United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Union flag
which represents
England, Scotland
and Northern Ireland
England
Cross of St. George
Wales - Cymru
Welsh Dragon
Scotland
Cross of St. Andrew
(called saltire)
Northern Ireland
Tuaisceart Éireann
Norlin Airlann
Cross of St. Patrick
Northern Ireland
Ulster banner
Meirge Uladh
(unofficially)
Please click on flags to learn more ...

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Royal Mail
Prestige Stamp Books
The Postage Stamps
   

The following sections showcase the definitive/commemorative stamp images from the Prestige Stamp Books.
Additionally the technical details of the Machin definitive stamps are described for each stamp book.
Symbols and numerals of the technical details list:
Synopsis Printing methods Paper type Phosphor tagging
Perforation Security features Gum type Printers

Select PSB Stamps
Please type in SG#
Constant
x or y
Number
Stamps

                                

        

ZP1 1 Dec 1969 Stamps for Cooks
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  OCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVA  Harrison
   Pre-decimal Machin Definitives  
18 x 5d 30 x 4d 3 x 4d 3 x 4d 6 x 1d  
 
2-bands centre band left band right band 2-bands  
The stamp book contains 60 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 2.40.

        

DX1 24 May 1972 The Story of Wedgwood
(Volume 1)
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVA  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
18 x 3p 6 x 2½p 5 x 2½p 6 x 2½p 6 x ½p 1 x ½p
2-bands centre band
font »T1/T3«
left band
font »T3«
right band
font »T1/T3«
2-bands left band
rare!
The stamp book contains 42 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 1.00.

                             

        

DX2 16 Apr 1980 The Story of Wedgwood
(Volume 2)
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
13 x 12p 12 x 10p 1 x 10p 7 x 2p    
   
2-bands centre band left band 2-bands
short top right
   
The stamp book contains 33 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 3.00.

        

DX3 19 May 1982 The Story of Stanley Gibbons
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
15 x 15½p 1 x 12½p 6 x 12½p 6 x 12½p 1 x 3p 1 x 2p
2-bands centre band
short at bottom
left band
4mm/4.75mm
right band
4mm/4.75mm
2-bands
short top right
font »T2«
2-bands
short top right
The stamp book contains 30 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 4.00.

        

DX4 14 Sept 1983 The Story of the Royal Mint
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
15 x 16p 6 x 12½p 6 x 12½p 2 x 3½p 1 x 3p  
 
ACP
phosphorised
paper
FCP
left band
FCP
right band
ACP
phosphorised
paper
ACP
phosphorised
paper
font »T2«
 
The stamp book contains 30 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 4.00.

        

DX5 4 Sept 1984 The Story of our Christian Heritage
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
6 x 17p 7 x 17p 7 x 13p 6 x 13p 1 x 10p  
ACP
phosphorised
paper
thin 'P'
ACP
2-bands
short top right
short bottom right
ACP
right band
FCP
left band
FCP
right band
FCP
2-bands
narrow value
scarce
The stamp book contains 27 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 4.00.

        

DX6 8 Jan 1985 The Story of "The Times"
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
1 x 34p 15 x 17p 2 x 17p 9 x 13p 4 x 13p 2 x 4p
FCP
2-bands
ACP
phosphorised
paper
thin "P"
ACP
2-bands
FCP
centre band
FCP
right band
FCP
left/right band
narrow value
The stamp book contains 33 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 5.00.

        

DX7 18 Mar 1986 The Story of British Rail
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
1 x 31p 15 x 17p 2 x 17p 9 x 12p 3 x 12p 3 x 12p
FCP
2-bands
ACP
phosphorised
paper
thin "P"
ACP
2-bands
FCP
centre band
FCP
left band
FCP
right band
The stamp book contains 33 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 5.00.

        

DX8 3 Mar 1987 The Story of P & O
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)  Harrison
   Machin Definitives  
1 x 26p 9 x 18p 5 x 18p 15 x 13p 2 x 13p 1 x 1p
FCP
2-bands
ACP
phosphorised
paper
FCP
2-bands
FCB
centre band
FCB
right band
FCP
right band
    "A" phosphor (strong violett afterglow)
The stamp book contains 33 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 5.00.

        

DX9 9 Feb 1988 The Story of the "Financial Times"
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  ACP FCP OFNP  blue phos  perf 15  PVA(D)  The House of Questa
   Machin Definitives  
1 x 34p 1 x 22p 15 x 18p 1 x 18p 6 x 13p 6 x 13p
FCP
2-bands
OFNP
2-bands
ACP
phosphorised
paper
PVAD gum
FCP
2-bands
FCP
centre band
FCP
3 x left band
3 x right band
The stamp book contains 30 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 5.00.

        

DX10 21 Mar 1989 The Scots Connection
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVA(D)  The House of Questa
   Machin Scottish Regional Definitives  
1 x 23p 15 x 19p 2 x 19p 6 x 14p 5 x 14p
Central label
2-bands ACP
phosphorised
paper
PVAD gum
ACP
2-bands
centre band left band
short top
short bottom
Lion rampant
The stamp book contains 29 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 5.00.

                             

        

DX11 20 Mar 1990 London Life
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVAD (Dex)
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
1 x 50p 1 x 20p 1 x 15p 1 x 1st (20p) 1 x 2nd (15p)  
 
2-bands 2-bands
11 or 10mm between bars
right band
thin font
2-bands
11 or 10mm between bars
right band  
   »Doublehead« Definitives 
150th Anniversary of the Penny Black
1 x 29p 12 x 20p 1 x 20p 1 x 15p  
 
mint - used
2-bands ACP
phosphorised paper
2-bands
11 or 10mm between bars
right band SG #1 // 6 May 1840 // 1d black
Profile of Queen Victoria
World's first adhesive postage stamp
AMV £ 2,500 mint - £ 200 used
Profiles of Queen Victoria (* 1819, r. 1837, † 1901)
and Queen Elizabeth II. (* 1926, r. 1952)
 
Special Stamps
4 x 20p
SG# 1493 // 6 - 20 Mar 1990
(ex Europa)
Alexandra Palace
(»Stamp World London '90« Exhibition)
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (20/4) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 5.04 (sold for £ 5).

        

DX12 19 Mar 1991 Alias Agatha Christie
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   Machin Definitives  
2 x 33p 15 x 22p 12 x 17p      
     
phosphorised
paper
phosphorised
paper
FCP
centre band 4 mm
     
The stamp book contains 29 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.00.

Stamp set commemorating the 40th Death Anniversary of Agatha Christie (née Miller, * 1890, † 1976)
Murder on the Orient Express
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Body in the Library
And Then There Were None
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
A Murder is Announced
SG #3885 - 3890 // 15 September 2016
Whodunnits written by Agatha Christie
Mouse   click

        

DX13 25 Feb 1992 Cymru - Wales
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
2 x 33p 1 x 1st (24p) 1 x 2nd (18p)      
     
2-bands 2-bands right band
4.5 mm
     
   Machin Welsh Regional Definitives 
6 x 24p 2 x 24p 6 x 18p 2 x 18p    

Wales

Wales

Wales

Wales
   
ACP
phosphorised
paper
2-bands centre band
offset right
right band
4.5 mm
   
Special Stamps
4 x 39p
SG# 1591 // 14 Jan 1992
(ex The Four Seasons - Wintertime)
Welsh Mountain Sheep in Snowdonia
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (20/4) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.00.

        

DX14 27 Oct 1993 Birth Centenary of J. R. R. Tolkien
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  ACP FCP  blue phos  perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
2 x 39p 12 x 24p 2 x 24p 6 x 18p 2 x 18p 1 x 1st (24p) 1 x 2nd (18p)
2-bands ACP
phosphorised
paper
2-bands
7.5 mm
centre band
4 mm
right band
3.75 mm
2-bands
7.5 mm
short top left
right band
3.75 mm
The stamp book contains 26 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.00.

        

DX15 10 Aug 1993 The Story of Beatrix Potter
( First issue in a series of two )
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  OFNP  yellow fluor  perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
2 x 39p 2 x 33p 2 x 18p 3 x 1st (24p) 5 x 2nd (18p)
central label
2-bands 8mm 2-bands 8mm left band 2-bands 8mm left band Peter Rabbit
   Machin Regional Definitives     
3 x 24p 3 x 18p

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland
2-bands 8mmm left band
NVI Special Stamps
4 x 1st (24p)
SG# 1649 // 2 Feb 1993
(ex Greeting Stamps "Gift giving")
Peter Rabbit and Mrs. Rabbit
(The Tale of Peter Rabbit)
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (20/4) on four panes with a total face value of £ 5.64.

        

DX16 26 July 1994 Northern Ireland -Tuaisceart Éireann - Norlin Airlann
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  OFNP  yellow fluor  el perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   Machin Definitives  
4 x 25p 1 x 19p 1 x 6p      
     
2-bands
8 mm
left band
4 mm
2-bands
8 mm
     
   Machin Regional Definitives 
2 x 41p 2 x 30p 5 x 25p 3 x 19p    
   
Northern Ireland (Ulster)    
2-bands
8 mm
2-bands
8 mm
2-bands
8 mm
left band
4 mm
   
Special Stamps
4 x 30p
SG# 1812 // 01 Mar 1994
(ex 25th Anniversary of
Investiture of the Prince of Wales)
Mourne Mountains, County Down, NI
(Painting by Prince Charles)
The stamp book contains 22 definitive/special stamps (18/4) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.04.

                             

        

DX17 25 Apr 1995 The National Trust
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  OFNP  yellow fluor  el perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   Machin Definitives  
1 x41p 1 x 35p 1 x 30p 2 x 25p 8 x 19p 1 x 10p
2-bands
8 mm
2-bands
8 mm
2-bands
8 mm
2-bands
8 mm
left band
2 x 4 mm
6 x 4.5 mm
2-bands
8 mm
   Machin Regional Definitives     
3 x 25p 3 x 19p

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland
2-bands 9 mm, narrow band at left (4.25/4.75 mm) right band 4.5 mm
Special Stamps
6 x 25p
SG# 1869 // 11 Apr 1995
(ex Centenary of the National Trust)
Oak Seedling
(Protecting Land)
The stamp book contains 26 definitive/special stamps (20/6) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.00.

        

DX18 14 May 1996 European Football Championship
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   Machin & Regional Definitives        
2 x 25p     2 x 25p 2 x 25p 2 x 25p
   
Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland
2-bands 9 mm     2-bands 9mm
Special Stamps
4 x 19p 4 x 25p
Dixie Dean (* 1907, † 1980)
Bobby Moore (* 1941, † 1993)
2 x 35p 2 x 41p 2 x 60p
Duncan Edwards (* 1936, † 1958)
Billy Wright (* 1924, † 1994)
Danny Blanchflower (* 1926, † 1993)
SG# 1925 - 1929 // 14 May 1996
Football Legends
(European Football Championship)
The stamp book contains 22 definitive/special stamps (8/14) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.48.

        

DX19 23 Sept 1997 Celebrating 75 Years of BBC
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Harrison
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
3 x 26p 4 x 26p 3 x 20p 4 x 1st (26p)    
   
2-bands 2-bands
short at top
short at bottom
right band 2-bands    
   Machin Regional Definitives     
3 x 37p 3 x 26p

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland
2-bands 2-bands
Special Stamps
4 x 20p
SG# 1940 // 3 Sept 1996
(ex 50th Anniversary of Children's Television)
Mulfin the Mule
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (20/4) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.15.

        

DX20 10 Mar 1998 The Wilding Definitives
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  OFNP  blue phos  el perf 14  wag  Walsall
   Wilding Definitives
(Reprinted stamps of 1952/54, but with face value in decimal currency)
5 x 37p 14 x 26p 5 x 20p 5 x 20p    
   
2-bands 3.25mm 2-bands 3.25mm left band 3.25mm right band 3.25mm    
SG# 2031 - 2033 were only issued in the stamp book No. DX20  
The stamp book contains 29 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.49.

        

DX21 13 Oct 1998 Breaking Barriers
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 14  PVA  Walsall
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
6 x 43p 2 x 10p   3 x 2nd (20p) 3 x 2nd (20p)  
   
2-bands 2-bands   left band right band  
   Machin Regional Definitives     
3 x 26p 3 x 20p

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland
2-bands right band
Special Stamps
4 x 20p
SG# 2059 // 29 Sept 1998
(ex British Land Speed Record Holders,
the stamp set SG# 2059/63 commemorates
the 50th death anniversary of Sir Malcolm Campbell)
Sir Malcolm Campbell's »Bluebird«, 1925
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (20/4) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.16.

        

DX22 16 Feb 1999 Profile on Print
   NVI Machin Definitives 
  9 x 1st (26p) 8 x 1st (26p) 4 x 1st (26p) 4 x 1st (26p) 4 x 1st (26p)
 
Lithography Photogravure
EME image
Lithography
embossed
Intaglio (recess)
engraved
Letterpress
typographed
OFNP OFNP FCP OFNP OFNP
blue fluor
2-bands 8mm
blue fluor
2-bands
phosphorised paper
(only around bust)
blue phos
2-bands
blue phos
2-bands
el perf 15 el perf 15 Die-cut perf 14x15 perf 14¼ perf 14¼ x 14¾
PVA PVA PVAL (sag) PVA PVA
Questa De La Rue Walsall Enschedé Harrison
  inset left/right
short top/bottom
»The Invisible Stamp«    
  SG# 2077 - 2079 were only issued in stamp book No. DX22
The text pages and covers were printed by »The House of Questa«,
who assembled the booklet incorporating the panes from the other four printers.
The stamp book contains 29 definitive stamps on five panes with a total face value of £ 7.54.

        

DX23 21 Sept 1999 World Changers
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   (NVI) Machin Definitives   
1 x 26p 3 x 19p 4 x 1p      
     
2-bands 10mm centre band 5mm 2-bands 5mm      
Special Stamps
4 x 63p 4 x 44p
SG# 2072 // 12 Jan 1999
(ex Millennium series »The Inventors' Tale«)
Computer inside Human Head
(Alan Turing's work on computers)
SG# 2104 // 3 Aug 1999
(ex Millennium series »The Scientists' Tale«)
Rotation of Polarized Light by Magnetism
(Michael Faraday's work on electricity)
4 x 26p 4 x 20p
SG# 2103 // 3 Aug 1999
(ex Millennium series »The Scientists' Tale«)
Galapagos Finch and Fossilized Skeleton
(Charles Darwin's theory of evolution)
SG# 2080 // 2 Mar 1999
(ex Millennium series »The Patient's Tale«)
Vaccinating Child (pattern in cow markings)
(Alan Jenner's development of smallpox vaccine)
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (8/16) on five panes with a total face value of £ 6.99.

                             

        

DX24 15 Feb 2000 Special by Design
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 14  PVA  Walsall
   (NVI) Machin Definitives       NVI »Doublehead« Definitives  
8 x 1st (26p) 2 x 38p 4 x 19p   6 x 1st (26p)  
   
2-bands 9 mm
violet fluor
2-bands
short top left
right band
4.5 mm
  EME photo
2-bands
 
   NVI Machin Regional Definitives      
3 x 1st (26p) 3 x 1st (26p) 3 x 1st (26p)      

Wales
bilingual

Scotland

Northern Ireland
     
2-bands      
The stamp book contains 29 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.50.

        

DX25 04 Aug 2000 The Queen Mother's 100th Birthday
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   NVI Machin Definitives     (NVI) Pictorial Country Definitives
9 x 1st (27p)     6 x 2nd (19p) 2 x 65p  
   
Scotland
National Flag [1]

Scotland
Tartan [2]
 
EME/photo
2-bands 9 mm
violet fluor
    centre band 2-bands
10 - 11 mm
 
[1] The stamp paying the 2nd class rate shows the Scottish flag. The design is taken from a painting by Anton Morris. The design of the flag is the Saltire Cross, a white X-shaped cross on a blue background. The saltire cross was the type of cross on which St. Andrew, Christ's first convert and missionary, was crucified by the Romans at Patras, Greece, in 60 AD. In about 750 AD, St. Rule of Patras, a Greek monk, was told to take several bones of St. Andrew and travel to the westernmost part of the known world. He took them to a place near the present Scottish town of St. Andrews and erected a shrine. Soon after, the Picts (then one of the native tribes living in the area of today's Scotland) saw a huge saltire cross shining in the blue sky. Taking this as a divine omen, they defeated the other tribes living there in battle and brought unity to what is now Scotland. The Cross of St. Andrew became the national flag of Scotland.
[2] The 65p stamp, which pays the second weight step (10 to 20 grams) for overseas airmail, shows a tartan supplied by Kinloch Anderson of Leith, Scotland, tartan suppliers to members of the Royal Family. The tartan, a patterned (checkered) woolen cloth, was first imported from France in the 14th century. It was first worn by the Highland Scots and became associated with Scottish clans and families towards the end of the 18th century.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
Special Stamps
8 x 27p
SG# 2160 // 04 Aug 2000
The Queen Mother's
100th Birthday
Photo by J. Swannell
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
(* 4 August 1900, † 2002)
married to King George VI.
(* 1895, r. 1936, † 1952)
SG# MS2161 // 04 Aug 2000
The Royal Family on Queen Mother's 99th Birthday
Daughter HM Queen Elizabeth II. (* 1926, r. 1952),
great-grandson HRH Prince William (* 1982),
grandson HRH Prince Charles (* 1948), heir apparent,
HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (* 1900)
The stamp book contains 25 definitive/special stamps (17/8) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.03.

        

DX26 18 Sep 2000 A Treasury of Trees
Technical Specifications of Definitive Stamps
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 14  PVA  Walsall
   NVI Machin & NVI Pictorial Country Definitives  
  4 x 1st (27p)   4 x 2nd (19p) The Welsh 2nd class stamp shows a leek, a vegetable often associated with Wales, made from Welsh sycamore in the style of a lovespoon, carved by David Petersen. According to tradition, St. David ordered his soldiers to wear it on their helmets during a battle against the Saxons fought on a field of leeks. Regardless of whether that story is true, the leek has been an important food for the Welsh, and in the past it was considered to have medicinal properties.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
   
Wales
[bilingual AIL/ND]
Leek
  EME/photo
2-bands 9 mm
violet fluor
  right band
Special Stamps
4 x 65p 4 x 45p 4 x 2nd (19p)
Bluebell Wood
(Groundwork's Project
»Changing Places«)
Forest, Doire Dach
(»Forest for Scotland«)
Sycamore Seeds
(Millennium Seed Bank,
Ardingly, West Sussex)
Tree Roots
(»Yews for the Millenium«)
SG# 2155, 2156, 2158, 2159 // 04 Jul/01 Aug 2000
(ex Millennium series »Stone and Soil« and »Tree and Leaf«)
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on five panes with a total face value of £ 7.00.

        

DX27 21 Oct 2001 Unseen & Unheard
Centenary of Royal Navy Submarine Service
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   NVI Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x 1st (27p) 4 x E(urope, 37p)        

Scotland
Lion [1]

Scotland
Thistle [2]
       
2-bands
13 - 14 mm
2-bands
13 - 14 mm
       
[1] The stamp paying the 1st class rate features a sculpture of the Scottish lion rampant by artists Frank Pottinger and Tim Chalk. The rampant position is rearing on the left hind leg with forelegs elevated and the right foreleg above the left. William, King of Scots (* 1143, r. 1165, † 1214) became known as »William the Lion« because he replaced the dragon on his arms with the lion rampant. Thereafter, a red lion rampant on a yellow background became the emblem of the Kings of the Scots.
[2] The 'E' stamp pays the letter rate to Europe. It pictures a sculpture of a thistle by artists Frank Pottinger and Tim Chalk. The thistle became the national floral emblem of Scotland when a barefoot invader stepped on a thistle and screamed from the resulting pain, alerting the defenders to his whereabouts. The date and place where this occurred, however, is lost to history.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
HM Naval Base Clyde, Gare Loch, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, commonly known throughout the Navy as Faslane, is the Royal Navy's main presence in Scotland. The naval base is home to the core of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, including the nation's nuclear deterrent, and the new generation of hunter-killer submarines. The Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport, 8 miles from Faslane, is responsible for the storage, processing, maintenance and issue of key elements of the UK's Trident Deterrent Missile System and the ammunitioning of all submarine embarked weapons.
Special Stamps (1)
2 x 65p 2 x 1st (27p) 2 x 45p 2 x 2nd (19p)
»Holland« Type
1903 - 1914
»Swiftsure« Class
SSN, 1973 - 2010
»Unity« Class
1938 - 1950
»Vanguard« Class
SSBN, 1993 - present
SG# 2202/2205 // 10 Apr 2001
Centenary of Royal Navy Submarine Service
(First Issue - Submarines)
Special Stamps (2)
4 x 1st (27p)
White Ensign
Union Jack
»Jolly Roger«
flown by submarine
HMS »Proteus«
Flag of
Chief of Defense Staff
SG# MS2206a // 22 Oct 2001
Centenary of Royal Navy Submarine Service
(Second Issue - Flags)
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.76.

