Postal Union Congress £1 stamp
Encyclopedia
The Postal Union Congress (PUC) £1 stamp is one of a series of postage stamps of Great Britain
issued in 1929. It is one of the classics of British philately
and is considered one of the most beautiful stamps ever produced. The stamp was only the second British commemorative stamp
to be issued. The first were the British Empire Exhibition postage stamps
of 1924-25.
for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition stamps. A committee was formed to solicit designs and the chosen design was approved by Queen Mary as the King was ill.
and was criticised at the time for its high face value
.
As the other stamps in the set were low values, it has been speculated that the value of the large stamp may have been set at £1 to produce a more impressive souvenir for the visiting postal delegates to the Congress. Alternatively, others have simply seen it as a cynical attempt to extract as much money as possible from stamp collectors.
Stanley Phillips
said in Gibbons Stamp Monthly
that the stamp was "Britain’s disgrace". He also said that "...the policy of issuing a set consisting of four low value stamps and then a one pound denomination is absolutely indefensible."
at the time.
The stamp was given a unique design of watermark and was issued in sheets of 20 (4 horizontally x 5 vertically) and 61000 stamps were issued. Waterlow and Sons printed the four low values.
by Enschede
using the original die. The reproductions had a printed design on the back similar to a watermark to help distinguish them from the originals. They also had the word FACSIMILE printed diagonally across the back in a repeating pattern. The stamps were sold in blocks of four in presentation packs
with an insert written by Douglas Muir
.
In addition, a separate printing in blue was made at an exhibition of old printing techniques at the London Guildhall Art Gallery by Enschede, also in blocks of four. Fifty imperforate blocks were printed on roughly torn paper which were sold to the public.
Postage stamps and postal history of Great Britain
Postage stamps and postal history of Great Britain surveys postal history from the United Kingdom and the postage stamps issued by that country and its various historical territories until the present day....
issued in 1929. It is one of the classics of British philately
Philately
Philately 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...
and is considered one of the most beautiful stamps ever produced. The stamp was only the second British 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...
to be issued. The first were the British Empire Exhibition postage stamps
British Empire Exhibition Postage Stamps
Two postage stamps were issued to commemorate the British Empire Exhibition in 1924 - a penny red and a three halfpenny brown. They were issued again the following year with "1925" replacing "1924"....
of 1924-25.
Design
The stamp was designed by Harold Nelson and features the head of King George V and an image of St George and the Dragon which had originally been drawn as an essayEssay (philately)
In philately, an essay is a design for a proposed stamp submitted to the postal authorities for consideration but not used, or used after alterations have been made. By contrast, a proof is a trial printing of an accepted stamp....
for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition stamps. A committee was formed to solicit designs and the chosen design was approved by Queen Mary as the King was ill.
Denomination
The stamp was issued along with four other small format stamps to mark the 1929 Postal Union Congress of the Universal Postal UnionUniversal 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...
and was criticised at the time for its high face value
Denomination (postage stamp)
:This article deals with the price of a postage stamp. For other meanings of the word 'denomination' see Denomination .In philately, the denomination is the "inscribed value of a stamp"...
.
As the other stamps in the set were low values, it has been speculated that the value of the large stamp may have been set at £1 to produce a more impressive souvenir for the visiting postal delegates to the Congress. Alternatively, others have simply seen it as a cynical attempt to extract as much money as possible from stamp collectors.
Stanley Phillips
Stanley Phillips
Frederick Stanley Phillips was a British philatelist and prolific philatelic author who signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists at Folkestone in 1937....
said in Gibbons Stamp Monthly
Gibbons Stamp Monthly
Gibbons Stamp Monthly is a leading British philatelic magazine which can trace its roots back to 1890. GSM is published by the famous stamps and collectables firm of Stanley Gibbons and each issue includes updates to their various catalogues....
that the stamp was "Britain’s disgrace". He also said that "...the policy of issuing a set consisting of four low value stamps and then a one pound denomination is absolutely indefensible."
Technical details
The stamp was line engraved and recess printed by Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. The contract was given to them on condition that the stamp would be engraved by J.A.C.Harrison. He had to be given special permission to do the work as he was under contract to Waterlow and SonsWaterlow and Sons
The Waterlow and Sons Limited was a major worldwide engraver of currency, postage stamps, stocks and bond certificates established in 1897, in England.-Portuguese Bank Note Crisis:...
at the time.
The stamp was given a unique design of watermark and was issued in sheets of 20 (4 horizontally x 5 vertically) and 61000 stamps were issued. Waterlow and Sons printed the four low values.
London 2010 International Stamp Exhibition
In 2010 the stamp was reproduced for the London 2010 International Stamp ExhibitionLondon 2010 International Stamp Exhibition
The London 2010 International Stamp Exhibition, 8th-15th May 2010 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, was a major international stamp exhibition that was granted FIP patronage.- Theme :...
by Enschede
Joh. Enschedé
Royal Joh. Enschedé is a printer of security documents, stamps and banknotes based in Haarlem, Netherlands. Joh. Enschedé specialises in print, media & security. The company hosts the Museum Enschedé and has branches in Amsterdam, Brussels and Haarlem....
using the original die. The reproductions had a printed design on the back similar to a watermark to help distinguish them from the originals. They also had the word FACSIMILE printed diagonally across the back in a repeating pattern. The stamps were sold in blocks of four in presentation packs
Presentation Pack
A Presentation Pack is a folder, produced for philatelists and stamp collectors, that contains a full set of a new stamp issue.- Format :A Presentation Pack normally consists of a cardboard folder with notes about the stamps, a holder for the stamps and a clear sleeve on the outside...
with an insert written by Douglas Muir
Douglas Muir
Douglas N. Muir is the Curator of Philately at the British Postal Museum & Archive and a signatory to the Book of Scottish Philatelists.Muir was born in Balfron, Scotland, and subsequently attended Glasgow University where he studied geography and archaeology...
.
In addition, a separate printing in blue was made at an exhibition of old printing techniques at the London Guildhall Art Gallery by Enschede, also in blocks of four. Fifty imperforate blocks were printed on roughly torn paper which were sold to the public.