:* George V of Georgia * George V of Imereti * George V of Hanover... |
Four (1/2d, 1d, 11/2d, 21/2d) All with Watermark | Barnett Freedman Barnett Freedman Barnett Freedman CBE was a British artist, commercial designer, book illustrator, typographer, and lithographer.Freedman, the son of East-End Russian-Jewish immigrants, was self-educated during four years in hospitals, between the ages of nine and thirteen, because of asthma that was to trouble... |
|
| 1937 | ||||
| 13 May 1937 | Coronation of George VI | One (11/2d) With Watermark | ||
| 1940 | ||||
| 6 May 1940 | Centenary of First Adhesive Postage Stamp | Six (1/2d, 1d, 11/2d, 2d, 21/2d, 3d) All with Watermark | ||
| 1946 | ||||
| 11 June 1946 | Victory | Two (21/2d, 3d) Both with Watermark | ||
| 1948 | ||||
| 26 April 1948 | Royal Silver Wedding | Two (21/2d, £1) | ||
| 29 July 1948 | Olympic Games | Four (21/2d, 3d, 6d, 1s) Both with Watermark | ||
| 1949 | ||||
| 10 October 1949 | 75th Anniversary of Universal Postal Union Universal Postal Union The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the... |
Four (21/2d, 3d, 6d, 1s) All with Watermark | ||
| 1951 | ||||
| 3 May 1951 | Festival of Britain Festival of Britain The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in... |
Two (21/2d, 4d) Both with Watermark | ||
| 3 May 1951 | High Value Definitives George VII (This set is not a Commemorative issue, it is the first set of 'Pictorial' High Value Definitives) | Four (2s6d, 5s, 10s, £1) All with Watermark | ||
| 1953 | ||||
| 3 June 1953 | Coronation Coronation A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia... of Queen Elizabeth II |
Four (21/2d, 4d, 1s3d, 1s6d) All with Watermark | ||
| 1955 | ||||
| September 1955 | Castles (Not a Commemorative issue, the 2nd set of 'Pictorial' High Value Definitives) | Four (10s and £1 first issued 1 September, 2s 6d and 5s first issued 23 September) All with Watermark | ||
| 1957 | ||||
| 1 August 1957 | World Scout Scouting Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society.... Jubilee Jamboree Jamboree (Scouting) In Scouting, a jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts who rally at a national or international level.The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held in 1920, and was hosted by the United Kingdom... |
Three (21/2d, 4d, 1s3d) All with Watermark | ||
| 12 September 1957 | 46th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference | One (4d) With Watermark | ||
| 1958 | ||||
| 18 July 1958 | 6th British Empire & Commonwealth Games | Three (3d, 6d, 1s3d) All with Watermark | ||
| 1960 | ||||
| 7 July 1960 | Tercentenary of Establishment of General Letter Office | Two (3d, 1s3d) | ||
| 19 September 1960 | 1st Anniversary of European Postal & Telecommunications Conference | Two (6d, 1s6d) | ||
| 1961 | ||||
| 28 August 1961 | Centenary of Post Office Savings Bank | Three (21/2d, 3d, 1s6d) | ||
| 18 September 1961 | European Postal & Telecommunications (C.E.P.T.) Conference, Torquay | Three (2d, 4d, 10d) | ||
| 25 September 1961 | 7th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference | Two (6d, 1s3d) | ||
| 1962 | ||||
| 14 November 1962 | (Introduction of the double issue: Phospher and Ordinary sets) National Productivity Year |
Three (21/2d, 3d, 1s3d) Also issued in Phospher set. | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 1963 | ||||
| 21 March 1963 | (Introduction of GPO General Post Office General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane... First Day of Issue Postmark) Freedom From Hunger |
Two (21/2d, 1s3d) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 7 May 1963 | Paris Postal Conference Centenary | One (6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 16 May 1963 | National Nature Week | Two (3d, 41/2d) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 31 May 1963 | 9th International Lifeboat Conference, Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... |
Three (21/2d, 4d, 1s6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 15 August 1963 | Red Cross Centenary Congress | Three (3d, 1s3d, 1s6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 3 December 1963 | Opening of COMPAC (Trans-Pacific Telephone Cable) | One 1s6d Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 1964 | ||||
| 23 April 1964 | (Introduction of GPO General Post Office General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane... Presentation Pack) Shakespeare Festival |
Five (3d, 6d, 1s3d, 1s6d, 2s6d) Also issued in alternative Phospher set. |
David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 23 April 1964 | Shakespeare Festival | Four (3d, 6d, 1s3d, 1s6d) Phospher set | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 1 July 1964 | 20th International Geographical Congress, London | Four (21/2d, 4d, 8d, 1s6d) Also issued in Phospher set. |
||
| 5 August 1964 | 10th International Botanical Congress, Edinburgh | Four (3d, 6d, 9d, 1s3d) Also issued in Phospher set. |
||
| 4 September 1964 | Opening of Forth Road Bridge Forth Road Bridge The Forth Road Bridge is a suspension bridge in east central Scotland. The bridge, opened in 1964, spans the Firth of Forth, connecting the capital city Edinburgh, at South Queensferry, to Fife, at North Queensferry... |
Two (3d, 6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | Andrew Restall | |
| 1965 | ||||
| 8 July 1965 | Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... Commemoration |
Two (4d, 1s3d) Also issued in Phospher set. | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 19 July 1965 | 700th Anniversary of Simon de Montfort Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and... 's Parliament |
Two (6d, 2s6d) Also issued in alternative Phospher issue. |
Stewart Black D.A | |
| 19 July 1965 | 700th Anniversary of Simon de Montfort Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and... 's Parliament |
One (6d) Phospher issue | Stewart Black D.A | |