        

DX28 06 Feb 2002 A Gracious Accession - Golden Jubilee of QE II
(Volume 1)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Enschedé
   NVI Machin Definitives       Reprinted NVI Wilding Definitives from 1952/54
4 x E(urope, 37p) 4 x 2nd (19p)   4 x 1st (27p) 5 x 2nd (19p)  
 
EME/photo
2-bands
9 mm
EME/photo
centre band
4.5/4.75 mm
  Uncoated paper
2-bands
wm »50« upright
Uncoated paper
centre band
4 x wm »50« upright
1 x wm »50« diagonal
Watermark »50«
upright
diagonal
Special Stamps
1 x 65p 2 x 45p 2 x E(urope, 37p)
Photo by Tim Graham, 1996
Photo by Yousef Karsh, 1984
Photo by Lord Snowdon, 1978
2 x 1st (27p) 1 x 2nd (19p)
Photo by Cecil Beaton, 1968
Photo by Dorothy Wilding, 1952
SG# 2253/2257 // 06 Feb 2002
Golden Jubilee
Studio Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II
The stamp book contains 25 definitive/special stamps (17/8) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.29.

        

DX29 24 Sep 2002 Across the Universe - A Guide to Outerspace
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  The House of Questa
   NVI Machin Definitives       NVI Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x E(urope, 37p) 4 x 1st (27p)   1 x 1st (27p) 4 x 1st (27p) 4 x 2nd (19p)
 
Scotland
Rampant lion [1]

England
Crowned lion [2]

England
Three lions [3]
EME/photo
2-bands
9 mm
EME/photo
2-bands
9 mm
  2-bands
13 - 14 mm
2-bands
13 - 14 mm
centre band
4 mm
[1] The stamp paying the 1st class rate features a sculpture of the Scottish lion rampant by artists Frank Pottinger and Tim Chalk. The rampant position is rearing on the left hind leg with forelegs elevated and the right foreleg above the left. William, King of Scots (* 1143, r. 1165, † 1214) became known as »William the Lion« because he replaced the dragon on his arms with the lion rampant. Thereafter, a red lion rampant on a yellow background became the emblem of the Kings of the Scots.
[2] On the English 1st class stamp, the lion is holding the shield of St. George, the patron saint of England. King Edward III of England (* 1312, r. 1327, † 1377) chose George to be the patron saint for the »Knight of the Garter«.
[3] The English 2nd class stamp features the Lion of England. The lion has been a symbol of courage, strength, and nobility since the Middle Ages. After it was used as a symbol by King Henry I, known as Henry Beauclerc, (* 1068, r. 1100, † 1135) and King Richard I, known as Richard the »Lionheart« (* 1157, r. 1189, † 1199) because of his courage in battle, it was adopted by the English monarchs and used ever since.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
Special Stamps (1)
4 x 1st (27p)

Planetary nebula in
»Aquila«

»Seyfert 2« galaxy in
»Pegasus«

Planetary nebula in »Norma«

»Seyfert 2« galaxy in
»Circinus«
SG# MS2315 // 24 Sep 2002
Astronomy
Galaxies and Nebulae
Special Stamps (2)
4 x 1st (27p)

Night Sky
(National Space Science Centre, Leicester)
SG# 2126a // 26 May 2000
(ex Millennium series »Above and Beyond«)
The stamp book contains 25 definitive/special stamps (17/8) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.83.

        

DX30 25 Feb 2003 Microcosmos - A Guide to Inner Space
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Enschedé
   NVI Machin Definitives        NVI Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x E(urope, 37p) 4 x 1st (27p)   4 x 1st (27p) 5 x 2nd (19p)  
 
Northern Ireland
Aerial View of
Patchwork Fields [1]

Northern Ireland
Basalt Columns,
Giant's Causeway [2]
 
2-bands 9 mm 2-bands 9 mm   litho 2-bands
10 - 11 mm
litho centre band
5.5 mm
 
Although all of the other pictorial country definitives were printed by photogravure,
the Northern Irelands issues were printed by lithography because it was better suited for these designs.
[1] With their network of trees and hedgerows, the »Patchwork Fields« that have developed over the years in Northern Ireland create a distinctive aerial view. The photo used on the 1st class stamp was taken by Richard Cooke over County Londonderry .
[2] The 2nd class definitive shows the »Giant's Causeway« , located on the coast of County Antrim . It is one of the most important landforms in the world and was recently awarded »World Heritage« status. The causeway proper is a mass of hexagonal basalt columns packed tightly together. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. The columns were formed as lava cooled slowly, creating a uniform pattern. Royal Mail calls it an »instantly recognizable« feature of Northern Ireland. The name stemps from a legend of the origin of the causeway: a giant named Finn McCool, the Ulster warrior and commander of the King of Ireland's armies built it to confront a bad-tempered Scottish giant named Benandonner. A similar formation can be found at »Devil's Postpile« in California, USA.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
Special Stamps
4 x E(uropa, 37p) 2 x 1st (27p) 2 x 2nd (19p)
Genome - Cracking the Code
DNA Snakes and Ladders
Genome - Comperative Genetics
Ape with Moustache and Scientist
Genome - The End of the Beginning
Completing the Genome Jigsaw
ex SG# 2343 - 2347 // 25 Feb 2003
50th Anniversary of Discovery of DNA
The stamp book contains 25 definitive/special stamps (17/8) on four panes with a total face value of £ 6.99.

        

DX31 02 June 2003 A Perect Coronation - Golden Jubilee of QE II
(Volume 2)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Walsall
   NVI Machin Definitives      Reprinted NVI Wilding Definitives from 1952/54
4 x 1st (28p) 4 x 2nd (20p)   2 x 68p 2 x 47p  
 
EME/photo
2-bands
EME/photo
centre band
5 mm
  2-bands
wm »50«
2-bands
wm »50«
Watermark »50«
Special Stamps(1)
1 x £1
SG# 2380 // 02 June 2003
50th Anniversary of QE's II Coronation
Portrait of the Queen, dressed in full regalia
Reprinted high-value definitive coronation stamp
of 1953, but face value in decimal currency
Special Stamps(2)
4 x 1st (28p)
Guardsmen in
Coronation Procession
Queen Elizabeth II in
Coronation Chair with Bishops of Durham
and Bath & Wells
Children's Race at
East End Street Party
Children in
Fancy Dress
4 x 1st (28p)
East End Children reading
Coronation Party Poster
Queen Elizabeth II in
Coronation Robes
(photograph by
Cecil Beaton)
Coronation Coach passing
through Marble Arch
Children eating at
London Street Party
ex SG# 2368 - 2377 // 02 June 2003
50th Anniversary of QE's II Coronation
The stamp book contains 21 definitive/special stamps (12/9) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.46.

        

DX32 16 Mar 2004 Letters by Night
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  De La Rue
   (NVI) Machin Definitives       (NVI) Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x 1st (28p) 4 x 37p   3 x 2nd (20p) 3 x 68p  
 
Scotland
National flag [1]

England
Tudor rose [2]
 
EME/photo
2-bands
EME/photo
2-bands
  white border
centre band
white border
2-bands
 
[1] The stamp paying the 2nd class rate shows the Scottish flag. The design is taken from a painting by Anton Morris. The design of the flag is the Saltire Cross, a white X-shaped cross on a blue background. The saltire cross was the type of cross on which St. Andrew, Christ's first convert and missionary, was crucified by the Romans at Patras, Greece, in 60 AD. In about 750 AD, St. Rule of Patras, a Greek monk, was told to take several bones of St. Andrew and travel to the westernmost part of the known world. He took them to a place near the present Scottish town of St. Andrews and erected a shrine. Soon after, the Picts (then one of the native tribes living in the area of today's Scotland) saw a huge saltire cross shining in the blue sky. Taking this as a divine omen, they defeated the other tribes living there in battle and brought unity to what is now Scotland. The Cross of St. Andrew became the national flag of Scotland.
[2] The 68p airmail stamp pictures the Tudor rose. The rose was developed from the combination of the red rose, representing King Henry VII (*1457, r. 1485, † 1509) and the Lancaster family, and the white rose of his wife Elizabeth (* 1466, r. 1487, † 1503) and the Yorks. The marriage ended a series of long and bloody dynastic wars for the throne of England, known as »The Wars of the Roses«. The Tudor rose became the universal symbol of the Tudor dynasty and is commonly seen today representing England.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
Special Stamps (1)
1 x 42p 1 x E(urope, 38p)
GWR Manor 4-6-0.
Severn Valley Railway, Worcestershire
GCR BK 2-8-0.
Great Central Railway, Leicestershire
1 x 28p ex SG# 2417 - 2422 // 13 Jan/16 Mar 2004
Classic Locomotives
CR 439 0-4-4T.
Bo'ness and Kinnell Railway, West Lothian
Special Stamps (2)
4 x 1st (28p) ex SG# 2392 - 2396 // 12 Aug 2003
Europe - British Pub Signs
»The Station«
The stamp book contains 21 definitive/special stamps (14/7) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.44.

        

DX33 25 May 2004 The Glory of the Garden
Bicentenary of the Royal Horticultural Society
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Enschedé
   (NVI) Machin Definitives   
2 x 47p 2 x 42p 4 x 1st (28p)      
     
2-bands 2-bands 2-bands      
Special Stamps(1)
1 x 68p 1 x 42p 1 x E(urope, 40p)
Delphinum »Clifford Sky«
Miltonia »French Lake«
Clementis »Arabella«
1 x 2nd (21p) 2 x 1st (28p) 2 x 47p
Dianthus Allwoodil Group
Dahlia »Garden Princess«
Lillum »Lemon Pixie«
SG# 2456/2461 // 25 May 2004
Bicentenary of the Royal Horticultural Society
Garden Flowers
(First issue)
Special Stamps(2)
2 x 1st (28p) 2 x 1st (28p)
Tulipa
Iris latifolia
SG# 2463/2465 // 25 May 2004
Bicentenary of the Royal Horticultural Society
19th-century Flower Paintings
(Second issue)
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.23.

                             

        

DX34 24 Feb 2005 The Brontë Sisters
150th Death Anniversary of Charlotte Brontë
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue/violet fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Walsall
   (NVI) Machin Definitives       (NVI) Pictorial Country Definitives
2 x 42p 2 x 39p 4 x 2nd (21p) 2 x 40p 2 x 2nd (21p)  

England
Oak tree [1]

England
Three Lions [2]
 
EME/photo
2-bands
EME/photo
2-bands
EME/photo
centre band
white border
2-bands
white border
centre band
 
[1] The oak tree on the European-rate stamp has been a popular symbol since the 1600s. King Charles II (* 1630, r. 1660, † 1685) is said to have "hidden in an oak tree" after the English civil war battle of Worcester in 1651. From 1664 until late in the 19th century, »Royal Oak Day« was celebrated in honor of the restoration of the monarchy when Charles II was proclaimed king in 1660. Today the oak tree represents strength and endurance in English heraldry.
[2] The English 2nd class stamp features the Lion of England. The lion has been a symbol of courage, strength, and nobility since the Middle Ages. After it was used as a symbol by King Henry I, known as Henry Beauclerc, (* 1068, r. 1100, † 1135) and by King Richard I (* 1157, r. 1189, † 1199), known as »Richard the Lionheart« because of his courage in battle, it was adopted by the English monarchs and used ever since.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
Special Stamps
1 x £1.12 1 x 68p 1 x 57p 1 x 40p
»Inspection«
»Refectory«
»La Ligne des Rats«
»In the Comfort
of her Bonnet«
2 x 1st (28p) 2 x 2nd (21p)
»Come to Me«
»Mr. Rochester«
SG# 2518 - 2523 // 24 Feb 2005
150th Death Anniversary of Charlotte Brontë
Illustrations from her novel »Jane Eyre«
by Portuguese visual artist Dame Paula Rego DBE (* 1935)
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (12/8) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.43.

        

DX35 18 Oct 2005 Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar
Death of Admiral Nelson
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Walsall
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
2 x 68p 2 x 50p   4 x 1st (30p)    
     
2-bands 2-bands   2-bands    
Special Stamps (1)
The special stamps are printed in lithography by Cartor Security Printing, France
2 x 68p
British Fleet attacking in Two Columns
Franco/Spanish Fleet putting to Sea from Cadiz
2 x 42p
British Cutter Entrepreante attempting
to rescue Crew of burning French Achille
Cutter and Schooner HMS Pickle
2 x 1st (30p)
Entrepreante with dismasted British Belle Isle
Nelson wounded on Deck of HMS Victory
SG# 2574 -2579 // 18 Oct 2005
Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar
(First issue)
Scenes from the maritime painting »Panorama of the Battle of Trafalgar«
painted in 1825 by British artist William Heath (* 1794, † 1840)
Special Stamps (2)
3 x 1st (30p) SG# 2581 // 18 Oct 2005
Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar
(Second issue, only available from booklet)
White Ensign
Reprinted stamp design ex 2001 minature sheet
»Submarine Centenary« (SG# MS2206)
The stamp book contains 17 definitive/special stamps (8/9) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.26.

        

DX36 23 Feb 2006 Birth Bicentenary of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Enschedé
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
2 x 40p 2 x 35p   4 x 1st (30p)    
     
2-bands centre band   2-bands    
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
1 x 68p 1 x 60p
Maidenhead Railway Bridge (1835/39)
spanning the River Thames,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, South-East England
Clifton Suspension Bridge (1829/64)
spanning the Gorge of River Avon,
Bristol, North Somerset, England
1 x 42p 2 x 47p
Paddington Railway Station (1854),
City of Westminster, London W2
Combined Sailing Ship and
Paddle/Propeller Steam Ship
»PSS Great Eastern«, launched 1858
1 x 1st (30p) 1 x 40p
Royal Albert Railway Bridge (1845/59)
spanning the River Tamar,
Saltash, Cornwall, South-West England
Box Railway Tunnel (1836/41) between
Bath and Chippenham, Western England
SG# 2607 -2612 // 23 Feb 2006
Birth Bicentenary of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
(First issue)
Brunel's Art of Engineering
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 68p SG# 2614 // 23 Feb 2006
Birth Bicentenary of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
(Second issue, only available from booklet)
Paddle Steamer »PS Great Western«,
launched 1837,
painting (1838) by Joseph Walter
(English marine painter, * 1783, † 1856)
Reprinted stamp design (SG# 2453) from
2004 stamp set »Ocean Liners«
The stamp book contains 17 definitive/special stamps (8/9) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.40.

        

DX37 21 Sep 2006 150th Anniversary of the Victoria Cross
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Enschedé
   Machin & NVI PiP Machin Definitives  
4 x 50p     4 x 1st PiP (32p)
central label
 
     
2-bands     2-bands
violet fluor
Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
Ribbon bar
Please    click
 
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
1 x 72p 1 x 64p 1 x 1st (32p)
Captain Albert Ball
(* 1869, † 1917)
RFC, No. 56 Squadron,
World War I, France,
May 1917
(VC posthumously awarded)
Midshipman Charles Lucas
(* 1834, † 1914)
Royal Navy, HMS Hecla,
Crimean War, Åland Islands,
June 1854
Corporal Agansing Rai
(* 1920, † 2000)
Indian Army Infantry,
5th Gurkha Rifles,
World War II, Burma,
June 1944
1 x 72p 1 x 64p 1 x 1st (32p)
Captain Charles Upham
(* 1908, † 1994)
New Zealand Expeditionary Force,
2nd New Zealand Division,
World War II, Crete, May 1941,
World War II, Egypt, July 1942
(VC twice awarded)
Captain Noel Chavasse
(* 1884, † 1917)
Royal Army Medical Corps,
Territorial Army, Liverpool Scottish,
World War I, Belgium, June 1915,
World War I, France, August 1916
(VC twice awarded)
Boy Seaman Jack Cornwell
(* 1900, † 1916)
Royal Navy, HMS Chester,
3rd Battlecruiser Squadron,
World War I, Battle of Jutland,
May 1916
(VC posthumously awarded)
SG# 2659 - 2664 // 21 Sep 2006
150th Anniversary of the Victoria Cross
(First issue)
Victoria Cross Recipients
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 20p SG# 2666 // 21 Sep 2006
150th Anniversary of the Victoria Cross
(Second issue, only available from booklet)
Victoria Cross
Reprinted stamp design (SG# 1517) from
1990 stamp set »Gallantry Awards«
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.44.

        

DX38 1 Mar 2007 World of Invention
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  De La Rue
   Machin & NVI PiP Machin Definitives      (NVI) Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x 5p 4 x 1st PIP (32p)   3 x 44p 3 x 2nd(23p)  
 
Wales
Daffodil [1]

Scotland
National Flag [2]
 
EME/photo
2-bands
violet fluor
EME/photo
2-bands
violet fluor
  2-bands
44'p' omitted for
bilingual reason
white border
centre band
white border
 
[1] The 44p stamp, for mail to Europe, has a daffodil created in Welsh slate by Ieuan Rees. The daffodil, now the Welsh national flower, has partly replaced the leek as a symbol, mostly because of its prettier look.
[2] The stamp paying the 2nd class rate shows the Scottish flag. The design is taken from a painting by Anton Morris. The design of the flag is the Saltire Cross, a white X-shaped cross on a blue background. The saltire cross was the type of cross on which St. Andrew, Christ's first convert and missionary, was crucified by the Romans at Patras, Greece, in 60 AD. In about 750 AD, St. Rule of Patras, a Greek monk, was told to take several bones of St. Andrew and travel to the westernmost part of the known world. He took them to a place near the present Scottish town of St. Andrews and erected a shrine. Soon after, the Picts (then one of the native tribes living in the area of today's Scotland) saw a huge saltire cross shining in the blue sky. Taking this as a divine omen, they defeated the other tribes living there in battle and brought unity to what is now Scotland. The Cross of St. Andrew became the national flag of Scotland.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
Special Stamps printed in gravure
1 x 72p 1 x 72p 1 x 64p
Space Travel
(Couple with Suitcase on Moon)
Globe as Web
(eMail and Internet)
Camera and Television
(John Logie Baird, * 1888, † 1946,
Scottish inventor of the world's first
mechanical television)
1 x 64p 2 x 1st (32p) 2 x 1st (32p)
Global Telephone Lines
(Map of the British Isles
and Australia)
Steam Locomotive
and Railway Tracks
Iron Bridge
(Thomas Telford, * 1757, † 1834,
Scottish Civil Engineer, noted
road, bridge and canal builder)
SG# 2721 - 2726 // 1 March 2007
World of Invention
Naïve Paintings of Inventions
The stamp book contains 22 definitive/special stamps (14/8) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.49.

        

DX39 5 June 2007 The Machin Definitives
The Making of a Masterpiece
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  violet fluor  el perf 15  PVA  De La Rue
   (NVI) Machin Definitives  
2 x £1 2 x 48p 2 x 46p 4 x 2p
2-bands
blue flour
2-bands 2-bands
FV low positioned
2-bands
   NVI PiP Machin Definitives   
1 x 1st PiP (34p) 2 x 1st Large PiP (48p) 1 x 2nd PiP (24p) 2 x 2nd Large PiP (40p)
2-bands 2-bands centre band 2-bands
Special Stamps
2 x 1st (34p) 2 x 1st (34p)
Portrait photo of Arnold Machin,
O.B.E., R.A. (* 1911, † 1999),
British sculptor, coin and stamp designer
First Machin Definitive Issued 1967
4d stamp
SG# 2741 -2742 // 5 June 2007
40th Anniversary of the First Machin Definitives
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (16/4) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.66.

        

DX40 20 Sep 2007 British Army Uniforms
(First issue in a series of three)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  violet fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Enschedé
   (NVI) Machin Definitives  
2 x 54p 4 x 46p 2 x 1p      
     
2-bands 2-bands
FV low positioned
2-bands      
   NVI Pictorial Country Definitives printed in lithography
1 x 1st (34p) 1 x 1st (34p) 1 x 1st (34p) 1 x 1st (34p)    

England
Crowned lion [1]

Northern Ireland
Aerial View of
Patchwork Fields [2]

Scotland
Rampant lion [3]

Wales
[bilingual AF/ST]
Dragon [4]
   
2-bands white border    
bluish fluor bluish fluor bluish fluor bluish fluor    
[1] On the English 1st class stamp, the lion is holding the shield of St. George, the patron saint of England. King Edward III of England (* 1312, r. 1327, † 1377) chose George to be the patron saint for the »Knight of the Garter«.
[2] With their network of trees and hedgerows, the »Patchwork Fields« that have developed over the years in Northern Ireland create a distinctive aerial view. The photo used on the 1st class stamp was taken by Richard Cooke over County Londonderry .
[3] The stamp paying the 1st class rate features a sculpture of the Scottish lion rampant by artists Frank Pottinger and Tim Chalk. The rampant position is rearing on the left hind leg with forelegs elevated and the right foreleg above the left. William, King of Scots (* 1143, r. 1165, † 1214) became known as »William the Lion« because he replaced the dragon on his arms with the lion rampant. Thereafter, a red lion rampant on a yellow background became the emblem of the Kings of the Scots.
[4] A dragon forged in steel by Welsh metalworkers Toby and Gideon Petersen is featured on the 1st class stamp. The red dragon appears on the Welsh flag and has been associated with Wales for over a thousand years. It was adopted by the early Welsh kings to symbolize their authority after the Roman withdrawal. Later, it was the standard of King Cadwallader of Gwynedd (reign ca. 655 - 682), the native Welsh prince from whom the Tudor dynasty were descended.
Source: Larry Rosenblum, USA
Special Stamps printed in lithography
3 x 78p
Trooper from
Earl of Oxford's Horse,
King Charles II, 1661
Grenadier from
»Battle of Blenheim«,
Royal Regiment of
Foot of Ireland, 1704
Rifleman from
»Peninsula War«,
95th Rifles, 1813
3 x 1st (34p)
Artillery Observer from
»World War One«
Royal Field Artillery, 1917
Tank Commander from
»Second World War«
5th Royal Tank Regiment, 1944
Non-commissioned Officer (NCO)
from »Kosovo Military Mission«
Royal Military Police, 1999
SG# 2774 - 2779 // 20 Sep 2007
Military Uniforms
(First in a series of three)
British Army Uniforms
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (12/6) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.66.

        

DX41 8 Jan 2008 James Bond - First [Second] edition
Birth Centenary of Ian Fleming
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  De La Rue
   NVI Machin Definitives  
8 x 1st (34p)          
         
2-bands          
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
2 x 78p
»For Your Eyes Only«, 1960
»From Russia With Love«, 1957
2 x 54p
»Goldfinger«, 1959
»Diamonds Are Forever«, 1956
2 x 1st (34p)
»Casino Royale«, 1958
»Dr. No«, 1957
SG# 2797 - 2802 // 8 Jan 2008
James Bond
Birth Centenary of Ian Fleming
(First issue)
Book Covers
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (34p) 2 x 1st (34p)
White Ensign
Union Jack
SG# 2581, 2805 // 8 Jan 2008
James Bond
Birth Centenary of Ian Fleming
(Second issue, only available from booklet)
Flags
Reprinted stamp designs ex 2001 minature sheet SG# MS2206
»Centenary of Royal Navy Submarine Service«
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.40.

        

DX42 18 Sep 2008 Royal Air Force (RAF) Uniforms
(Second issue in a series of three)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Walsall
   NVI Machin Definitives 
n x 1st (36p) n x 2nd (27p)        
       
2-bands centre band        
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
3 x 81p
Lancaster Air Gunner, 1944
Plotter WAAF, 1940
Pilot, 1918
3 x 1st (36p)
Drum Major,
RAF Central Band, 2007
Helicopter Rescue
Winchman, 1984
Hawker Hunter
Pilot, 1951
SG# 2862 - 2867 // 18 Sep 2008
Military Uniforms
(Second in a series of three)
Pilot to Plane/RAF Uniforms (1)
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 20p 2 x 1st (36p)
Supermarine Spitfire MkIIA
»Red Arrows«
Dartmouth Regatta Airshow, 2006
SG# 2868, 2869 // 18 Sep 2008
Pilot to Plane/RAF Uniforms (2)
(Stamps are only available from booklet)
SG# 2868 reprinted design as SG# 1984 ex 1997 stamp set »British Aircraft Designers«
SG# 2869 reprinted design as SG# 2855 ex 2008 stamp set »Air Displays«
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.15.

        

DX43 29 Sep 2008 50th Anniversary of the Regional Definitives
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15x14½  PVA  De La Rue
   NVI Pictorial Country & (reprinted) Wilding Regional Definitives
3 x 1st (36p) 3 x 1st (36p) 3 x 1st (36p)      

Wales
Welsh Dragon

Scotland
Rampant Lion

Northern Ireland
Patchwork Fields
     
White border
2-bands
7 mm
White border
2-bands
White border
2-bands
     
   NVI (reprinted) Wilding Regional Definitives
2 x 1st (36p)
Wales
2 x 1st (36p)
Scotland
2 x 1st (36p)
Northern Ireland
2 x 1st (36p) 2 x 1st (36p) 2 x 1st (36p)
2 x 1st (36p) 2 x 1st (36p) 2 x 1st (36p)
Reprinted designs as 1958 issues, but with 1st class denomination,
elliptical perforation 15x14½ and two phosphor bands
(Stamps are only available from booklet)
The stamp book contains 27 definitive stamps on four panes with a total face value of £ 9.72.

        

DX44 8 Jan 2009 British Design Classics
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives  
4 x 50p 4 x 16p        
       
2-bands 2-bands        
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (36p) 2 x 1st (36p) 3 x 1st (36p)
Supermarine Spitfire
R.J. Mitchell
Routemaster Bus
(design team led by
AAM Durant)
Mini
Sir Alec Issigonis
London
Underground Map
Harry Beck
K2 Telephone Kiosk
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott
4 x 1st (36p) 2 x 1st (36p)
Penguin Books
Edward Young
Angelpoise Lamp
George Carwardine
Polypropylene Chair
Robin Day
Mini Skirt
Mary Quant
Concorde
Aerospatiale-BAC
SG# 2887 - 2896 // 13 Jan 2009
British Design Classics
(First issue)
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (36p)
SG# 2897 // 13 Jan 2009
British Design Classics
(Second issue, stamp is only available from booklet)
Concorde (1976)
Reprinted stamp design (SG# 2285) from 2002 stamp set
»50th Anniversary of Passenger Jet Aviation«
The stamp book contains 22 definitive/special stamps (8/14) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.68.

        

DX45 12 Feb 2009 Charles Darwin
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/Litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  De La Rue
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
2 x 48p 2 x 10p 2 x 5p 2 x 1st (36p)  
Label
 
2-bands 2-bands 2-bands 2-bands   Charles Darwin
Special Stamps (1)
1 x 48p 1 x 50p 1 x 56p
Marine Iguana
Finches
Atoll
1 x 1st (36p) 1 x 72p 1 x 81p
Charles Darwin
Bee Orchid
Orang-utan
SG# 2905 - 2910 // 12 Feb 2009
Birth Bicentenary of Charles Darwin
Naturalist and evolutionary theorist
(* 1809, † 1882)
(First issue)
Stamps are printed in photogravure with »Jigsaw« perforation on both vertical sides
and were only issued in the stamp book.
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (36p) 2 x 81p
Flightless cormorant
(Phalacrocorax harrisi)
Giant tortoise
(Chelonoidis nigra)
and
Cactus finch
(Geospiza scandens)
Marine iguana
(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Floreana mockingbird
(Mimus trifasciatus)
SG# MS2904 // 12 Feb 2009
Birth Bicentenary of Charles Darwin
(Second issue)
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.75.

        

DX46 18 Aug 2009 Treasures of the Archive
Post Office Letter Boxes
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives     (NVI) »Doublehead« Definitives 
2 x 62p 2 x 22p 4 x 17p 4 x 20p 4 x 1st (39p)  
 
2-bands 2-bands 2-bands 2-bands
el perf 14½ x 14
Stamps were only issued
in the stamp book
 
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (39p) 1 x 56p 1 x 81p 1 x 90p
George V
Type »B« Wall Letter Box
1933 - 1936
Edward VII
Ludlow Letter Box
1901 - 1910
Victorian
Lamp Letter Box
1896
Elizabeth II
Type »A« Wall Letter Box
1962 - 1963
SG# 2950 - 2953 // 18 Aug 2009
Treasures of the Archive
(First issue)
Post Boxes
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in SG# MS2954
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 20p
SG# 2957 // 18 Aug 2009
Treasures of the Archive
(Second issue, stamp is only available from booklet)
Royal Mail Coach
Reprinted stamp design (SG# 1457) from 1989 stamp set
»800th Anniversary of the installation
of the first Lord Mayor of London«
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (16/8) on four panes with a total face value of £ 8.18.

        

DX47 17 Sep 2009 Royal Navy Uniforms
(Third issue in a series of three)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   (NVI) Machin Definitives  
2 x 90p 4 x 17p 2 x 1p      
     
2-bands 2-bands 2-bands      
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
3 x 90p
Able Seaman, 1880
Royal Marine, 1805
Admiral,1795
3 x 1st (39p)
Flight Deck Officer, 2009
Captain, 1941
Second Officer WRNS, 1918
SG# 2964 - 2969 // 17 Sep 2009
Military Uniforms
(Third in a series of three)
Royal Navy Uniforms
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (39p) 2 x 1st (39p)
White Ensign
Jolly Roger
SG# 2581, 2970 // 17 Sep 2009
Flags
SG# 2970 was only issued in the stamp book
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes with a total face value of £ 7.93.

                             

        

DX48 7 Jan 2010 Classic Album Covers
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives  
2 x 62p 2 x 54p 2 x 22p 4 x 20p 5 x 10p 2 x 5p
2-bands 2-bands
FV thin font
2-bands 2-bands 2-bands 2-bands
FV thin font
Special Stamps printed in lithography
3 x 1st (39p)
»Let It Bleed«
Rolling Stones
Released November 1969
»Led Zeppelin IV«
Led Zeppelin
Released November 1971
»The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
and the Spiders from Mars
«
Davie Bowie
Released June 1972
3 x 1st (39p)
»Power, Corruption and Lies«
New Order
Released May 1983
»Screamadelica«
Primal Scream
Released September 1991
»The Division Bell«
Pink Floyd
Released March 1994
4 x 1st (39p)
»Tubular Bells«
Mike Oldfield
Released May 1973
»London Calling«
The Clash
Released December 1979
»Park Life«
Blur
Released April 1994
»A Rush of Blood
to the Head
«
Cold Play
Released August 2002
SG# 3009 - 3018 // 7 Jan 2010
Classic Album Covers
(Perf 14½, interrupted by die-cut on right side)
The stamp book contains 27 definitive/special stamps (17/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 8.06.

        

DX49 25 Feb 2010 The Royal Society
350 Years
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives  
4 x 54p 4 x 22p        
       
2-bands
FV thin font
2-bands        
Special Stamps printed in lithography
4 x 1st (39p)
Theory of Evolution
Alfred Russel Wallace
(* 1823, † 1913)
Computing
Charles Babbage
(* 1791, † 1871)
Chemistry
Sir Robert Boyle
(* 1627, † 1691)
Earth Science
Sir Nicholas Shackleton
(* 1937, † 2006)
1 x 1st (39p) 2 x 1st (39p) 1 x 1st (39p)
Optics
Sir Isaac Newton
(* 1643, † 1727)
Atomic Structure
Ernest Rutherford,
1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson

(* 1871, New Zealand, † 1937)
Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1908
Electricity
Benjamin Franklin
(* 1706, Boston, MA, USA
† 1790, Philadelphia, PA, USA)
1 x 1st (39p) 2 x 1st (39p) 1 x 1st (39p)
Crystallography
Dorothy Hodgkin
(* 1910, Cairo, Egypt, † 1994)
Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1964
Pioneer of Small Box Vaccination
Edward Jenner
(* 1749, † 1823)
Antiseptic Surgery
Joseph Lister,
1st Baron Lister

(* 1827, † 1912)
SG# 3026 - 3035 // 25 Feb 2010
350th Anniversary of the Royal Society
Natural scientists and Fellows of the Royal Society (FRS)
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 7.72.

        

DX50
(a/b)
8 May 2010 Centenary of Accession of King George V.
1910 - 1936
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el dc 14½x14 U3/2a MA10/MPIL  SA  Walsall
For the first time self-adhesive Machin definitives (1st/2nd class, 50p) with all new security features were issued in a Prestige Stamp Book. The booklet pane (#4) was printed in photogravure by Walsall Security Printers Ltd. However a large part of the stamps was produced with an improper setting of the security slits. Therefore the stamp book exists in two versions - type »DX50a« (security slits error) and the scarcer type »DX50b« (proper security slits).
   Machin Definitives  
  2 x 50p   DX50a DX50b  
   
  2-bands Year code:
MA10
Source code:
MPIL
U-slits type: 3
break at
bottom only
misprint
U-slits type: 2a
break at top
and bottom
(regular)
 
NVI Machin Definitives
  4 x 1st (41p)   DX50a DX50b  
   
  2-bands Year code:
MA10
Source code:
MPIL
U-slits type: 3
break at
bottom only
misprint
U-slits type: 2a
break at top
and bottom
(regular)
 
  4 x 2nd (32p)   DX50a DX50b  
   
  centre band Year code:
MA10
Source code:
MPIL
U-slits type: 3
break at
bottom only
misprint
U-slits type: 2a
break at top
and bottom
(regular)
 
Special Stamps (1a) printed in lithography
3 x £1 3 x 1st (41p)
Two Portraits of King George V
(Downey left, Mackennal right)
King George V, r. 1910 - 1936
Queen Elizabeth II, r. 1952 - present
SG# 3069, 3066 // 08/06 May 2010
Centenary of Accession of King George V
and London 2010 Festival of Stamps
Special Stamps (1b) printed in intaglio (recess process) and lithograhy
2 x £1
£1 Green "Sea Horses" Design Stamp, 1913
(High value definitive, SG# 403)
10s. Blue "Sea Horses" Design Stamp, 1913
(High value definitive, SG# 402)
SG# 3070, 3071 // 08 May 2010
Centenary of Accession of King George V
Special Stamps (1c) printed in intaglio (recess process) and lithograhy
2 x 1st (41p) 2 x 1st (41p)
1½d. Brown "British Empire Exhibition", 1924
(commemorative, SG# 433)
1d. Scarlet "British Empire Exhibition", 1924
(commemorative, SG# 430)
SG# 3067, 3068 // 08 May 2010
Centenary of Accession of King George V
Stamp book pane #1 was printed in lithography by Cartor Security Printing, France
Stamp book pane #2 was printed in intaglio (recess process) by Royal Joh. Enschedé en Zonen, Netherlands
Stamp book pane #3 was printed in lithograhy by Royal Joh. Enschedé en Zonen, Netherlands
Stamp book pane #4 was printed in photogravure by Walsall Security Printers, England
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 11.15.

        

DX51 13 May 2010 Britain Alone
World War II
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives  
2 x 60p 2 x 10p 4 x 5p      
     
2-bands 2-bands 2-bands      
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (41p) 1 x 1st (41p) 1 x 67p 1 x 97p
Winston Churchill
Land Girl
Woman
working in Factory
Royal Broadcast by
Princess Elizabeth and
Princess Margaret
1 x 67p 1 x 60p 1 x 97p 1 x 60p
Air Raid Wardens
Home Guard
(exercising with spade
handles due to lack of rifles)
Fire Service
Evacuees
SG# 3074 - 3081 // 13 May 2010
Britain Alone
(First issue)
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (41p) 1 x 60p 1 x 88p 1 x 97p
Evacuation of British
Soldiers from Dunkirk
Vessels from Upper
Thames Patrol in
»Operation Little Ships«
Rescued Soldiers on
Board of Royal Navy
Destroyer, Dover
Steamship and Other
Boat loaded with Troops
SG# 3082 - 3085 // 13 May 2010
Britain Alone
(Second issue)
Dunkirk, France
26 May - 4 June 1940
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS3086.
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 9.76.

        

DX52 22 Mar 2011 50th Anniversary of the WWF
World Wide Fund For Nature
(World Wildlife Fund)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives  
1 x 97p 1 x 67p 3 x 10p 3 x 5p    
   
2-bands 2-bands 2-bands 2-bands
original thick
font type
   
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
3 x 1st (41p)
Polar Bear
(Ursus maritimus)
Amur Leopard
(Panthera pardus orientalis)
Iberian Lynx
(Lynx pardinus)
3 x 1st (41p)
Siberian Tiger
(Panthera tigris altaica)
Red Panda
(Ailurus fulgens)
Black Rhinoceros
(Diceros bicornis)
4 x 1st (41p)
Mountain Gorilla
(Gorilla beringei beringei)
African Wild Dog
(Lycaon pictus)
Golden Lion Tamarin
(Leontopithecus rosalia)
African Elephant
(Loxodonta africana)
SG# 3162 - 3171 // 22 Mar 2011
50th Anniversary of the WWF
Threatened Mammals
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (41p)
Spider Monkey
(Ateles paniscus)
1 x 60p
Hyacinth macaw
(Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
1 x 88p
Poison dart frog
(Dendrobatidae)
1 x 97p
Jaguar
(Panthera onca)
SG# MS3172a // 22 Mar 2011
[Miniature sheet, the 1st class value includes the »EUROPA« emblem]
50th Anniversary of the WWF
Amazon Rainforest - Endangered Species
The stamp book contains 22 definitive/special stamps (8/14) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 9.05

Beginning with the issue of the »Morris & Co.« "Prestige" Booklet, Royal Mail introduced an additional cost, over and above the face value of the stamps contained within these booklets. The surcharge averages 95p. The booklets are seperately numbered in a new series, commencing dy1.

        

DY1 5 May 2011 Morris & Co.
A Definitive Claim to Beauty
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el dc 14½x14 U2a  SA  Walsall
   Machin Definitives  
2 x 50p 2 x 10p 4 x 5p  
central label
 
   
2-bands // self-adhesive   Bird design  
security codes
M11L/MPIL
       
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (46p) 2 x 76p 1 x £1.10
»Cray«
fabric print
by William Morris, 1884
»Seaweed«
Wallpaper pattern
by John Henry Dearle, 1901
»Peony«
ceramic tile design
by Kate Faulkner, 1877
»Acanthus«
tile design
by William Morris and
William De Morgan, 1876
2 x 1st (46p) 2 x £1.10
»Cherries«
detail from panel
by Philip Webb, 1867
»The Merchants Daughter«
detail of stained glass window
by Edward Burne-Jones, 1864
SG# 3181 - 3186 // 5 May 2011
150th Anniversary of Morris and Company
(First issue)
Fabric, wallpaper, tiles, panel, glass window designs
Special Definitive NVI Stamp (2) printed in lithography
4 x 2nd (36p)
»Angel playing Lute«
Detail from stained glass window by William Morris,
Church of St. James, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria
SG# 3186a // 5 May 2011
150th Anniversary of Morris and Company
(Second issue)
Reprinted design as SG# 2991 from 2009 stamp set »Christmas - Stained Glass Windows«
SG# 3186a was only issued in the stamp book
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 9.04, post office sales price £ 9.99.

        

DY2 9 Sep 2011 First United Kingdom Aerial Post
Centennial
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 14½x14  M11L/MPIL   PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives    
2 x 76p   4 x 5p 2 x 1st (41p)  
central label
 
2-bands visualised
fluorescent bands
and security codes
(11 blue arrows P)
EME/litho
2-bands
orange fluor
no
security codes
2-bands   Herbert Samuel
Postmaster General
(1915 - 1916)
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (41p) 1 x £1.10 2 x 68p 1 x £1.00
Pilot Gustav Hamel
receiving mailbag
Delivery of First Airmail
to Postmaster General
at Windsor
Gustav Hamel in Cockpit
Pilot Clement Greswell
and Blériot Monoplane
SG# 3216 - 3219 // 9 Sep 2011
Centenary of First United Kingdom Aerial Post
(First issue)
Contemporary Photographs
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in SG# MS3220
Special Stamps (2) printed in intaglio and lithography
4 x 50p
Windsor Castle and Portrait
of QE II by Dorothy Wilding
(Perf 11x11½)
SG# 3221 // 9 Sep 2011
Centenary of First United Kingdom Aerial Post
(Second issue)
Stamp was only issued in the stamp book
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 9.02, post office sales price £ 9.97.

        

DY3 10 Jan 2012 Roald Dahl
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  EME/photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 14½x14  68p only  PVA  Walsall
   Machin Definitives  
4 x 68p 2 x 10p 2 x 2p  
central label
 
photo
2-bands
Visualised
security codes
(11 red circles P)
2-bands 2-bands   Roald Dahl
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography by Cartor
1 x 66p 1 x £1.00 1 x £1.10
Fantastic Mr. Fox, 1970
The Twits, 1979
The Witches, 1983
1 x 68p 1 x 1st (46p) 1 x 76p
James and the
Giant Peach, 1961
Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, 1964
Matilda, 1988
SG# 3254 - 3259 // 10 Jan 2012
Roald Dahl's Children's Stories
(First issue)
Book Illustrations by Quentin Blake
Sir Quentin Saxby Blake, CBE, FCSD, FRSL, RDI
English cartoonist, illustrator and children's writer
(* 16 Dec 1932)
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography by Cartor
1 x 1st (46p) 1 x 76p 1 x 68p 1 x £1.00
The BFG carrying
Sophie in his Hand
Sophie sitting on
Buckingham Palace
Window-sill
The BFG wakes up
the Giants
The BFG and Sophie
at Writing Desk
SG# 3260 - 3263 // 10 Jan 2012
Roald Dahl's Children's Stories
(Second issue)
Book Illustrations by Quentin Blake
30th Anniversary of the Publication of
»The BFG«, 1982
(»The Big Friendly Giant«)
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in SG# MS3264
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 10.52, post office sales price £ 11.47.

        

DY4 31 May 2012 The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  photo  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 14½x14  PVA  Walsall
   NVI Machin Definitives   NVI Wilding Definitive
4 x 1st (60p) 4 x 1st (60p)
central label
 
Reprint - Original
SG# 3328
2-bands
source code
DIAMPND
(Prestige Stamp Book)
visualised
iridescent overprint
DIAMONDJUBILEE
and source code
(P red circles)
SG# 3329
Reprint as SG# 554 (3.11.55),
but redrawn with 1st value indicator
and text changed to
DIAMOND JUBILEE,
2-bands, elliptical perf 14½x14
Child's drawing
Special Stamps printed in lithography
1 x 1st (60p) 1 x 77p 1 x 77p 1 x £1.28
Trooping the Colour, 1967
HM inspecting the
2nd Battalion Royal Welsh,
Tidworth, March 2007
First Christmas
Television Broadcast, 1957
Commonwealth Games,
Brisbane, Australia, 1982
1 x 1st (60p) 1 x £1.28 1 x 87p 1 x 87p
Golden Jubilee Service,
St. Paul's Cathedral, 2002
Adressing the UN
General Assembly, 1957
Silver Jubilee
Walkabout, 1977
Garter Ceremony
Procession, Windsor
Castle, 1997
SG# B3319 - B3326 // 31 May 2012
Diamond Jubilee
The stamps focus on the Queen's key roles
as Head of the Nation, Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Head of the Commonwealth
and highlights key events from the first six decades of her reign.
The stamp book contains 16 definitive/special stamps (8/8) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 11.84, post office sales price £ 12.77.

HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM33 // 31 May 2012 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
2 x SG# 3327 - The Queen at Golden Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, St. Paul's Cathedral, 2002
Security Machin Definitives
SG# U3328 - diamond blue; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background,
DIAMOND JUBILEE in wavy lines;
source code
DIAMCND
;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY5 27 July 2012 Keeping the Flame Alive
British Achievment of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 14½x14  PVA  Cartor
   NVI Special Definitives
3 x 1st (60p) 1 x WW up to 20g
(Worldwide, £1.28)
central label
3 x 1st (60p) 1 x WW up to 20g
(worldwide, £1.28)
SG# 3251/53 // 5 Jan 2012
Olympic Games Emblem
Emblem 2012 SG# 3250/52 // 5 Jan 2012
Paralympic Games Emblem
Special Stamps printed in lithography
2 x 1st (60p) 2 x 1st (60p) 2 x 1st (60p)
Football
Paralympics Games
Archery
Diving
Athletics: Track
Paralympics Games
Dressage
Athletics: Field
SG# 2982 - 2984, 2987 // 22 Oct 2009 (ex 1st issue)
SG# 3104 // 27 July 2010 (ex 3rd issue)
SG# 3196 // 27 July 2011 (ex 5th issue)
Olympic and Paralympic Sports
The stamp book contains 14 definitive/special stamps (8/6) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 9.76, post office sales price £ 10.71.

        

DY6 26 Mar 2013 The Blockbuster Stamp Book Issue
50 Years of Doctor Who Classic BBC TV Series
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 14½x14  M12L/MPIL   PVA  Cartor
   Machin & Special Definitives  
1 x 87p 1 x 20p 1 x 10p 1 x 5p  
central label
Year code is M12 orange fluor   TARDIS
    4 x 1st (60p)    
       
    SG# 3452 // 26 March 2013
no security layer
(only issued in this booklet)
   
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
4 x 2nd (50p) & 1 x 1st (60p)
2nd class
Dalek
1st class - TARDIS - spacecraft
2nd class
The Ood
2nd class
Weeping Angel
2nd class
Cyberman
SG# MS3451a // 26 March 2013
Miniature sheet
50th Anniversary of »Doctor Who«
BBC's TV Science Fiction Series
(4 x 2nd NVI, centre band, die-cut perf 14½;
1 x 1st NVI, 2-bands, die-cut perf 14¾x15;
all stamps self-adhesive)
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
3 x 1st (60p)
The »Time Lord« returns after eight years to the small screen,
produced by BBC Wales, broadcast of the first story »Rose« on 26 March 2005.
Matt Smith (* 1982),
the Eleventh Doctor,
since 2010
David Tennant (* 1971),
the Tenth Doctor,
2005 - 2010
Christopher Eccleston (* 1964),
the Ninth Doctor,
2005
4 x 1st (60p)
Paul McGann (* 1959),
the Eighth Doctor,
1996
Sylvester McCoy (* 1943),
the Seventh Doctor,
1987 - 1989
Colin Baker (* 1943),
the Sixth Doctor,
1984 - 1986
Peter Davison (* 1951),
the Fifth Doctor,
1982 - 1984
4 x 1st (60p)
Tom Baker (* 1934),
the Fourth Doctor,
1974 - 1981
Jon Pertwee
(* 1919, † 1996),
the Third Doctor,
1970 - 1974
Patrick Throughton
(* 1920, † 1987),
the Second Doctor,
1966 - 1969
William Hartnell
(* 1908, † 1975),
the First Doctor,
1963 - 1966
SG# 3437 - 3447 // 26 Mar 2013
50th Anniversary of »Doctor Who«
BBC's TV Science Fiction Series
British actors playing the role of »Doctor Who's« incarnations
Maintaining the distinction between the eight »Old Doctors« and the three »New Doctors« the Prestige Stamp Book has two covers, and two ends. The order of the PSB sheets is as follows:
1. Coloured cover {Begin} - [13. End]
Adventures Through Space And Time
inverted
inverted
7./7. Info pages - Creatures from the Classic Era,
and info about Doctor № 8
2./12. Stamp pane - miniature sheet
and comic strip
8./6. Stamp pane - Doctors № 5, 6, 7, 8
{gum up}, info about Doctor № 7
3./11. Info pages - Doctor № 11 and
»TARDIS« spaceship
9./5. Stamp pane - Doctors № 1, 2, 3, 4
{gum up}, info about Doctor № 6
4./10. Info pages - Doctors № 10, 9 10./4. Info pages - Doctors № 5, 4
5./9. Stamp pane - Doctors № 11, 10, 9
[gum up]
11./3. Stamp pane - Machin/TARDIS definitives
{gum up}, info about Doctor № 3
6./8. Info pages - The »Time Lord« Returns
and monsters from the modern day
12./2. Info pages - Doctors № 2, 1
1. [Begin] - Adventures Through Space And Time - 13. {End}
Monochrome cover, with FSC logo and bar-code
The stamp book contains 27 definitive/special stamps (8+1/15) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 12.82, post office sales price £ 13.77.

Dr. WHO
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM36 // 26 March 2013 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive Special stamps,
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 3448 - Matt Smith, 11th Doctor since 2010
SG# 3450 - William Hartnell, 1st Doctor (1963 - 1966)
4 x SG# 3449 - TARDIS
(Definitive size Special stamp)

        

DY7 9 May 2013 150 Years Football Association
Football Heroes
140 Years Scottish Football Association
According to the acknowledgements/credits in the stamp book, the special stamps are printed in lithography by Cartor Security Printing, Meaucé, France, but the definitive stamps are printed in gravure by Walsall Security Printers, Walsall WS1 3OL - which they are definitely not. Exactly the same misinformation was published in the previous PSB DY6 »Doctor Who«.
Both types of stamp panes, specials and definitives are printed in lithography by Cartor Security Printing.
Furthermore the two definitive panes in the stamp book have been badly designed, as to their contents and layout. To be honest a primary school child could have produced a better job of these. The first mixed Machin/Country definitives pane is an imbalanced mishmash. The country definitives should have been placed in the corners, or in the middle of the upper, right, lower, left side, of the pane - but not wrapped around the left and lower side. The Machins would then have been in the remaining four (corner or middle) positions.
Of course if any thought had been given to the content of the stamp book, the make-up of the second Machin pane would have had some »1st class« stamps in it. However the stamps have a total face value of 34p only, requiring 16p in additional postage (50p for letters 2nd class up to 100g) for any FDC bearing this pane solely!
Entry about these subjects in Norvic Philatelics Blog:
Anonymous 10 April 2013 at 12:17
Doesn't this prove that the Royal Mail has lost the plot and has no interest in Quality Control with respect to Printers, they do what they like. I hate to say this but in a professional establishment this wouldn't happen it's just RM's carefree attitude to quality, lets get the stamps out there and make some cash.
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 14½x14  M13L/MPIL   PVA  Cartor
   (NVI)Machin & Pictorial Country Definitives   
2 x 10p 2 x 5p 2 x 2p 2 x 1p 2 x 1st (60p)
central label
  orange fluor  
Security layer
orange fluor   The FA
150 Years
NVI Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x 1st (60p)  

England
St. George's Flag

Wales
Red Dragon
Bilingual denomination

Scotland
Saltire

Northern Ireland
Aerial View of Patchwork Fields
White border - no security layer White border - no security layer
no microprinted date in
figure "1" of denomination
 
Special Stamps
1 x 1st (60p) Label 1 x 1st (60p)
Jimmy Greaves
(* 1940),
Striker
(1959 - 1967),
England
John Charles
(* 1931, † 2004),
Centre back
(1950 - 1965),
Cymru, Wales
3 x 1st (60p)
Kevin Keegan, OBE
(* 1951),
Forward
(1972 - 1982),
England
Denis Law
(* 1940),
Centre forward
(1958 - 1974),
Scotland
Bobby Moore, OBE
(* 1941, † 1993),
Defender
(1962 - 1973),
England
3 x 1st (60p)
Gordon Banks, OBE
(* 1937),
Goalkeeper
(1963 - 1972),
England
George Best
(* 1946, † 2005),
Winger
(1964 - 1977),
Northern Ireland
John Barnes, MBE
(* 1963, Kingston, Jamaika),
Left winger
(1983 - 1995),
England
3 x 1st (60p)
Bryan Robson, OBE
(* 1957),
Midfielder
(1980 - 1991),
England
Dave Mackay
(* 1934, † 2015),
Left half, (later) sweeper
(1957 - 1965),
Scotland
Bobby Charlton, CBE
(* 1937),
Attacking midfielder, forward
(1958 - 1970),
England
SG# 3479 - 3489 // 9 May 2013
("all-over" phosphor, dc perf 14½x14, self-adhesive)
Football Heroes
150th anniversary of the Football Association
140th anniversary of the Scottish Football Association
The stamp book contains 25 definitive/special stamps (14/11) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 10.56, post office sales price, based on the number of players of a football team, £ 11.11.

Football Hereos
PSB related mixed Retail Booklets
Common attributes to all booklet stamps
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
Die-cut perf 14
Machin Definitives
Royal Mail red; security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M13L/MCIL;
Perf 14; 2 phos bands; U-slits type »2a«
Machin Technical Details
SG# PM37 // 09 May 2013
Special stamps
SG# 3475 - George Best, Northern Ireland
SG# 3476 - Bobby Moore, England
4 x SG# U3022 - Machin Definitives
SG# PM41 // 20 February 2014
Special stamps
SG# 3477 - John Charles, Cymru/Wales
SG# 3478 - Dave Mackay, Scotland
4 x SG# U3022 - Machin Definitives

        

DY8 19 Sep 2013 Merchant Navy
of the United Kingdom
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15[x]  M13L/MPIL  PVA  Enschedé
   Machin Definitives  
4 x 50p 4 x 5p  
central label
   
     
[x] incorrectly produced ellipses
towards top of vertical sides
Year code is M13
  Merchant Navy
emblem
 
[x] Royal Mail announcement about the Machin's perforation error:
"Enschedé made a late perforating equipment change - they have two different Machines. However, each feeds the sheets in different ways i.e. 180 degrees in opposition. They didn't consider the impact of the change on the product and didn't identify the error during subsequent checking operations. The only 'fortunate' part is that all production was affected in this way rather than a small volume."
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDC postmark 3 x 1st (60p)
Merchant Navy Association
Liverpool
19.09.2013
»Atlas«
East Indiaman, 1813
»Britannia«
Royal Mail Ship, 1840
»Cutty Sark«
Tea Clipper, 1870
FDI postmark 3 x £1.28
Clydebank
19.9.2013
»Clan Matheson«
Cargo Liner, 1919
Royal Mail Ship
»Queen Elizabeth«
Ocean Liner, 1940
»Lord Hinton«
Bulk Carrier, 1986
SG# 3519 - 3524 // 19 Sept 2013
(First issue)
Merchant Navy
Ship Paintings
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (60p)
Destroyer HMS Vanoc
escorting Atlantic Convoy
Merchant Ship passing the
Naval Control Base in the
Thames Estuary
Sailors clearing ice from the
Decks of HMS King George V
in Arctic Waters
Naval Convoy of twenty-four
Merchant Ships in the
North Sea
SG# 3525 - 3528 // 19 Sept 2013
(Second issue, 'all-over' phos, perf 14)
Merchant Navy
The Atlantic and Arctic Convoys
Second World War
Contemporary Photographs
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS3529.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 10.24, post office sales price £ 11.19.

        

DY9 20 Feb 2014 Classic Locomotives
of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M13L/MPIL  PVA  Enschedé
   Machin & Pictorial Country Definitives  
2 x 5p 2 x 2p    
central label
 
    Visualised security codes
(13 red circles P)
  British Railways' crest
NVI Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x 1st (60p)    

England
St. George's Flag

Wales
Red Dragon
Bilingual denomination

Scotland
Saltire

Northern Ireland
Aerial View of
Patchwork Fields
   
White border - no security layer    
Special Stamps printed in lithography
2 x 1st (60p) 2 x 60p
BR, class »Dean Goods«,
0-6-0, No. 2532
A Newbury bound British Railways local service »Dean Goods« Class locomotive at East Garton photographed in 1951. These sturdy Victorian goods locomotives saw a great deal of use in both world wars, but by the 1950s they had been relegated to light duties, such as hauling passenger trains on rural branch lines.
English
FDI postmark
Liverpool
1.2.2011
Peckett, class "R2", 0-4-0ST,
No. 1689, named »Thor«
Built in 1925 by the Bristol-based Peckett Company for the Tunnel Cement Company of Purfleet, Essex. Compact, powerful and rugged, industrial locomotives were the all-purpose workhorses of plants such as Tunnel Cement and many were used continuously for several decades. The featured »Thor« was scrapped in 1965 and replaced by a diesel locomotive.
First issue of both stamps in 2011 miniature sheet SG# MS3144
Classic Locomotives of England
More    info ...
2 x 1st (60p) 2 x 68p
LNER/BR, class »D34«, 4-4-0,
Nos. 62471, named »Glen Falloch«
and 62496, named »Glen Loy«
Running on the West Highland line, the »Glens« are pictured at Ardlui on 9 April 1959, rostered to work the 5.45am Glasgow-to-Mallaig (as far as Fort William) and the 2.56pm from Fort William. Designed by W.P. Reid for the North British Railway, the two locomotives were built in 1913 and 1920 respectively at Cowlairs Works in Glasgow.
Scottish
FDI postmark
Glasgow
8.3.2012
LNER/BR, class »D40«, 4-4-0,
No. 62276, named »Andrew Bain«
Photographed at Macduff in Aberdeenshire in July 1950, the locomotive was built for the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR). Completed in October 1920, it was designed by Pickersgill & Heywood and built in Glasgow by the North British Locomotive Company. From a total of twenty-one »D40« engines, only eight, including »Andrew Bain«, were officially named.
First issue of both stamps in 2012 miniature sheet SG# MS3283
Classic Locomotives of Scotland
More    info ...
2 x 1st (60p) 2 x 78p
UTA, class »W«, 2-6-0
No. 103, named »Thomas Somerset«
No. 103 pulls the Belfast Express emerging
from one of the tunnels between Downhill
and Castlerock, County Londonderry,
c. 1950.
Northern Irish
FDI Postmark
Belfast
18.6.2013
UTA, class »SG3«, 0-6-0, No. 35
Seven of these heavy goods locomotives, built for the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNRI) between 1920/21, were passed to the Ulster Transportation Authority (UTA) in 1958.
Northern Ireland has wider-gauge tracks than other parts of the UK:
5ft 3in [1600 mm] compared to standard 4ft 8½in [1435 mm].
This is true to all of Ireland, except the new, standard gauge of Dublin's »Luas« tram system opened in 2004.
First issue of both stamps in 2013 miniature sheet SG# MS3498
Classic Locomotives of Northern Ireland
More    info ...
2 x 1st (60p) 2 x 78p
LMS, 0-6-2, No. 7720
A »coal tank« built by Francis Webb in 1885
at Crewe Works for the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), this engine is pictured leaving »Britannia Bridge« with
a Bangor-to-Holyhead local train, c.1930.
Welsh
FDI Postmark
Porthmadog
20.2.2014
Hunslet, 0-4-0,
No. 589, named »Blanche«
»Blanche« rounds the curve off »The Cob«, passing »Pen Cob Halt«, Porthmadog, Gwynedd on the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway, 1964. The engine was originally constructed in 1893 for the Penrhyn Slate Quarry by Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds.
Both stamps are also issued in 2014 miniature sheet SG# MS3578
Agerbeirinnau Clasurol Cymru
Classic Locomotives of Wales
More    info ...
SG# 3570 - 3577 // 20 Feb 2014
Classic Locomotives of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
More    info ...
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (8/16) on five panes
with a total face value of £ 13.02, post office sales price £ 13.97.

Classic Locomotives of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
PSBs related mixed Retail Booklets
Common attributes to all booklet stamps
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
Die-cut perf 14
Machin Definitives
security pattern lettering in background, source code MCIL;
Perf 14; 2 phos bands; U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details
SG# PM31 // 23 August 2011 // England
Special stamps
2 x SG# 3215 - BR »Dean Goods« No.2532
Security Machin Definitives
SG# U3016 - gold; year code M11L
SG# PM34 // 27 September 2012 // Scotland
Special stamps
2 x SG# 3407 - BR Class »D34« Nos.62471 »Glen Falloch« and 62496 »Glen Loy«
Security Machin Definitives
SG# U3274 - diamond blue; no year code; source code DIAMCND
SG# PM38 // 18 June 2013 // Northern Ireland
Special stamps
2 x SG# 3497 - UTA Class »W« No.103 »Thomas Somerset«
Security Machin Definitives
SG# U2968 - Royal Mail red; year code M13L; U-slits type »2a«
SG# PM45 // 18 September 2014 // Cymru - Wales
Special stamps
2 x SG# 3634 - LMS No. 7720
Security Machin Definitives
SG# U3022 - Royal Mail red; year code M14L; U-slits type »2a«

        

DY10 15 Apr 2014 Buckingham Palace
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M14L/MPIL  PVA  Enschedé
   Machin Definitives  
2 x £1.00 4 x 20p 2 x 10p  
central label
 
   
security layer [year/source code] difficult to see   House Windsor  
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (62p) 1 x 1st (62p)
Buckingham House from the north-west, c. 1700
Oil on canvas attributed to Adriaen van Diest
(* 1655 at The Hague, † 1704 in London)
Buckingham House in St James's Park, 1714
Coloured engraving by an unknown
18th-century draughtsman
1 x 1st (62p) 1 x 1st (62p)
Buckingham House,
the east (entrance) front, 1819
Watercolour by William Westall
(* 1781, † 1850)
Buckingham Palace,
the east front from St James's Park, 1846
Watercolour by Joseph Nash
(* 1809, † 1878)
2 x 1st (62p) 2 x 1st (62p)
Buckingham Palace, 1862
Colour lithograph by Achille-Louis Martinet
(* 1806, † 1877)
Buckingham Palace, 2014
Watercolour and gouache by Chris Draper
SG# 3589b - 3594b // 15 Apr 2014
(First issue, 'all-over' phos, perf 14x13½)
Buckingham Palace
Contemporary Paintings
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (62p)
The Throne Room
The Grand Staircase
The Blue Drawing Room
The Green Drawing Room
SG# 3597 - 3600 // 15 Apr 2014
(Second issue, 'all-over' phos, perf 14½x14)
Buckingham Palace
Interior Views
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS3601.
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 10.44, post office sales price £ 11.39.

Buckingham Palace
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM42 // 15 April 2014 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 3595 - The Grand Staircase
SG# 3596 - The Throne Room
Security Machin Definitives
SG# U3022 - vermillion; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M14L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2a«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY11 28 July 2014 The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1914
( First volume in a series of 5 )
The First World War (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918), in the
UK United Kingdom and
Northern Ireland
also named as the Great War, was an event without precedent in history and touched every household in Britain, either directly (with family members killed, injured or lost in action) or through the immense social changes it triggered. The centenary of this conflict is being marked with a series of thirty stamps to be released over the next five years. Each year of the war will be commemorated by a set of six stamps, exploring six visual and thematic strands: poppy, poetry, portraits, war art, memorials and artefacts.
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M14L/MPIL  PVA  Enschedé
   Machin & Pictorial Country Definitives  
1 x £1.00 2 x 20p 2 x 10p
Label(s)
   

King George V
   
NVI Pictorial Country Definitives
4 x 1st (62p)
central label
 

England
Sitting Lion
holding the shield
of St. George

Wales
Dragon
[bilingual AF/ST]

Scotland
Rampant Lion

Northern Ireland
Aerial View of
Patchwork Fields

Grave slab
 
No security layer    
Special Stamps printed in lithography
FDC Postmark 3 x 1st (62p)
Westminster Abbey
London SW1
28.7.2014
The Poppy flower became
symbolic of the Great War,
painting by Fiona Strickland
 
"For the Fallen"
war poem written by
Robert Lawrence Binyon
Pte William Cecil Tickle
teenage hero, † aged 17 Somme battlefield, France
Poppy
The poppy flower quickly became symbolic of the war. In this specially commissioned painting, Scottish artist Fiona Strickland (* 1956 in Edinburgh) captures the fine texture and translucency of a poppy's petals. Read more ...
War Poetry
In 1914, the English poet, dramatist and art scholar Robert Laurence Binyon (* 1869 † 1943), was a senior curator at the British Museum and an authority on East Asian art. On 21 September 1914, The Times printed his seven-stanza poem "For the Fallen". The poem is very well known today, being used across the world in the "Ode of Remembrance". Read more ...
Portrait
Private William Cecil Tickle (*1898, † 1916) enlisted during the height of the recruiting rush on 7 September 1914. Despite being underage, he managed to join the 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment. He was killed in action on 3 July 1916 by Machine-gun fire during the Battle of the Somme, France. Read more ...
3 x £1.47 FDI Postmark
"A Star Shell",
war art painted by
Christopher R. W. Nevinson
 
The "Response" or
"Renwick" war memorial
designed by Welsh sculptor
Sir William Goscombe John
Princess Mary's
»Christmas Gift Fund« box
launched on 15 Oct 1914
New Castle upon Tyne
28.7.2014
War Art
The English figure and landscape painter Christopher R. W. Nevinson (* 1889, † 1946) was one of the most famous war artists of World War I. He became member of Friends' Ambulance Unit (FAU) and went to France and Flanders, later joining the Royal Army Medical Corps. In his painting »A Star Shell« (1916), he depicts the weird, unearthly light of an illuminating artillery flare. The shell's harsh glow reveals a strange landscape of broken ground and barbed wire and captures the disorienting alien nature of the battlefield. One of Nevinson's other official works, »Paths of Glory« (1917), showing two dead British soldiers lying amid mud and barbed wire, was controversially censored. Read more ...
Memorial
The »Response«, otherwise known as the »Renwick« Memorial, was inaugurated in Newcastle in July 1923. A spectacular sculpture by William Goscombe John (* 1860, † 1952) depicts the volunteers of the Northumberland Fusiliers marching to the station on their way to France. The memorial was restored and rededicated in 2007. Read more ...
Artefact
On 15 October 1914, Princess Mary (* 1897, † 1965), eldest daughter of King George V [*] (* 1865, r. 1910, † 1936), launched her Christmas Gift Fund. In a public letter, she wrote:
"I want you now to help me send a Christmas present from the whole nation
to every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front"
.
All gifts were distributed to British service personnel enclosed in an embossed brass box. Read more ...
[*] Due to the war against Germany and because of anti-German sentiment by the British people, George V issued a royal proclamation on 17 July 1917, that changed the name of the British royal house from the German-sounding House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor.
SG# 3626a - 3631a // 28 July 2014
The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1914
The imagery on the stamp series features historic memorials and artefacts that have become synonymous with the conflict, portraits of some of the participants, paintings showing some now famous and moving scenes, poems composed during the war and newly-commissioned artworks of poppy flowers.
The stamp book contains 15 definitive/special stamps (9/6) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 10.35, post office sales price £ 11.30.