| 9 August 1965 | Salvation Army Salvation Army The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries.... Centenary |
Two (3d, 1s6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 1 September 1965 | Centenary of Joseph Lister Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister OM, FRS, PC , known as Sir Joseph Lister, Bt., between 1883 and 1897, was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, who promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary... 's discovery of Antiseptic Surgery |
Two (4d, 1s) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 1 September 1965 | Commonwealth Arts Festival | Two (6s, 1s6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 13 September 1965 | 25th Anniversary of Battle of Britain Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940... |
Eight (6 different stamps at 4d, 9d, 1s3d) Also issued in Phospher set. |
David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... and Rosalind Dease |
|
| 8 October 1965 | Post Office Tower | Two (3d, 1s3d) Also issued in Phospher set. | Clive Abbott | |
| 25 October 1965 | 20th Anniversary of U.N.O. and International Co-operation Year | Two (3d, 1s6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 15 November 1965 | I.T.U. Centenary | Two (9d, 1s6d) Also issued in Phospher set. | ||
| 1966 | ||||
| 25 January 1966 | Burns Commemoration | Two (4d, 1s3d) Also issued in Phospher set. | Gordon F. Huntley | |
| 28 February 1966 | 900th Anniversary of Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,... |
Two (3d, 2s6d) Also issued in alternative Phospher issue. | Sheila Robinson | |
| 28 February 1966 | 900th Anniversary of Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,... |
One (3d) Phospher issue | Sheila Robinson | |
| 2 May 1966 | Landscapes | Four (4d, 6d, 1s3d, 1s6d)Also issued in Phospher set. | Leonard Rosoman | |
| 1 June 1966 | World Cup Football Championship | Three | ||
| 8 August 1966 | British Birds | Four | J Norris Wood | |
| 18 August 1966 | England's World Cup Football Victory {4d value from the June set, overprinted 'England Winners'} |
One | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 19 September 1966 | British Technology | Four | D Gillespie | |
| 14 October 1966 | 900th Anniversary of Battle of Hastings Battle of Hastings The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II... |
Eight | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 1 December 1966 | Christmas | Two | Tasveer Shemza and James Berry | |
| 1967 | ||||
| 20 February 1967 | European Free Trade Association (EFTA EFTA EFTA may refer to:* European Family Therapy Association, an NGO.* European Fair Trade Association, an association of eleven Fair Trade importers in nine European countries.... ) |
Two | ||
| 24 April 1967 | British Wild Flowers | Six | ||
| 10 July 1967 | British Paintings | Three | ||
| 24 July 1967 | Sir Francis Chichester's World Voyage | One | ||
| 19 September 1967 | British Discovery and Invention | Four | ||
| 18 October 1967 | Christmas (4d value) | One | ||
| 27 November 1967 | Christmas (3d & 1s–6d values) | Two | ||
| 1968 | ||||
| 29 April 1968 | British Bridges | Four | ||
| 29 May 1968 | British Anniversaries | Four | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 12 August 1968 | British Paintings | Four | ||
| 25 November 1968 | Christmas | Three | ||
| 1969 | ||||
| 15 January 1969 | British Ships | Six (5d, 3 X 9d se-tenant, 2 X 1s se-tenant) | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 3 March 1969 | First flight of Concorde Concorde Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation... |
Three (4d, 9d, 1s6d) | Michael Goaman & David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 2 April 1969 | Anniversaries | Five | ||
| 28 May 1969 | British Architecture, Cathedrals | Six | ||
| 1 July 1969 | Investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales | Five | ||
| 13 August 1969 | Gandhi Centenary Year | One | ||
| 1 October 1969 | Post Office Technology Commemoration | Four | David Gentleman David Gentleman David Gentleman is an English artist-designer. He studied illustration at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash. He has worked in various media - watercolour, lithography, wood engraving - and at scales ranging from the platform-length murals for Charing Cross underground... |
|
| 26 November 1969 | Christmas | Three | ||
Other decades
From 1965 onwards, in most years, there were between six and ten sets issued every year. The listings for the years after 1969 are set out in decades.- Great Britain commemorative stamps 1970–1979
- Great Britain commemorative stamps 1980–1989
- Great Britain commemorative stamps 1990–1999
- Great Britain commemorative stamps 2000–2009
- Great Britain commemorative stamps 2010–2019Great Britain commemorative stamps 2010–2019This is a list of Great Britain commemorative stamps 2010–2019-Other decades:* Great Britain commemorative stamps 1924–1969* Great Britain commemorative stamps 1970–1979* Great Britain commemorative stamps 1980–1989...
See also
- Stanley Gibbons
- Stamp CollectingStamp collectingStamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
- List of people on stamps
- PhilatelyPhilatelyPhilately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
- PHQ Cards
External links
- LINNS.com
- Stanley Gibbons Stamps Shop Homepage
- Pierron's Online Catalogue
- Royal Mail
- Stamp Artwork Project – stamps from the era of George VGeorge V of the United KingdomGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II on The British Postal Museum & ArchiveThe British Postal Museum & ArchiveThe British Postal Museum & Archive is the leading resource for all aspects of the history of the British postal system. It operates three sites: The Royal Mail Archive at Mount Pleasant sorting office in Clerkenwell, London, a Museum Store in Loughton, Essex and The Museum of the Post Office in...
website