                             

Celebrating 50 Years of Special Stamps
  
Churchill Commemoration, 1965
The first Special Stamps issued under the Postmaster General,
Tony Benn's administration (1964 - 1966)

        

DY12 19 Feb 2015 Inventive Britain
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M14L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives  
2 x 97p 1 x 81p 3 x 2p 2 x 1p  
central label
 
  error of colour
»sea green«
instead of
»holly green«
  orange fluor   Tommy Flowers
Year code is M14L    
Special Stamps printed in lithography
FDI postmark 1 x 1st (62p) 2 x 1st (62p) 2 x 1st (62p)
Royal Mail
Tallents House
Edinburgh
19.2.2015
»Station X«,
Bletchley Park,
Buckinghamshire,
secret location for
»GC & CS« and »MI6«
intelligence activities
during World War II
Bombe Code Breaking
Machine at Bletchley Park
Alan Turing, OBE, FRS
(* 1912, † 1954 suicide),
mathematician and WW II
»Enigma« code breaker
Colossus, 1943
world's first electronic
digital computer
Tommy Flowers, MBE
(* 1905, † 1998),
electrical engineer of GPO's
telecommunications branch
  Read more about the code-breakers at Bletchley Park
FDI postmark 1 x £1.28 1 x £1.47 1 x 1st (62p)
Harlow
19.2.2015
Stainless Steel, 1913
non-corrosive, versatile,
100% recyclable alloy
Harry Brearley
(* 1871, † 1948),
English metallurgist,
credited in the anglophone
world with the invention of
»rustless steel«
i-Limb, 2007
bionic hand with
individually powered digits
David James Gow, CBE
(* 1957, Scotland),
mechanical engineer
World Wide Web, 1989
revolutionary global-
communications system
Sir Timothy Berners-Lee,
OM, KBE, FRS, FREng, FRSA, DFBCS
,
(* 8 June 1955, London),
physicist,
computer scientist,
software engineer
2 x 81p 1 x £1.28 1 x £1.47
Catseyes 1934
light-reflecting
road-safety innovation
Percy Shaw, OBE
(* 1890, † 1976),
English inventor
and businessman
Fibre Optics 1966
pioneering
rapid-data-transfer
technology
Sir Charles Kuen Kao,
GBM, KBE, FRS, FREng
,
(* 4 Nov 1933, Shanghai),
physicist, electrical engineer
George Hockham
(* 1938, † 2013),
electronic engineer
Carbon Fibre 1964
high-strength, lightweight
composite material
William Watt
(* 1912, † 1985),
Royal Aircraft
Establishment (RAE),
Farnborough, Hampshire
DNA Sequencing 1970s
revolution in understanding
the genome
Dr. Frederick Sanger,
OM, CH, CBE, FRS, FAA
,
(* 1918, † 2013),
biochemist, twice winner of
Nobel Prize for Chemistry
in 1958 and 1980
SG# 3281 // 23 Feb 2012 // ex stampset »Britons of Distinction«
SG# 3305 // 10 Apr 2012 // ex stampset »UK A-Z«, 2nd issue
SG# 3679 - 3686 // 19 Feb 2015 // stampset »Inventive Britain«
British inventions in the fields of
engineering, materials, technology and medical science
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 13.65, post office sales price £ 14.60.

        

DY13 14 May 2015 The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1915
( Volume 2 in a series of 5 )
The First World War (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918), in the
UK United Kingdom and
Northern Ireland
also named as the Great War, was an event without precedent in history and touched every household in Britain, either directly (with family members killed, injured or lost in action) or through the immense social changes it triggered. The centenary of this conflict is being marked with a series of thirty stamps to be released over the next five years. Each year of the war will be commemorated by a set of six stamps, exploring six visual and thematic strands: poppy, poetry, portraits, war art, memorials and artefacts.
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M15L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives   NVI Special Definitive
2 x £1.33 2 x 5p 2 x 1p   2 x 1st (63p)
central label
 
Visualised security layer   Poppies on
barbed wire stems
Poem by
Canadian Major
John McCrae
Special stamps printed in lithography
FDI postmark 4 x 1st (63p) FDI postmark
Royal Mail
Tallents House
Edinburgh
14.5.2015
Artillery Observer
Royal Field Artillery, 1917
Winchester Coat of arms of Winchester Please Click

14.5.2015
3 x 1st (63p)
Poppies
Symbol of Remembrance
Abstract art work executed
by Howard Eliot Hodgkin
 
Extract from the poem
"All the Hills and Vales Along",
written by Charles Hamilton Sorley
Rifleman Kulbir Thapa
First Nepalese Gurkha to be
awarded the
Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
Ribbon bar
Please click
Poppy
In May 1915, Canadian military doctor LTC John McCrae (* 1872, † 1918) wrote a short poem entitled "In Flanders Fields", which drew upon the image of delicate poppies and spoke with the voice of fallen soldiers, calling on their comrades to continue the struggle. The verses helped to turn the flower into a symbol of remembrance throughout the English-speaking world.
The stamp image shows an abstract work by the English painter and printmaker Howard Hodgkin (* 1932, † 2017) which was inspired by poppies from the Normandy in France and was executed as a carborundum print. Hodgkin won the Turner Prize in 1985 and was knighted in 1992.
Poetry
In his four-stanza work "All the Hills and Vales Along" the Scottish poet Charles Hamilton Sorley (* 1895, † 1915) depicts troops singing as they advance towards the front line. As the poem marches on, the pastoral imagery gives way to an ever-bleaker expectation to death. On 13 October 1915, Sorley (aged 20) was serving as a captain in the Suffolk Regiment when he was killed by a sniper in the Battle of Loos, Department Pas-de-Calais, France. The poem was found in his kitbag and published posthumously. Sorley was later commemorated on a stone in Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey, dedicated to sixteen leading First World War poets.
Portrait
Rifleman Kulbir Thapa (* 1888, Palpa, Nepal, † 1956) was serving in the
British Indian Army British Indian Army Please click
, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Queen
Alexandra's Alexandra of Denmark
(* 1844, † 1925)
Empress consort of India
Please click
Own Gurkha Rifles, when his unit attacked
German German Empire
(1871 - 1919)
lines on Septemder 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos, France. Though wounded and separated from his battalion , he was able to reach the German front line. Finding an injured British soldier nearby, Kulbir stayed with him all day and night, before carrying him to safety the next morning. Despite his injures, he then returned to the German trenches and rescued two fellow Gurkhas. For this selfless acts of heroism, Kulbir became the first Napalese Gurkha to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
3 x £1.52
"The Kensingtons at Laventie"
war art painting
by Eric Henri Kennington
 
Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey
photography by Ernest Brooks
London Irish Rifles'
football from the
Battle of Loos, France
Art
Painter, sculptor and official war artist Eric Henri Kennington (* 1888, † 1960) joined the London Regiment, 13th (Kensington) Battalion, in 1914, but was wounded and discharged in 1915. During his recovery, he worked on The Kensingtons at Laventine. Painted in reverse by applying oil paint to a sheet of glass, this extraordinary picture depicts Kennington (left background in a black balaclava) and several identifiable comrades resting in a ruined village after an exhausting spell in the trenches during the winter of 1914-1915. A complex composition, the painting honours the fortitude and solidarity of ordinary soldiers.
Memorial
In this image British war photographer Ernest Brooks (* 1876, † 1957) captures a British soldier at a comrade's grave at
Cape Helles Osman Empire
(ca. 1299 - 1922)
, Turkey in an evocative sunset silhouette. Brooks was particulary keen on using silhouettes, as by rendering soldiers less recognisable, their outlines came to symbolise unknown soldiers.
Cape Helles, on the southern tip of the Turkish Gallipoli peninsula, had witnessed bloody fighting on 25 April 1915, as the British 29th Infantry Division attempted to storm the beach in the face of determined Turkish restistance. 6,500 British and French soldiers lost their lives and were wounded by the total incapability of the commander of the operation Lt. Gen. Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston (* 1864, † 1940), who has been seen as a classic example of a »donkey« general of the British infantry.
The Helles Memorial, designed by the Scottish Edwardian architect John James Burnet (* 1857, † 1938) and unveiled in 1924, commemorates 20,878 Commonwealth servicemen who died in the Gallipoli campaign and have no known grave.
Artefact
On 25 September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos, France, this football was booted out of British trenches by Rifleman Frank Edwards (* 1893, † 1964). Kicked across no man's land by Edward's comrades in 1st Batallion, London Irish Rifles, it became entangled in German barbed wire as British soldiers overran the enemy position. Though disapproved by his officers, Edward's action may well have offered a welcome distraction to men faced with a dangerous advance through heavy fire. Preserved in the Regimental Museum of the London Irish Rifles since the war, the football underwent special conservation in 2011.
SG# 2776, 3711 - 3716 // 14 May 2015
The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1915
The imagery on the stamp series features historic memorials and artefacts that have become synonymous with the conflict, portraits of some of the participants, paintings showing some now famous and moving scenes, poems composed during the war and newly-commissioned artworks of poppy flowers.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 13.01, post office sales price £ 13.96.

        

DY14 18 June 2015 The Battle of Waterloo
Bicentenary
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M15L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives  
2 x £1.00 2 x 50p 2 x 10p 2 x 5p  
central label
 
          The cast-iron lion on top of the Lion's Mound at the battle's site
Special stamps (1) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (63p) 2 x £1.33
15th Infantry Regiment,
IV Corps,
Prussian Army
Light Infantry,
King's German Legion,
Anglo-Allied Army
92nd Gordon Highlanders,
Anglo-Allied Army
Grenadiers,
Imperial Guard,
French Army
SG# 3730 - 3733 // 18 June 2015 // Second issue
The Battle of Waterloo
Bicentenary
George Jones's (* 1786, † 1869)
oil studies of military accoutrements, 1815
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS3734.
Special stamps (2) printed in lithography
1 x 1st (63p) 1 x £1.00
The Scots Greys during the charge
of the Union Brigade
The French cavalry's (Cuirassiers) assault
on Allied defensive squares
1 x £1.00 1 x £1.52
The defence of La Haye Sainte farm
by the King's German Legion
The capture of Plancenoit village
by the Prussian Army
1 x 1st (63p) 1 x £1.52
The defence of Hougoumont farm
The French Imperial Guard's final assault
SG# 3724 - 3729 // 18 June 2015 // First issue
The Battle of Waterloo
Bicentenary
Various battle scenes,
oil on canvas paintings (1817)
by George Jones (* 1786, † 1869),
British painter of military subjects
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 13.52, post office sales price £ 14.47.

        

DY15 17 Dec 2015 Star Wars™
The Making of the British Story
( Volume 1 of 3 )
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor  el perf 15  M15L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives   NVI Special Definitive
2 x 1st (63p) 2 x 2nd (54p)   4 x 1st (63p)  
central label
   
2-band phosphor   »Union Jack«   Red Phoenix
of the Alliance
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
Special Postmarks 12 x 1st (63p)
Star Wars
Darth Vader
Elstree, Borehamwood

Darth Vader
   

Obi-Wan Kenobi
 

Boba Fett
 

Finn (FN-2187)
 

Kylo Ren
 

Rey (*)
 
Star Wars
Yoda
Pinewood Road, Iver

Han Solo (*)
     

Princess Leia (*)
 

Luke Skywalker
 

The Emperor
 

Yoda (*)
 

Stormtrooper
 
SG# 3758-3769 // 20 October 2015 // First Issue
Star Wars™ Characters
(*) Stamp images also issued in PSB Star Wars (Volume 2) SG# dy23 in 2017
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
6 x 1st (63p)
X-Wing Starfighter
 
AT-AT Walkers TIE Fighters
X-Wing Starfighters
 
TIE Fighters Millennium Falcon
SG# 3780-3785 // 17 December 2015 // Second Issue
Star Wars™ Vehicles
The booklet stamps were also issued as corresponding Miniature Sheet.
The stamp book contains 29 definitive/special stamps (8/21) on five panes
with a total face value of £ 16.20, post office sales price £ 16.99.

        

DY16 18 Feb 2016 500 Years of Royal Mail
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   NVI Special Definitives
2 x 1st (63p) 3 x 1st (63p) 3 x 1st (63p)
central label
One Penny black
(May 1840)
One Penny red
(Feb 1841)
Two Pence blue
(May 1840)
The label shows the old original »master die«,
used to produce a »roller die« for the
»Penny Black« stamps in 1840
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDC Special Postmark 1 x 1st (63p) 1 x £1.52 1 x 1st (63p)
Mail Coach
London
17 February 2016
Sir Brian Tuke
(* ca. 1487, † 1545)
Master of the Post
appointed in 1517
River Post
Delivery by rowing boat
Penfold Pillar Box, 1866,
named after its designer
John Wornham Penfold
(* 1828, † 1909)
FDI Special Postmark 1 x 1st (63p) 2 x £1.52
Penfold Pillar Box
London, WC1X
17.02.16
Mail by Sea
Packet ship, 1820
Mail coach, 1790s
Medway Mail Centre at
Strood, Rochester, Kent,
operational Sep 2012
SG# 3795 - 3800 // 18 February 2016 // First issue
Celebrating 500 Years of Royal Mail
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (63p) 2 x £1.33
Quickest Way by Airmail
Ask at your nearest Post office
by Edward Kauffer, 1935
Address Your Letters Plainly
by Hans Schleger (Zéró), 1942
Stamps in Books Save Time
by Harry Stevens, 1960
Pack Your Parcels Carefully
by Hans Unger, 1950
SG# 3802 - 3805 // 18 February 2016 // Second issue
500 Years of Royal Mail
Classic GPO Posters
The booklet stamps were also issued as corresponding Miniature Sheet.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 15.41, post office sales price £ 16.36.

        

DY17 21 April 2016 HM The Queen's 90th Birthday
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M16L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
   NVI Machin & Pictorial Country Definitives 
2 x 1st (64p) 2 x 1st (64p)  
central label
 
  ;  
 
Security pattern lettering in background Security pattern lettering in background
LONG TO REIGN OVER US in wavy lines
Yearcode: O16R
red marking

LONG TO REIGN OVER US in wavy lines
Year code: O(VE)R O16R
Source code: REIG(N) REIGP
  ... birthday  
4 x 1st (64p)    

England
Sitting Lion
holding the shield
of St. George

Wales
Dragon
[bilingual AF/ST]

Scotland
Rampant Lion

Northern Ireland
Aerial View of
Patchwork Fields
   
No security layer    
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
Special Postmark 2 x £1.52 Special Postmark
HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Windsor
21.04.2016
HM The Queen, 1957
with Her husband
Prince Philip,
The Duke of Edinburgh
HM The Queen
visits New Zealand, 1977
Our Gracious Queen
London, SW1P
21.04.2016
3 x 1st (64p) 1 x £1.52
HM The Queen
attends the State Opening of Parliament, 2012
HM The Queen
with Princess Anne
and Prince Charles, 1952
HM The Queen, c.1930
with her father
The Duke of York,
later King George VI
(* 1895, r. 1936, † 1952)
HM The Queen
with Nelson Mandela,
First President
of South Africa,
on state visit in the UK, 1996
SG# 3826 - 3831 // 21 April 2016 // First issue
Celebration of HM The Queen's 90th Birthday
Three stamps focusing on Her Majesty's family life,
and three honouring The Queen's official role
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (64p)
HRH Charles
Prince of Wales
* 14 November 1948
#1 heir apparent
 
HM Queen Elizabeth II.
* 21 April 1926,
reign 1952 - present
HRH George
Prince of Cambridge
* 22 July 2013
#3 heir apparent
HRH William
Duke of Cambridge
* 21 June 1982
#2 heir apparent
SG# MS3832 // 21 April 2016 // Second issue
HM The Queen's 90th Birthday
HM The Queen and the heir apparent
The booklet stamps were also issued as correspondig Miniature Sheet (SG# MS3832 - see below).
The miniature sheet features a family portrait of four generations of the
House of Windsor House of Windsor
Coat of arms
Please click...

The photograph was taken in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 14.16, post office sales price £ 15.11.

HM The Queen's 90th Birthday
PSB related mixed Retail Booklets
SG# PM50 // 12 April 2016 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 3833 - HRH Charles, Prince of Wales
SG# 3834 - HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »1u«
SG# U3746 - amethyst purple; P 14; 2 phos bands;
Security pattern lettering in background Security pattern lettering in background
LONG TO REIGN OVER US in wavy lines
Yearcode: O16R
red marking
LONG TO REIGN OVER US in wavy lines,
year code: O(VE)R O16R - source code: REIG(N) REIGC;
U-slits type »2«
SG# PM51 // 12 April 2016 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 3835 - HRH Georges, Prince of Cambridge
SG# 3836 - HRH William, Duke of Cambridge
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »1u«
SG# U3746 - amethyst purple; P 14; 2 phos bands;
Security pattern lettering in background, year/source code O16R/REIGC;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY18 21 June 2016 The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1916
( Volume 3 in a series of 5 )
The First World War (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918), in the
UK United Kingdom and
Northern Ireland
also named as the Great War, was an event without precedent in history and touched every household in Britain, either directly (with family members killed, injured or lost in action) or through the immense social changes it triggered. The centenary of this conflict is being marked with a series of thirty stamps to be released over the next five years. Each year of the war will be commemorated by a set of six stamps, exploring six visual and thematic strands: poppy, poetry, portraits, war art, memorials and artefacts.
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   NVI Pictorial Country & Special Definitives
4 x 1st (64p) 4 x 1st (64p)
central label
England
St. George's Flag
Wales
Dragon Flag
Scotland
St. Andrew's Flag
Saltire
Northern Ireland
Patchwork Fields
Flanders poppies Fieldpost
Postmark
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
Special postmark 3 x 1st (64p)
Lincoln Coat of arms of Lincoln Please Click

21.6.2016
Battlefield Poppy
by photographer
Giles Revell
 
Extract from the poem
"To My Brother"
by Vera Brittain
Studio portrait of
Munitions Worker
Charlotte 'Lottie' Meade
Poppy
The symbol of remembrance is the Battlefield Poppy. Depicting a single poppy against a war torn featureless landscape, the image has an ethereal quality, suggesting the alienation of life from a world of violence and suffering. To create this delicate and atmospheric image, photographer Giles Revell, suspended real poppies in a water tank and added coloured dyes to create swirling mist-like patterns. The result, after much painstaking experimentation, is a painterly effect that captures the solitary poppy's fragility and vulnerability.
Poetry
The written word is depicted with a line from the poem "To My Brother" by Vera Brittain (* 1893 in Staffordshire, † 1970 in London), an English nurse, writer, feminist, and pacifist. At the outbreak of the war, her younger brother Edward applied for a commission, and in 1915 Vera trained as a Voluntary Aid Detachment
(VAD) First World War recruitment poster for
Voluntary Aid Detachments
nurse. In June 1918, she wrote "To My Brother", a poem commemorating Edward's bravery on the Battle of the Somme in France two years previously, in which she addressed her brother with the following words: "May you endure to lead the last advance". Four days later, Edward was killed. Vera was devastated by his death. After she died in 1970, her ashes were scattered on his grave, according to her wishes. By then, her writings had made her a major figure in the literary history of the war.
Portrait
The role of women and non-combatants in the war is illustrated by a studio portrait of Charlotte "Lottie" Meade (* 1889, † 1916). Reflecting her work as a munitions worker, Meade is posing in her overalls, her hair covered by a headscarf. On her overalls, she wears a small triangular brooch, an »On War Service« badge that marks her as playing her part in the war effort. During the war, millions of women entered Britain's workforce, while many others left work such as textile manufacturing and domestic service in favour of higher-paying war work. Employment in the munitions industry could be hazardous. Meade herself would die of TNT poisoning on 11 October 1916, leaving a husband and four young children aged 7, 5, 3, and one years.
3 x £1.52 FDI postmark
"Travoys arriving
with wounded at a
dressing-station"

at
Smol, Macedonia Then flag of the
Greeek Kingdom
(1832 - 1924)

by British painter
Sir Stanley Spencer
 
Photography of the
Thiepval Memorial,
the village was a key strategic point on the Somme battlefield
Captain AC Green's
Commemorative Medal
Battle of Jutland
Lyness, Stromness
21.6.2016
corresponding postmark
to stamp at left
War Art
British painter Stanley Spencer, CBE RA (* 1891, † 1959) was inspired by an incident he witnessed in September 1916 which in turn became this piece of artwork. During the time he was serving with a field ambulance unit in Macedonia, a stream of wounded soldiers was brought to Spencer's dressing station, which was housed in a
Greek church Greek Orthodox Cross
. As a Christian, he saw this scene in religious terms; the suffering of the wounded reminded him of Christ's crucifixion, while the life-saving work of the surgeons made him think of the Resurrection.
Memorial
The memorial stamp for 2016 marks the Battle of the Somme in France. The battle, which commenced on 1 July 1916, is remembered as an offensive that has gone down in history as symbolic of the sacrifice of the war. Almost 20,000 soldiers were killed on the first day - the bloodiest day in the history of the British army. The village of Thiepval was a key strategic point on the Somme battlefield. Fought over many times, it was finally captured by British troops in late September 1916. Thiepval was later selected as the site of the Thiepval Memorial, designed by English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (* 1869, † 1944) and built in red brick and limestone between 1928 and 1932. The arches symbolise the unity of Britain and France. The memorial's inner faces bear the names of 72,253 British and South African troops who died on the Somme and who have no known grave. Rising up to 160 feet (48m), the memorial now stands over a peaceful agricultural landscape, dotted with British and imperial cemeteries and memorials. Sited at the foot of the memorial is a small cemetery that contains equal numbers of
Commonwealth British
Commonwealth
and
French France
graves.
Artefact
The image of the artefact marks the centenary of the Battle of Jutland (Skagerrakschlacht in German) - a major naval battle of World War I, fought in the North Sea west of
Denmark Flag of Denmark
on 31 May and 1 June 1916. After Jutland, unofficial
medals Battle of Jutland's
unofficial medal
were struck to commemorate the battle. Designed by Prince Louis of Battenberg (* 1854, † 1921), a former First Sea Lord, these medals were made by Spink and Son of London and sold in gold, silver, bronze and white metal versions to raise money for naval orphanages. The design features a trident, a symbol of naval power. Crossed flagstaffs bear a
Union Jack Union Jack Please click ...
and the
Royal Navy's White Ensign Royal Navy's
White Ensign
Please click ...
, and a shield carries the date of the battle: 31 May 1916. This particular example belonged to Captain A. C. Green of the Royal Marines.
SG# 3838 - 3843 // 21 June 2016 // First issue
The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1916
The imagery on the stamp series features historic memorials and artefacts that have become synonymous with the conflict, portraits of some of the participants, paintings showing some now famous and moving scenes, poems composed during the war and newly-commissioned artworks of poppy flowers.
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (64p)
The Post Office Rifles
 
Territorial Force
1908 - 1921
Writing a Letter from
the Western Front
2 x £1.33
Delivering the mail
on the Home Front
Home Depot at
Regent's Park in London
The Post Office Rifles was first formed in 1868 as a volunteer rifle corps. By the outbreak of the First World War, the regiment was organised as 8th Battalion, London Regiment. Two more battalions were raised during the war, and 12,000 men served in them; 1,800 of them were killed and 4,500 wounded. The Rifles took part in many battles, including Loos in France, the Somme in France, Passchendaele in Belgium, and Amiens in France. Its members received 145 gallantry awards. This included four
Victoria Crosses
Victoria Cross
Ribbon bar
Please   click
, which were awarded to Sergeant Alfred Joseph Knight (* 1888, † 1960) , GPO Staff Sergeant Albert Gill (* 1879, † 1916), Major Henry Kelly (* 1887, † 1960), and Sergeant John Hogan (* 1884, † 1943).
With only rare opportunities for home leave, letters were an essential link between servicemen and their loved ones at home. Higher standards of literacy, compared to previous generations, meant that most soldiers could read and write. Often written in pencil, on whatever paper could be found, letters gave soldiers an opportunity to imagine themselves in conversation with loved ones back home. Around two billion letters went to and from servicemen during the war. A century later, those letters surviving in archives, libraries and private collections provide fascinating insights into individuals' experiences of the war.
Whether delivering call-up letters that conscripted men into military service, carrying vital correspondence that organised war production or distributing ration books, the postal service was an essential part of Britain's war effort. During the war, the Post Office released 75,000 men for military service and took on thousands of temporary staff, many of them women, in their place. The war took its toll. Many areas saw reduced deliveries, and the Government's need to raise revenue meant the end of the famous Penny Post rate in June 1918.
A reliable postal service was vital to keeping up the morale of Britain's soldiers and sailors. In December 1914, to handle the volume of military mail, the General Post Office built a vast sorting office in Regent's Park, London. Covering five acres (2ha) and employing 2,500 staff, most of them female, the Home Depot received and dispatched staggering quantities of material. During 1917, 19,000 mail bags were crossing the English Channel every day, with half a million making the journey in the run-up to Christmas. At its peak, the Home Depot was handling up to 12 million letters and a million parcels every week.
SG# 3844 - 3847 // 21 June 2016 // Second issue
The Post Office at War, 1914 - 1918
Contemporary photos
The booklet stamps were also issued as corresponding Miniature Sheet.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 15.45, post office sales price £ 16.49.

        

DY19 28 July 2016 Beatrix Potter
( Second issue in a series of two )
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M16L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
   Machin Definitives  
3 x £1.05 2 x 10p 3 x 5p  
central label
 
   
grey-olive light dull orange red-brown   Beatrix Potter  
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
Special Postmark 2 x 1st (64p) 2 x £1.33 2 x £1.52
Watering can & carrots
London SW5
28. 7. 2016
The Tale of First edition, October 1902 Please click

Peter Rabbit
  
The Tale of First edition, August 1903 Please click

Squirrel Nutkin
The Tale of First edition, September 1904 Please click

Benjamin Bunny
Jemima Puddle-Duck
London SW5
28.07.16
The Tale of First edition, October 1905 Please click

Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
The Tale of First edition, July 1908 Please click

Jemima Puddle-Duck
The Tale of First edition, September 1907 Please click

Tom Kitten
SG# 3856 - 3861 // 28 July 2016 // First issue
150th Birthday of Beatrix Potter
Characters of her tales
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (64p) 2 x £1.33
a
b
(a) Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their name were Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, and cotton-tail.
(a) When Mrs. Rabbit leaves for the baker's she dresses Peter in his new jacket.
(b) Peter runs straight to Mr. McGregor's garden and squeezes under the gate (c).
(d) A terrifying »cat-and-mouse« game ensues, during which Peter loses both his shoes and his new jacket.
c
d
SG# 3864 - 3867 // 28 July 2016 // Second issue
150th Birthday of Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The booklet stamps were also issued as corresponding Miniature Sheet.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 14.42, post office sales price £ 15.37.

Beatrix Potter
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM52 // 28 July 2016 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 3862 - (The tale of) Peter Rabbit
SG# 3863 - (The tale of) Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
against a blue dotted cream-coloured background
Security Machin Definitives
on security
backing paper Security backing paper
in background
type »1u«
SG# U3746 - amethyst purple; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security
pattern lettering Security text pattern reads
LONG TO REIGN OVER US
in background, year/source code O16R/[REI]GC;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY20 15 Feb 2017 Windsor Castle
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M16L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
1 x £1.05 2 x10p 2 x 2p 3 x 1st (64p)  
central label
 
grey-olive dull orange deep green Royal Mail red   Royal armchair
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
3 x 1st (64p)
The Round Tower
Norman Gate
The stamp bears the »EUROPA«
emblem (lower right corner)
Long Walk
Brief descriptions of the castle's exterior views featured on stamps above
The Round Tower
This stone keep stop the motte was begun by Henry I (* 1068, r. 1100, † 1135) and rebuilt by Henry II (* 1033, r. 1154, † 1189). The upper part was added during the reign of George IV (* 1762, r. 1820, † 1830).
The Round Tower now house the Royal Archives and photographs from the Royal Collection.
Norman Gate
Despite its name, this structure with two circular towers flanking an arched gateway was in fact created in 1357 by Edward III (* 1312, r. 1327, † 1377), as the main entrance from the Lower Ward to his new royal palace.
Long Walk
Laid out by Charles II (* 1630, r. 1660, † 1685) in 1685, the Long Walk leads from the Castle to the Great Park and covers a distance of 3 miles (4.8km). Originally composed of Atinian elms, in 1945 it was replanted with chestnuts and planes.
3 x £1.52
The Queen's Ballroom
The Waterloo Chamber
St. George's Hall
Brief descriptions of the castle's interior rooms featured on stamps above
The Queen's Ballroom
This room was originally built as a dancing chamber for Catherine of Braganza (*1638, † 1705), queen consort of England and wife of Charles II (* 1630, r. 1660, † 1685). The walls are hung with magnificent portraits by leading Flemish court painter Sir Anthony van dyck (* 1599, † 1641). The room was extensively remodelled by William IV (* 1630, r. 1660, † 1685) but retains elements of Charles II's decoration. The glass chandeliers are among the finest of their kind, commissioned by George III (* 1738, r. 1760, † 1820).
The Waterloo Chamber
Occupying the site of Edward III's (* 1312, r. 1327, † 1377) Horn Court, the room was roofed over by the English architect and garden designer Jeffry Wyatville (* 1766, † 1840) as a setting for the leading English portrait painter Sir Thomas Lawrence's (* 1769, † 1830) portraits of the allied kings and commanders who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte (* 1769, † 1830) in the Battle of Waterloo (Belgium) on 18 June 1815. The room was remodelled from a Charles II (* 1630, r. 1660, † 1685) room, and contains fine wood carving from that period. George IV (* 1762, r. 1820, † 1830), when he was Prince Regent, conceived the room to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon and used it for an annual banquet on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. The room is now used for the Queen's lunch for the Knights of the Garter founded by Edward III in 1348.
St. George's Hall
Resplendent with Knights of the Garter heraldry, it occupies the site of Edward III's (* 1312, r. 1327, † 1377) private chapel and great hall. The walls are as redesigned by architect Jeffry Wyatville (* 1766, † 1840) in 1830. The ceiling was fully rebuilt after the 1992 fire. The hall used for major state banquets for up to 160 people, was painstakingly restored following the 1992 fire. Many of the furnishings from the room were in storage as it was being rewired at the time.
SG# 3920 - 3935 // 15 February 2017 // First issue
Windsor Castle
Exterior views and interior rooms of the castle
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x £1.33 2 x 1st (64p)
Quire
Garter banners
Quire
St. George's Cross roof boss
Nave
Sir Reginald Bray roof boss
Nave
Fan-vaulted roof
St. Georges Chapel
The chapel is located in the grounds of Windsor Castle . The architecture is renowned as among the finest examples of Gothic in the UK, the medieval style of English architecture. The chapel is the spiritual home of the
Order of the Garter Most Noble Order of the Garter
founded in 1348 by Edward III
A cross of St. George,
circumscribed by the Garter
Inscription in Middle French
translated to English:
"Shame on him
who thinks evil of it
"
Please    click
, Britain's senior Order of Chivalry founded by Edward III (* 1312, r. 1327, † 1377) in 1348. Each member of the order is assigned a stall in the choir and above this their heraldic emblem is displayed.
SG# 3928 - 3931 // 15 February 2017 // Second Issue
Windsor Castle
St. George's Chapel
The booklet stamps were also issued as corresponding Miniature Sheet.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 13.63, post office sales price £ 14.58.

Windsor Castle
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM55 // 15 February 2017 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps - St. George's Chapel
Background: Historical photo of the front of the chapel
SG# 3926 - Nave: Sir Reginald Bray roof boss
SG# 3927 - Nave: Fan-vaulted roof
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »1u«
SG# U3027 - Royal Mail red; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M17L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY21 05 June 2017 The Machin Definitives 50th Anniversary
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  gravure  OFNP  violet fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  PVA  Walsall
   (NVI) Machin Definitives    
1 x 1p 1 x 2p 1 x 5p 1 x 10p 1 x 20p 1 x 50p
2 bands 9 mm          
1 x £1.00     1 x 2nd (56p)  
central label
     
2 bands phos
Security pattern
Year code: M17L
Source code: MPIL
    centre band   50 (years)
   Machin & »Doublehead« Definitives     
6 x 1st (65p)
  2 bands 9 mm   2 bands 9 mm
thinner value normal value
(left)
thinner value
(right)
PiP stamp
(Pricing in Proportion)
2 bands phos
Security pattern
Year code: M17L
Source code: MPIL
2 x 20p  
central label
   
     
2 bands 9 mm
»Doublehead«
Queen Victoria (background) &
Queen Elizabeth II.
  50 (years)    
Golden Anniversary Machin Definitive  
4 x £1  
Some of the booklet definitives are also featured
in the corresponding jubilee's Minature Sheet
The Machin Definitive
Golden Anniversary Celebration
Please   click
Embossed/Gold foil
Printed in litho by Cartor
 
Special Stamps printed in photogravure
FDI postmarks 6 x 1st (65p)
Royal Mail
Tallents House
Edinburgh
5.6.2017
January 1966
One of many preliminary sketches by
Arnold Machin Please click
based on the
Penny Black
February 1966
Preparatory Work by Machin using a photograph of his coin mould
April/May 1966
One of many essays with the 'Coinage' head surrounded by country symbols
High Wycombe Coat of arms of High Wycombe Please Click

5.6.2017
October 1966
Essay of the 'Coinage' head cropped and simplified, with only the denomination
August 1966
Photograph by John Hedgecoe with The Queen wearing the diadem
October 1966
Essay of the first plaster cast of the 'Diadem' head, without corsage
SG# 3958 - 3963 // 05 June 2017
50 Years of Machin Definitives
Proposals for the image of The Queen's head to be featured on new definitive postage stamps
The stamps, but without attached text label,
are also featured in the corresponding jubilee's Minature Sheet
The Machin Definitive
50 Years of a Design Icon
Please   click
The stamp book contains 26 definitive/special stamps (16/10) on five panes
with a total face value of £ 14.68, post office sales price £ 15.59.

        

DY22 31 July 2017 The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1917
( Volume 4 in a series of 5 )
The First World War (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918), in the
UK United Kingdom and
Northern Ireland
also named as the Great War, was an event without precedent in history and touched every household in Britain, either directly (with family members killed, injured or lost in action) or through the immense social changes it triggered. The centenary of this conflict is being marked with a series of thirty stamps to be released over the next five years. Each year of the war will be commemorated by a set of six stamps, exploring six visual and thematic strands: poppy, poetry, portraits, war art, memorials and artefacts.
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  violet fluor  el perf 15  PVA  Cartor
   Special Definitives
    8 x 1st (65p)
central label
   
       
    Poppies on
barbed wire stems
Promotional Poster Contemporary Promotional Poster
Crystal Palace, London
Imperial War Museum
Great War Exhibition, 5 June 1920 Please click

Crystal Palace
Great War Exhibition
   
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDI Postmark 3 x 1st (65p)
Aberteifi / Cardigan
31.7.2017
Shattered Poppy
Special photo
by John Ross
 
Extract from the poem
"Dead Man's Dump"
by Isaac Rosenberg
The nurses and friends
Elsie Knocker and
Mairi Chisholm
Poppy
The British photographer John Ross (J. R. Hainey, * 1986 in Guernsey) was using a microscope to create that photographic image. He manages to reveal aspects of subjects not normally visible. To create the »Shattered Poppy«, John Ross needed a supply of fresh poppies and so he set up a temporary studio in a barn next to a poppy field, where he froze freshly cut poppies using a vat of liquid nitrogen, before breaking the brittle petals with a metal rod. Backlit to maximise the flower's colour and fine structure, the resulting image suggests a sudden, devastating act of violence, an impression that is heightened by the poppy's natural delicacy.
War Poetry
Isaac Rosenberg (* 1890, † 1918), British painter and poet, was the son of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, but also maintained an interest in writing poetry. By the time of his arrival on the Western Front with the 11th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) in the summer of 1916, he had published three volumes of poetry. Rosenberg himself died on 1 April 1918, during the German spring offensive. In »Dead Man's Dump«, Rosenberg depicts a shocking scene as mule-drawn wagons laden with coils of barbed wire pass by the dying and crush the bodies of dead men lying in their path. The poem graphically depicts the horrors of the war.
Portrait
The nurses Elsie Knocker (* 1884, † 1978) and Mairi Chisholm (* 1896, † 1981) travelled to Belgium shortly after the outbreak of war to join a small ambulance corps where they worked transporting casualties to base hospital. They established a front-line first-aid post at Pervyse in
West Flanders Flag of
West Flanders
,
Belgium Flag of Belgium
where they would eventually treat 23,000 casualties. Dubbed »The Madonnas of Pervyse« by the press the two were among the most photographed women of the war. In 1917 they were awarded the Military Medal. The stamp image shows the both friends wearing the Order of Leopold II. (* 1835, r. 1865, † 1909), a Belgian decoration that they received in 1915. In 1918 both nurses were affected by a gas attack. Chisholm recovered sufficiently to return to the front.
3 x £1.57 FDI Postmark
Dry Docked for
Sailing and Painting

by Edward Wadsworth
   
Tyne Cot Cemetery
Zonnebeke, Belgium
Private
Lemuel Thomas Rees'
life-saving Bible
Royal Mail Tallents House
Edinburgh
31.7.2017
War Art
Woodcut of a war ship image (1918) with its hull painted in a geometric, abstract style. The design was created by British painter Edward Wadsworth (* 1886, † 1949), who was engaged to create dazzle camouflage patterns for British ships, which were intended to confuse attacking German U-boats (submarines). After being invalided out of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1917, he was interesting in the technology of
Vorticism Painting of a camouflaged
British merchant ship in WW I
Please click ...
and the new perspectives it might offer. In Dry Docked for Scaling and Painting, Wadsworth emphasises the harsh, confusing geometry of the new patterns, as the massive hull of the merchant ship seems to disappear among its new stripes.
Memorial
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele, which commenced on 31 July 1917, the stamp features the Tyne Cot cemetry and memorial, where fallen soldiers from the Ypres Salient battlefields in Belgium were buried. Designed by the English architect Sir Herbert Baker (* 1862, † 1946), a total of 11,961 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War are buried or commemorated there. Of the burials, 8,373 are unidentified. Visiting the cemetery in 1922, King George V (* 1865, r. 1910, † 1936) remarked:
"I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon
Earth through the years to come than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war"
.
On the Tyne Cot Memorial are the names of almost 35,000 UK and
New Zealand Flag of
New Zeeland
servicemen who were killed in the Ypres Salient in
West Flanders Flag of
West Flanders
,
Belgium Flag of Belgium
after 16 August 1917 and who have no known grave.
Artefact
Private Lemuel Thomas Rees (* 1895, † 1918) was conscripted into the 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderes, in 1917. During the Battle of Passchendaele, an exploding German shell landed in the trench along side him, and although
Rees Lemuel Thomas Rees
was hit, he was saved by the small Bible that he kept in his breast pocket. The Bible was specially photographed for the stamp issue. After spending four months in a field hospital, he was sent home on leave where he suffered terrible nightmares, reliving the horrors of trench warfare. Following his return to the Western Front, Rees was wounded in a gas attack. He died from bronchial pneumonia and the effects of gas on 13 November 1918, only two days after the Armistice was signed.
SG# 3983 -3988 // 31 July 2017 // First issue
The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1917
The imagery on the stamp series features historic memorials and artefacts that have become synonymous with the conflict, portraits of some of the participants, paintings showing some now famous and moving scenes, poems composed during the war and newly-commissioned artworks of poppy flowers.
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
FDI Postmark 1 x 1st (65p) 2 x 1st (65p) 1 x 1st (65p)
For the Fallen
Alrewas, Burton-On-Trent
31.7.2017
Poppies on
Barbed Wire Stem
Soldiers in Poppy Flower
Soldier's Face
in Poppy Flower
The poppy quickly became symbolic of the war. It was previously associated with the powerful effects of opium and detested by farmers as a stubborn weed, but its tendency to spring up on disturbed earth made it a common sight among the broken ground of shell-torn battlefields. The poppy's deep red colour seemed to evoke the blood of wounded men, while the flower's delicate petals might hint at the fragility of life itself.
SG# 2883b - 2885b // 31 July 2017 // Second issue
The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1917
Poppy flowers - the symbol of Remembrance
The Poppy stamps were already issued in 2008 se-tenant in horizontal strips of three in sheets of 30.
Each stamp, together with se-tenant block of four pictorial country definitives,
was also already issued as miniature sheet in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 14.46, post office sales price £ 15.41.

        

DY23 14 Dec 2017 Star Wars™ The Making of Droids, Aliens and Creatures
( Volume 2 of 3 )
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  Litho  OFNP  2-band phos  el perf 15  M17L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives      
2 x £1.40   4 x 1st (65p) 2 x 2nd (56p)  
central label
 
grey-green   bright scarlet bright blue
centre band
  R2-D2 & C-3PO
Special Stamps printed in lithography
4 x 1st (63p)

Han Solo (*)
   

Princess Leia (*)
 

C-3PO
 

R2-D2
 
4 x 1st (63p)

Chewbacca
   

K-2SO
 

BB-8
 

Porg
4 x 1st (63p)

Maz Kanata
   

Supreme Leader Snoke
 

Rey (*)
 

Yoda (*)
 
  FDI Postmarks  
 
Star Wars
Chewbacca
Wookey, Wells
12. 10. 2017
Star Wars
K-2SO
Royal Mail Tallents House
Edinburgh
12. 10. 2017
 
SG# 4007 - 4014 // 14 December 2017
Star Wars (Volume 2)
Creatures, Droids and Aliens Royal Mail's First Day Cover Insert
(*) Stamp images also issued in PSB Star Wars (Volume 1) SG# dy15 in 2015
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 14.32, post office sales price £ 15.99.

Star Wars™
PSB related mixed Retail Booklets
SG# PM57 // 12 October 2017 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4015 - Maz Kanata
SG# 4016 - Chewbacca
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M17L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details
SG# PM58 // 12 October 2017 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4017 - BB-8
SG# 4018 - R2-D2
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M17L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«

        

DY24 23 Jan 2018 Game of Thrones
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  Litho  OFNP  2-bands blue  el perf 15  M17L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin & NVI Pictorial Country & NVI Special Definitives  
1 x £1.17 1 x 20p 2 x 5p
central label
2 x 2nd (56p)
Country
2 x 1st (65p)
Special
Security pattern lettering in background Detail of the
Iron Throne
no security layer
centre band
Northern Ireland
Giant's Causeway
no security layer
2 bands
Game of Thrones
Iron Throne
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDI Postmark 3 x 1st (65p)
Iron Throne
Royal Mail Tallents House
Edinburgh
23.1.2018
Sansa Stark
   
Jon Snow
Eddard "Ned" Stark
3 x 1st (65p) FDI Postmark
Tyrionn Lannister
Cersei Lannister
Arya Stark
Magheramorne, Larne
23.1.2018
4 x 1st (65p)
Olenna Tyrell
   
Tywin Lannister
Jaime Lannister
Daenerys I Targaryen
SG# 4033 - 4042 // 23 January 2018 // First part
Game of Thrones
A Song of Ice and Fire
Characters
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (65p)
The Night King and White Walkers
     
Coat of arms
House Targaryen
The both novels
Fire & Blood published in 2018 Please click ...

and
A Dance with Dragons published in 2011 Please click ...

tell the history of House Targaryen
and the story of Dragons
Giants
 
Direwolves
 
Dragons
 
SG# 4045 - 4049 // 23 January 2018 // Second part
Game of Thrones
A Song of Ice and Fire
Creatures of Myth
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS4043
The stamp book contains 22 definitive/special stamps (8/14) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 12.99, post office sales price £ 13.95.

Game of Thrones
PSB related Retail Booklet/Post & Go
SG# MB20 // 23 January 2018 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive Special stamps
on security backing paper type »2u«; 2 phos bands;
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
SG# 4044 - Iron Throne
A Song of Ice and Fire
The Iron Throne -
Ice
and
Fire
SG# PG28 // 23 January 2018 // Post & Go Stamps
The stamps show on their left half the NVI denomination and the maxium weight of validation
on a security pattern (
2nd Class 2nd Class - Security pattern
-
1st Class 1st Class - Security pattern
) in wavy lines type »1u«
with the year code
CL18S 2nd Class - Security pattern - year code (2018)
(2nd Class) and
R18Y 1st Class - Security pattern - year code (2018).
(1st Class), respectively.
The coded
character 2nd Class - coded type and location of
the stamp vending Machine
string 1st Class - coded type and location of
the stamp vending Machine
at the lower margin of the stamps identifies
the type and location of the self-service Machine.
 

        

DY25 20 Mar 2018 Royal Air Force Centenary
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  Litho  OFNP  2-bands blue  el perf 15  M18L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives  
2 x £1.17 3 x 5p 3 x 2p  
central label
 
 
Security pattern lettering in background,
missing source code [P] in letter string 'MPIL'
  RAF Roundel  
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDI Postmark 2 x £1.40 2 x 1st (65p) FDI Postmark
RAF emblem
Royal Mail Tallents House
Edinburgh
20.3.2018
Typhoon FGR4 
(Eurofighter),
multirole fighter,
in operation 2003 - present
 
Lightning F6 
Interceptor (primary),
general purpose fighter,
in operation 1959 - 1988
Aircraft propeller
Cranwell, Sleaford
20.3.2018
1 x 1st (65p) 1 x £1.40 2 x £1.57
Hurricane Mk 1 
Fighter,
in operation 1937 - 1944
 
Vulcan B2 
Strategic bomber,
in operation 1956 - 1984
Sopwith Camel F1 
Biplane fighter,
in operation 1917 - 1920
Nimrod MR2 
Maritime patrol,
in operation 1975 - 2011
SG# 4058 - 4063 // 20 March 2018 // First issue
Royal Air Force Centenary
RAF aircraft types & history
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM59 // 20 March 2018 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4059 - Hurricane Mk1
SG# 4058 - Lightning F6
including RAF tactical signs
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - Royal Mail red; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M18L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
THE RED ARROWS
2 x 1st (65p) 2 x £1.40
  Aerobatic manoeuvres by BAE Systems Hawk aircrafts 
Flypast Swan Synchro Python
SG# 4067 - 4070 // 20 March 2018 // Second issue
Royal Air Force Centenary
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS4064
The Red Arrows
Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team
1965 - present
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM60 // 20 March 2018 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps - formation flights
SG# 4080 - Flypast
SG# 4081 - Swan
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - Royal Mail red; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M18L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details
Special Stamps (3) printed in lithography
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
FDI Postmark 3 x 1st (65p)
Hurricane Aircraft
London NW9
16.7.2015
Pilots scramble to
their Hurricanes 
 
Supermarine Spitfires 
on patrol
Armourer replaces
ammunition boxes
SG# 4067 - 4070 // 20 March 2018 // Second issue
Royal Air Force Centenary
Battle of Britain in World War II, 1940
Stamps with equal images were already issued in 2015 as miniature sheet SG# MS3735
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (8/16) on five panes
with a total face value of £ 18.54, post office sales price £ 18.69.

        

DY26 13 Sep 2018 The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1918
( Last volume in a series of 5 )
The First World War (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918), in the
UK United Kingdom and
Northern Ireland
also named as the Great War, was an event without precedent in history and touched every household in Britain, either directly (with family members killed, injured or lost in action) or through the immense social changes it triggered. The centenary of this conflict is being marked with a series of thirty stamps to be released over the next five years. Each year of the war will be commemorated by a set of six stamps, exploring six visual and thematic strands: poppy, poetry, portraits, war art, memorials and artefacts.
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  blue fluor 2-bands  el perf 15  M18L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
   NVI Machin & Special Definitives  
4 x 1st (67p)
Center label
  4 x 1st (67p)    
     
Security pattern lettering in background
Royal Mail red
Poster promoting the
Remembrance Day Please click ...

poppy appeal in the mid-1920s
  No security pattern
Poppy flowers on
barbed wire stems
   
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
Special postmark 3 x 1st (67p)
Date of Armistice
London SW 1
11. 11. 2018
100 Poppies
photographed by
Zafer and Barbara Baran
 
"Anthem for Doomed Youth"
by British Army officer and poet Wilfried Owen
Second Lieutenant
Walter Tull was known as
a professional footballer.
On 25 March 1918,
he was killed in action.
Armistice
Please click on icons     to learn more about »Armistice«
Poppy
The Poppy flower has been one of the enduring symbols of the First World War and has come to be associated with remembrance. To mark the century of the end of the war Barbara (* 1956 in London of Polish parents) & Zafer (* 1955 in Turkey) Baran photographed one hundred poppy flowers, layering the images together to create 100 Poppies. Each of the poppies was freshly cut and carefully lit before being photographed, to capture the flower's delicate luminosity. In the final artwork, the light gently filters through the overlapping petals, giving this composite image a ghostly, fleeting appearance and suggesting movement.
War Poetry
In this poem British Army officer and poet Wilfried Owen (* 1893, † 1918) mourns the waste of young lives, cut short by wailing shells and the rattle of rifles fire. Killed in action, a week before the armistice, Owen has become one of Britain's most celebrated war poets.
In his woodblock print, illustrator Andrew Davidson (* 1958) has hand-carved the opening lines of Owen's poem. Using an illuminated-letter style that envokes the shattered tree scapes of British war artist Paul Nash (* 1889, † 1946), the design reflects the rawness and power of Owen's words.
Portrait
2Lt Walter Daniel John Tull (* 1888, † 1918) was born in Folkstone in 1888 and orphaned after the death of his English Kent-born mother Alice Elizabeth Palmer and his
Barbadian Flag of the British
Colony of Barbados
(1870 - 1966)
father Daniel Tull, who worked as a carpenter. He became known as professional footballer playing i. a. for Northampton Town F. C. (1911 - 1914). After war broke out, he served in the Footballer's
Battalion Recruitment poster featuring the Football Battalion
of the Middlesex Regiment and fought on the Somme in France. Commissioned in May 1917, Tull became the first mix-raced Army officer to command troops in a regular unit. After fighting in
Italy Flag of the
Kingdom of Italy
(1861-1946)
, he returned to the Western Front. On 25 March 1918, he was killed in action. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
3 x £1.55 FDI Postmark
"We Are Making a
New World"
, painting
by Paul Nash
 
»The Grave of the
Unknown Warrior«

Westminster Abbey, London
Lt. Francis Hopgood's
goggles
London SW 1
13. 9. 2018
War painting
In 1914, Paul Nash (* 1889, † 1946) enlisted as a private in the Artists' Rifles and was later commissioned into the Royal Hampshire Regiment. Invalided home in May 1917 following an accident, he returned to the front in November 1917 as an official artist. He was appelled by the sight of the Ypres Salient. In his oil on canvas painting "We Are Making A New World" - titled with bitter irony - the artist depicts a bleak and hopeless sunrise over a copse of shattered trees. The ground is pitted with waterlogged shell holes. Nash was deeply moved by the destruction of trees, seeing in their degradation a metaphor for human suffering.
Memorial
On Armistice Day, 11 November 1920, an »Unknown Warrior« was buried at Westminster
Abbey Flag of Westminster Abbey Featuring the Tudor arms between
Tudor roses above the attributed arms
of Edward the Confessor.
in London, after being chosen at random from several unidentifiable sets of remains in France and solemnly conveyed to Britain. Enormous crowds gathered in silence to witness the procession through London, and King George V (* 1865, r. 1910, † 1936) unveiled the
Cenotaph For the British Empire (later Commonwealth) dead of both World Wars and the British military in later wars Please      click ...
at Whitehall, City of Westminster, London, before following behind the
coffin The coffin of the »Unknown Warrior« in state
at Westminster Abbey on 11 November 1920,
before burial.
Please click ...
to the Abbey. For a nation reeling from enormous loss of life, the burial of the
»Unknown Warrior« The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior
For the unknown war dead, wherever they fell
provided a focal point of grief.
Artefact
In March 1918, Lt. Francis Hopgood transferring from the Artists' Rifles joined the Royal Flying Corps, established on 13 April 1912. On 10 April - a few days after the Royal Flying Corps had been incorporated on 01 April 1918 into the new Royal Air Force - Hopgood was shot down. After a crash-landing behind German lines, he was captured and survived as prisoner of war.
Clear eyesight was essential to the pioneer pilots ability for a successful aerial combat. Preserved in the Museum of Army Flying are Hopgood's custom-made goggles, complete with prescription lenses in Triplex safety glass, undamaged after his crash-landing.
4 x 1st (67p)
Extract from the poem
"For the Fallen"
written by
Robert Lawrence Binyon
 
Extract from the poem
"All the Hills and Vales Along",
written by
Charles Hamilton Sorley
Extract from the poem
»To My Brother«
written by
Vera Brittain
Extract from the poem
»Dead Man's Dump«
written by
Isaac Rosenberg
War Poetry
In 1914, the English poet, dramatist and art scholar Robert Laurence Binyon (* 1869 † 1943), was a senior curator at the British Museum and an authority on East Asian art. On 21 September 1914, The Times printed his seven-stanza poem "For the Fallen". The poem is very well known today, being used across the world in the "Ode of Remembrance". Read more ...
In his four-stanza work "All the Hills and Vales Along" the Scottish poet Charles Hamilton Sorley (* 1895, † 1915) depicts troops singing as they advance towards the front line. As the poem marches on, the pastoral imagery gives way to an ever-bleaker expectation to death. On 13 October 1915, Sorley (aged 20) was serving as a captain in the Suffolk Regiment when he was killed by a sniper in the Battle of Loos, Department Pas-de-Calais, France. The poem was found in his kitbag and published posthumously. Sorley was later commemorated on a stone in Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey, dedicated to sixteen leading First World War poets.
The written word is depicted with a line from the poem "To My Brother" by Vera Brittain (* 1893 in Staffordshire, † 1970 in London), an English nurse, writer, feminist, and pacifist. At the outbreak of the war, her younger brother Edward applied for a commission, and in 1915 Vera trained as a Voluntary Aid Detachment
(VAD) First World War recruitment poster for
Voluntary Aid Detachments
nurse. In June 1918, she wrote "To My Brother", a poem commemorating Edward's bravery on the Battle of the Somme in France two years previously, in which she addressed her brother with the following words: "May you endure to lead the last advance". Four days later, Edward was killed. Vera was devastated by his death. After she died in 1970, her ashes were scattered on his grave, according to her wishes. By then, her writings had made her a major figure in the literary history of the war.
Isaac Rosenberg (* 1890, † 1918), British painter and poet, was the son of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, but also maintained an interest in writing poetry. By the time of his arrival on the Western Front with the 11th Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) in the summer of 1916, he had published three volumes of poetry. Rosenberg himself died on 1 April 1918, during the German spring offensive. In »Dead Man's Dump«, Rosenberg depicts a shocking scene as mule-drawn wagons laden with coils of barbed wire pass by the dying and crush the bodies of dead men lying in their path. The poem graphically depicts the horrors of the war.
SG# dy26 // 13 September 2018
The Great War
Centenary of the First World War - 1918
The imagery on the stamp series features historic memorials and artefacts that have become synonymous with the conflict, portraits of some of the participants, paintings showing some now famous and moving scenes, poems composed during the war and newly-commissioned artworks of poppy flowers.
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 14.70, post office sales price £ 15.65.

Final issues of a series of Special Stamps released between 2014 - 2018
commemorating The Great War (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918).
SG# PM63 // 13 September 2018 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall))
Special stamps - Poppy flowers
Background Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
SG# 4139 - Poppy flower, painting by Scottish artist Fiona Strickland
(A PVA gummed version of the stamp image was already issued on 28 July 2014)
SG# 4140 - 100 Poppies, photo art by Barbara & Zafer Baran
(A PVA gummed version of the stamp image was also issued on 13 September 2018)
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«;
SG# U3027 - Royal Mail red; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M18L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details
SG# MS4138a // 13 September 2018 // Generic Sheet // Limited Edition of 7,500 sheets
The composite sheet depicts six vertical se-tenant strips of five stamps showing horizontally
the stampsets issued between 2014 - 2018 to commemorate The Great War (Aug 1914 - Nov 1918).
The imagery on the stamp series features (from left to right) artworks of poppy flowers,
poems composed during the war, portraits of some of the participants, paintings showing some now famous
and moving scenes, historic memorials, and artefacts that have become synonymous with the conflict.
Please click icons below for more details
1914 2014 | 1915 2015 | 1916 2016 | 1917 2017 | 1918 2018
Centenary of the First World War between 1914 - 1918
Coin Cover commemorating 100 years since the first Remembrance (Poppy) Day,
Limited Edition of 10,000 covers
The cover contains all five Poppy flower Special Stamps released between 2014 - 2018
commemorating the First World War.
Handstamped with a Special Postmark
Centenary of Remembrance 1919 | 2019, dated 9. 9. 2019, London SW 1
Included a Brilliant Uncirculated quality official Royal Mint £5 coin
featuring a colour printed Poppy flower alongside the anniversary dates.
Cachet: Poppies - the Flowers of Remembrance.
Special Postmark All Poppy flower stamps issued between 2014 - 2018 New
£5 coin Remembrance Day 2019
£5 Coin
by
Royal Mint

        

DY27 04 Dec 2018 Harry Potter
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-bands  el perf 15  M18L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives  
2 x £1.25 2 x 50p 2 x 20p 2 x 1p
central label
 
Security pattern lettering in background  
Crest Hogwarts' crest and
coat of arms

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its four Houses
each bearing the name of its founder and represented by its coat of arms

Hogwarts
Castle & School
founded around 993
Godric Gryffindor
Helga Hufflepuff
Rowena Ravenclaw
Salazar Slytherin

Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDI Postmark 3 x 1st (67p)
Muggleswick, Consett
16.10.2018
Initials
H(arry) P(otter)
Harry Potter
 
Hermione Granger
   
Ron Weasley
Harry Potter
On his 11th birthday, he learns that he has been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, brave the challenges of school life while facing the increasing threat of the dark forces led by Lord Voldemort [Tom Marvolo Riddle] . As Voldemort returns to power, Harry realises that only he can stop the »Dark Lord«. Also featured is the
Golden Snitch Golden Snitch,
smallest ball used in
the game of
Quidditch
Learn more ...
from the game of Quidditch .
Hermione Jean Granger
She is considered by many at Hogwarts to be the brightest witch of her age. On her many adventures with Harry and Ron, it is often thanks to Hermione's educated mind, grasp of logic and quick thinking that the trio triumphs. Also featured is a
Time-Turner Time-Turner necklace Learn more ...
necklace.
Ronald Bilius "Ron" Weasley
From the moment they meet on the Hogwarts Express, he becomes Harry's best friend. Ron supports Harry on all of his adventures - including a few times at the wheel of the Flying Ford Anglia - even when it means facing spiders, his worst fear.
4 x 1st (67p)
Ginny Weasley
Neville Longbottom
Hogwarts Express
 
Triwizard Cup
Ginevra Molly Weasley
The youngest and only daughter in the Weasley clan, she spends much of her first year at Hogwarts writing in Tom Riddle's diary and unknowingly doing the »Dark Lord's« [Voldemort] bidding. In her fourth year, Ginny joins the secret Dumbledore's Army and eventually makes her feelings for Harry known. Also featured is
Nagini Nagini
Voldemort's snake
Learn more ...
, the snake of »Dark Lord« Voldemort [Tom Marvolo Riddle].
Neville Longbottom
He is known as a good-natured but accident-prone boy with an aptitude for Herbology . As the »Dark Lord« Voldemort [Tom Marvolo Riddle] rises to power, he bravely joins Dumbledore's Army and ultimately plays an integral role in the destruction of Voldemort. Also featured is
Godric Gryffindor's sword Godric Gryffindor's sword Learn more
.
Hogwarts Express
The train is used by students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The steam train, pulled by a scarlet 4-6-0 Hall Class steam locomotive model number GWR 5900, runs between King's Cross , Railway station, Borough of
Camden Coat of arms of the
Borough of Camden
Learn more
, London and the village of Hogsmeade in
Scotland Flag of
Scotland
Learn more
, from where the children reach Hogwarts by boat or
Thestral Thestral
Winged horse
Learn more
-drawn carriage. Access to the train by wizards and witches can only be gained by passing through a brick wall onto the hidden
Platform 9¾ Hidden Platform 9¾ at King's Cross
Railway Station, invisible to Muggles
Learn more
at King's Cross Railway Station, invisible to Muggles .
Triwizard Cup
The Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner at the end of the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament . When Harry Potter competes in the Triwizard Tournament, a Death Eater turns the Cup into a Portkey to instantly transport the winner to the graveyard where Lord Voldemort is waiting.
3 x 1st (67p) Special Postmark
Hagrid's Motorbike
Knight Bus
Flying Ford Anglia
Harry Potter * Edinburgh
4.12.2018
Hagrid's Motorbike
Riding a flying motorbike , Rubeus Hagrid and Harry endure a hazardous journey while being pursued by
Lord Voldemort Voldemort Day
Banner
»For Voldemort
and Valour«
Please click ...
and several Death Eaters in »Part 1« of
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows
7th and last book in series,
published 21 July 2007
Learn more ...
.
Knight Bus
Described by its conductor Stanley Shunpike as »Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard«, the Knight Bus appears in
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban
3rd book in a series of 7,
published 08 July 1999
Learn more ...
. It collects Harry and his trunk from the side of the road after he flees from 4 Privet Drive following an altercation with Vernon Dursley's sister, Marjorie Dursley .
Flying Ford Anglia
In
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets
2nd book in a series of 7,
published 02 July 1998
Learn more ...
, the Weasley twins, Fred and George and their younger brother Ron »borrow« their father's enchanted car to rescue Harry through his bedroom window in the Dursleys' house. Later on, having missed the Hogwarts Express, Harry and Ron take the car on an exciting journey to Hogwarts.
SG# 4141 - 4150 // 04 December 2018 // First part
Harry Potter
Characters and transportation
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
5 x 1st (67p)
Pomona Sprout
 
Horace Slughorn
Sybill Trelawney
Renus Lupin
 
Severus Snape
Pomona Sprout
Herbology professor and expert in dangerous plants. Head of
Hufflepuff Coat of Arms of
Hufflepuff House
Learn more ...
house.
Horace Slughorn
The new Potions Master during Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts, Slughorn possesses a crucial memory - one which Harry must access in order to learn the secret of finishing Lord Voldemort [Tom Marvolo Riddle] .
Sybill Trelawney
Divination professor at Hogwarts who has prophesied accurately at least twice.
Renus Lupin
He is the »Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA)« professor during Harry's third year at Hogwarts. A werewolf and close childhood friend of James Potter (»Prongs«) , Harry's father. Lupin is an active member of the Order of the Phoenix .
Severus Snape
He is the Head of
Slytherin Coat of Arms of
Slytherin House
Learn more ...
house and Potions Master for Harry's first five years at Hogwarts. Snape's loyalty to Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix is often questioned by Harry. Only through viewing Snape's memories does Harry learn the truth about his motives.
SG# 4164 - 4168 // 04 December 2018 // Second part
Harry Potter
Hogwarts Professors
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS4151
The stamp book contains 23 definitive/special stamps (8/15) on five panes
with a total face value of £ 13.97, post office sales price £ 15.50.

Harry Potter
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM64 // 16 October 2018 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4152 - Hermione Granger
SG# 4153 - Harry Potter
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2i« (incorrect usage)
SG# U3027 - Royal Mail red; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M18L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY28 13 Feb 2019 Leonardo da Vinci
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  Litho  OFNP  2-bands blue  el perf 15  M18L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives  
2 x £1.55 4 x 10p 2 x5p  
central label
 
   
Security pattern lettering in background Magnified security pattern lettering in background Wavy inscription Royal Mail,
year code [18] (left) and source [P] (right) red encircled
  Leonardo da Vinci  
Special Stamps printed in lithography
4 x 1st (67p)
Sprig of guelder-rose
Studies of cats
Design for an
equestrian monument
»Star of Bethlehem«
and other plants
4 x 1st (67p)
Woman in a landscape
Head of a bearded man
Head of St. Philip
Head of Leda
4 x 1st (67p)
Sectioned skull
Skeleton
Fall of light on a face
Anantomy of the
shoulder and foot
SG# 4170 - 4181 // 13 February 2019
Leonardo da Vinci
500th Anniversary of his Death
Remarkable drawings from the collection of Her Majesty The Queen
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £ 11.64, post office sales price £ 13.10.

        

DY29 14 Mar 2019 MARVEL Comics
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  Litho  OFNP  2-bands blue phos  el perf 15  M18L/M IL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
   Machin Definitives  
1 x £1.45 2 x £1.25 3 x 20p 2 x 1p
central label
 
 
Security pattern lettering in background,
missing source code [P] in letter string 'MPIL' Magnified security pattern lettering in background Wavy inscription Royal Mail,
year code [18] blue encircled (left),
missing source code [P] red encircled (right)
Seal of Approval  
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
10 x 1st (67p)
Black Panther
T´Challa
(July 1966)
Thor
Thor Odison
(August 1962)
Doctor Strange
Stephen Vincent Strange
(July 1963)
Union Jack
Lord James Falsworth
(July 1976)
Spider-Man
Peter Benjamin Parker
(August 1962)
Captain Marvel
Carol Susan Jane Danvers
(August 2012)
Hulk
Robert Bruce Banner
(May 1962)
Peggy Carter
Margaret "Peggy" Carter
(May 1966)
FDI Postmark
Shield Row, Stanley
14.3.2019
Iron Man
Anthony Edward Stark
(March 1963)
Captain Britain
Brian Braddock
(October 1976)
FDI Postmark
Webbington, Axbridge
Marvel 14.3.2019
SG# 4182 - 4190 // 13 February 2019 // First issue
MARVEL Comics
Characters of the Marvel Universe
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
1 x £1.45 FDI Special Postmark 1 x 1st (67p)
Captain Britain
Royal Mail
Tallents House
Edinburgh
14.3.2019
Thanos
Eternal-Deviant hybrid
(February 1973)
2 x 1st (67p) 1 x £1.25
Thor, Doctor Strange, Iron Man
Hulk, Spider-Man,
Black Panther, Iron Man
Together
SG# 4195 - 4199 // 13 February 2019 // Second issue
MARVEL Comics
Comic snippet
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS4192
The stamp book contains 23 definitive/special stamps (8/15) on five panes
with a total face value of £ 15.98, post office sales price £ 17.45 !

MARVEL Comics
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM65 // 14 March 2019 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4193 - Spider-Man
SG# 4194 - Hulk
against a background drawing of the stamp image
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - Royal Mail red; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M19L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY30 24 May 2019 Queen Victoria Bicentenary
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  Litho  OFNP  2-bands blue  el perf 15  M19L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
Machin Definitives
 
Special Definitives (Reprints)
2 x 50p 2 x 2p
central label
2 x 1st (67p) 1 x 1st (67p)
HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Reign Feb 1952 - present (67 years)
Photography of
Queen Victoria
and her husband
Prince Albert
The stamps feature a profile of Queen Victoria
Reign June 1837 - Jan 1901 (64 years)
The Victorian Era
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDI Special Postmark 2 x £1.60 1 x £1.35
Royal Mail
Tallents House
Edinburgh
24.5.2019
Princess Victoria aged eleven
with her terrier Fanny,
painting in 1830
Marriage of
Victoria and Albert, 1840
Prince Albert
of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
(* 1819, † 1861 aged 42)
Queen Victoria wearing
the Robes of State,
painting in 1859
1 x £1.35 2 x 1st (67p) FDI Special Postmark
Queen Victoria
on her horse Fyvie
with her Scottish servant
John Brown
(* 1826, † 1883),
at Balmoral,
painting in 1876
Queen Victoria
and Prime Minister
Benjamin Disreali
in office 1874/1880
(* 1804, † 1881)
at Osborne House,
painting in 1878
Queen Victoria aged 71,
portrait in 1890 by
Austrian painter
Heinrich von Angeli
(* 1840, † 1925)
East Cowes
24.5.2019
Intertwined Initials
V(ictoria) & A(lbert)
SG# 4219 - 4224 // 24 May 2019 // First issue
Queen Victoria Bicentenary
Periods of Her life
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (67p) 2 x £1.55
Model Lodge,
Kennington
Balmoral Castle,
Scotland
The New Crystal Palace, Sydenham
Royal Albert Hall,
London
SG# 4226 - 4229 // 24 May 2019 // Second issue
Queen Victoria Bicentenary
The Legacy of Prince Albert
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS4225
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £15.64, post office sales price £17.20.

        

DY31 26 Nov 2019 Star Wars™ - The Rise of Skywalker
The Making of the Vehicles
( Volume 3 of 3 )
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  Litho  OFNP  2-bands blue phos  el perf 15  M19L/MPIL  PVA  ISP (Cartor)
  (NVI) Machin Definitives   
2 x £1.17 2 x 5p   4 x 2nd (61p)  
central label
[1]
   
[1] Due to a misunderstanding in print process the face value is no longer a current postal rate. Therefore, coded with M19L, the stamp is scarce and my become much sought after by collectors. centre band    
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
FDI Postmark 3 x 1st (70p)
Darth Maul
Maulden, Bedford
26.11.2019
Poe Dameron
     
Jannah
(new character)
 
Count Dooku
   
3 x 1st (70p) Special Postmark
Grand Moff Tarkin
   
Sith Trooper
(new character)
 
Wicket Warrick
   
Star Wars
26.11.2019
Rise, Hull
4 x 1st (70p)
Lando Calrissian
     
Queen Amidala
   
Darth Maul
   
Zorii Bliss
(new character)
 
SG# 4292-4301 // 26 November 2019 // First issue
Star Wars™ - The Rise of Skywalker
Characters
Please  click ...
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
6 x 1st (70p)
Poe's X-wing fighter
   
Jedi starfighter
 
Podracers
 
TIE silencer
   
Slave I
 
Speeder bikes
 
SG# 4305-4310 // 26 November 2019 // Second issue
Star Wars™ - The Rise of Skywalker
Vehicles
Please  click ...
Stamps were only issued in the stamp book and in miniature sheet SG# MS4302
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (8/16) on five panes
with a total face value of £16.08, post office sales price £17.65 (+ £1.57 !)

Star Wars™ - The Rise of Skywalker
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM70 // 26 November 2019 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4303 - Poe Dameron
SG# 4304 - Sith Trooper
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - Royal Mail red; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background, year/source code M19L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

                             

        

DY32 11 Feb 2020 Visions of the Universe
Bicentenary of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  violet phos 2-bands  el perf 15  M19L/MPIL  s/a  Cartor
    Machin/NVI Pictorial Country Definitives 
4 x 1p 4 x 2p 2 x 5p 2 x 10p 1 x £ 1.35
central label
          Seal RAS
4 x 1st (70p)  
central label
 
England Northern Ireland Wales Scotland   Solar eclipse
Special Stamps printed in lithography
1 x 2nd (61p) 1 x 1st (70p) 1 x £ 1.55 1 x £ 1.60
Cat's Eye Nebula is composed
of dust and gas
Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars
Jupiter's auroras are the strongest in the solar system
»67P« is a comet made of
rock, ice and dust
1 x 2nd (61p) 1 x 1st (70p) 1 x £ 1.55 1 x £ 1.55
Enceladus has geysers
of water, ice and vapour
Black holes are super-dense regions of space
Gravitational lensing occurs when gravity bends light
»Cygnus A« Galaxy is a powerful source of radio waves
SG# 4324 - 4330 // 11 February 2020
Visions of the Universe
Royal Astronomical Society
The stamp book contains 24 definitive/special stamps (16/8) on four panes
with a total face value of £14.82, post office sales price £16.10.

        

DY33 17 Mar 2020 James Bond - [First] Second edition
Behind the Scenes
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  violet phos 2-band  el perf 15  M19L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin/NVI Special Definitives 
2 x 2p 2 x 2nd (61p) 2 x 1st (70p) 2 x 2nd (61p)  
central label
 
2-band
(9 mm)
centre band
(4.5 mm)
Union Jack Saltire
Scotland
  Movie scene
Skyfall, 2012
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
2 x £ 1.60
George Robert Lazenby
»On Her Majesty's Secret Service«, 1969
FDI Special postmark
Spy Post, Wellington
Sir Sean Connery ( 2020)
»Goldfinger«, 1964
1 x £ 1.60 2 x 1st (70p)
Sir Roger Moore ( 2017)
»Live And Let Die«, 1973
Timothy Leonard Dalton
»The Living Daylights«, 1987
Pierce Brendan Brosnan
»Golden Eye«, 1995
FDI postmark 1 x 1st (70p) FDI postmark
Tallents House, Edindburgh
Daniel Wroughton Craig
»Casino Royale«, 2006
Aston Clinton, Aylesbury
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
Q Branch Section
»Q« is the head of »Q Branch«, the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service
charged with oversight of top secret field technologies in all James Bond films.
2 x 1st (70p)
Bell-Textron Jet Pack
»Thunderball«, 1965
Bond's Aston Martin
Aston Martin DB5
»Skyfall«, 2012
2 x £ 1.55
Little Nellie
»You Only Live Twice«, 1967
Lotus Esprit Submarine
»The Spy Who Loved Me«, 1977
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4338
SG# 4332 - 4337 // 4341 - 4344 // 17 March 2020
James Bond
Behind the Scenes
The stamp book contains 18 definitive/special stamps (8/10) on four panes
with a total face value of £15.28, post office sales price £16.99.

James Bond Films
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM72 // 17 March 2020 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4339 - Bell-Textron Jet Pack, »Thunderball«, 1965
SG# 4340 - Aston Martin DB5, »Skyfall«, 2012
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background type PB_Ls/sL, year/source code M20L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY34 08 May 2020 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M20L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin Definitives 
4 x 5p 2 x 50p 2 x £ 1.63    
central label
   
2-band (9 mm)     Victory sign
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (76p) & 2 x 2nd (65p)
Servicemen
welcomed home, 1945
Jubilant public, 1945
Nurses celebrate, 1945
Evacuees return home, 1945
2 x £ 1.42 & 2 x £ 1.63
Troops parade
at end of war, 1945
Allied POWs liberated, 1945
Demobilised servicemen, 1945
Navy personnel celebrate, 1945
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (76p) Special postmarks 2 x £ 1.63
Hall of Names
Holocaust History Museum
Yad Vashem, Jerusalem
FDI special postmark
Peacehaven, East Sussex
Plymouth Naval Memorial
Runnymede Air Force Memorial
FDI special postmark
Down Street, London WIJ
Rangoon Army Memorial, Myanmar
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4364
SG# 4356 - 4363 // 4365 - 4368 // 08 May 2020
End of Second World War
75th Anniversary
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £18.16, post office sales price £19.80.

        

DY35 09 July 2020 Queen - British Rockband
(4th issue of the series »Music Giants«)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M20L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin and NVI special Definitives 
4 x 1p   4 x 1st (76p)    
central label
     
2-band (9 mm)   Queen
(rock band), 1974
    concert poster
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (76p)
Queen II, 1974
Sheet Heart Attack, 1974
A Night at the Opera, 1975
News of the World, 1977
4 x £ 1.63
The Game, 1980
Greatest Hits, 1981
The Works, 1984
Innuendo, 1991
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (76p) & 2 x £ 1.63
Freddie Mercury
Magic Tour, 1986
Roger Taylor
Hyde Park Concert, 1976
John Deacon
A Night at the Opera Tour, 1975
FDI Special postmark
Tallents House, Edinburgh
Brian May
Magic Tour, 1986
FDI Special postmark
Knebworth
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4396
SG# 4388 - 4395 // 4399a - 4402a // 09 July 2020
Queen - British rock band
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £17.42, post office sales price £19.10.

Queen - British Rockband
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM74 // 9 July 2020 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4397 - Queen II, 1974
SG# 4398 - A Night at the Opera, 1975
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
security pattern lettering in background type PB_Ls/sL, year/source code M20L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details
Queen - British Rockband
PSB related Retail Booklet
SG# MB22 // 29 March 2021 // Retail Booklet
The booklet's front cover features the crest of the British rockband as designed by Freddie Mercury.
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive Special Definitives,
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall), 2 phosphor bands, Die-cut 14½x14.
Repeating »ROYALMAIL« printing on the front of the self-adhesive backing paper, with alternate pairs of lines inverted
and the large ROYALMAIL« lettering above the small (Type PB-Ls) in the background text.
SG# 4502 - Queen, 1975

        

DY36 13 Nov 2020 Star Trek (Starship USS Enterprise)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  violet fluor 2-band  el perf 15  M20L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin/NVI Definitives 
2 x 2p 3 x 50p   3 x 2nd (65p)  
central label
   
2-band (9 mm)   Centre band (4.5mm violet)   Emblem of
Star-Trek-Starfleet
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (76p)
Captain James T Kirk
(William Shatner)
The Original Series
Captain Jean-Luc Picard
(Patrick Stewart)
The Next Generation
 
Captain Benjamin Sisko
(Avery Brooks)
Deep Space Nine
 
Captain Kathryn Janeway
(Kate Mulgrew)
Voyager
 
4 x 1st (76p)
Captain Jonathan Archer
[Human]
(Scott Bakula)
Enterprise
 
Captain Gabriel Lorca
[Human]
(Jason Isaacs)
Discovery
Spock
[Vulcan/Human hybrid]
(Leonard Nimoy)
The Original Series
Deanna Troi
[½ Human/½ Betazoid]
(Marina Sirtis) The Next Generation
   
4 x 1st (76p)
Julian Bashir
[Post-Eugenics
Human Augment]
(Alexander Siddig)
Deep Space Nine
 
Malcom Reed
[Human]
 
(Dominic Keating)
Enterprise
Michael Burnham
[Human]
 
(Sonequa Martin-Greene)
Discovery
 
Ash Tyler/Voq The Klingon insignia  
Please click ...


 
(Shazad Latif)
Discovery
FDC Star Trek Special Postmark
Beambridge, Craven Arms
13.11.2020
Star Trek Special Postmark
Kirk, Wick (Scotland)
13.11.2020
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (76p)
Montgomery Scott
[Human]
(Simon Pegg 2009-2016)
New Movie Series
Praetor Shinzon
[Human (clone)]
(Tom Hardy)
Nemesis
 
4 x 1st (76p)
Dr. Toilan Soran
[El-Aurian]
(Malcom McDowell)
Generations
 
Chancellor Gorkon
[Klingon]
(David Warner)
The Undiscovered Country
 
Dr. Carol Marcus
[Human]
(Alice Eve)
Star Trek into Darkness
 
Krall
[Human (heavily mutated)]
(Idris Elba)
Star Trek Beyond
 
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4455
SG# 4443-4454 // SG# 4458-4463 // 13 November 2020
Star Trek
Starship USS Enterprise
The stamp book contains 26 definitive/special stamps (8/18) on four panes
with a total face value of £17.17, post office sales price £18.35.

Star Trek
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM76 // 13 Nov 2020 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4456 - Catain James T Kirk
SG# 4457 - Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
year/source code M20L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY37 16 Feb 2021 »Only Fools and Horses ...«
British TV sitcom 1981 - 1991
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M20L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin/NVI Definitives 
3 x 20p   3 x 1st (85p) 2 x 2nd (66p)  
central label
   
2-band (9 mm)   2-band (9 mm) centre band
(4.5 mm)
  advertisment
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
8 x 1st (85p)
"I knew you was cheating ..."
(Del Boy and Boycie)
"Play it nice and cool ..."
(Del Boy and Trigger)
"Dont worry he's house trained ..."
(Del Boy and Rodney)
"Now brace yourself ..."
(Rodney and Del Boy)
"Our coach has just blownup"
(Rodney and Denzel)
"It's a baby ..."
(Del Boy and Raquel)
"What have you been doing ..."
(Rodney and Cassandra)
Special Postmark
Only Fools and Horses
TROTTERS INDEPENDENT TRADING CO
Deal 16.2.2021
"That's just over three million ..."
(Del Boy and Rodney)
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (85p) & 2 x £ 1.70
Del Boy
(David Jason)
Rodney
(Nicolas Lyndhurst)
Uncle Albert
(Buster Merryfield)
Grandad
(Lennard Pearce)
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4455
SG# #4477 - 4484 // 16 Feb 2021
»Only Fools and Horses«
British TV sitcom 1981 - 1991
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £19.77, post office sales price £21.70.

Only Fools and Horses
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM78 // 16 Feb 2021 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4486 - Del Boy
SG# 4487 - Rodney
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2i«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
year/source code M21L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY38 28 May 2021 Paul Mc Cartney
(5th issue of the series »Music Giants«)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M21L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin FV/NVI Definitives 
2 x 2p 2 x 10p 2 x 50p 2 x 1st (85)p  
central label
 
          Paul Mc Cartney
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (85p)
McCartney (1970)
RAM (1971)
Venus and Mars (Wings, 1975)
McCartney II (1980)
4 x £ 1.70
Tug of War (1982)
Flaming Pie (1997)
Egypt Station (2018)
McCartney III (2020)
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
Paul McCartney in the Studio
2 x 1st (85p) & 2 x £ 1.70
McCartney, 1970
RAM, 1971
McCartney II, 1980
xFlaming Pie, 1997
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4525
SG# #4517 - 4524 // 28 May 2021
Paul Mc Cartney
Music Giants (V)
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £18.24, post office sales price £20.25.

Paul McCartney
PSB related mixed Retail Booklet
SG# PM79 // 28 May 2021 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4517 - McCartney (1970)
SG# 4520 - McCartney II (1980)
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2i«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
year/source code M21L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY39 12 Aug 2021 Industrial Revolutions
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M21L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin Definitives 
2 x 5p 3 x 10p 2 x 20p 1 x £ 1.70  
central label
 
          light bulb, 1879
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
2 x 2nd (66p) & 2 x 1st (85p) & 2 x £ 1.70
Bessemer process
Henry Bessemer, 1856
Watt's rotative steam engine
James Watt, 1780s
Penydarren locomotive
Richard Trevithick, 1804
Spinning jenny
James Hargreaves, c.1784
Lombe's silk mill
Lombe brothers, c.1721
Portland cement
Joseph Aspdin, 1824
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
The Electric Revolution
1 x 2nd (66p) &1 x 1st (85p) & 1 x £ 1.70 & 1 x £ 2.55
Faraday Generates Electricity, 1831
Industrial Revolutions
Special Postmark
Industrial Street, Derby 12.08.21
Transatlantic Cable, 1858
Deptford Power Station, 1889
Industrial Revolutions
Special Postmark
12.08.21
Penydarren,
Merthyr Tydfil Coat of Arms
Merthyr Tydfil
Light Bulb
by Joseph Swan, 1880
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4561
SG# 4555 - 4560 // 4562 - 4565 // 12 Aug 2021
Industrial Revolutions
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £16.38, post office sales price £18.03.

        

DY40 17 Sep 2021 Detective Comics (DC) Collection
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M21L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin/NVI Definitives 
3 x 20p   3 x 2nd (66p) 2 x 1st (85p)  
central label
   
    centre band
(4.5 mm)
    Wonder Woman
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
12 x 1st (85p)
Batman
Batwoman
Robin
Batgirl
Alfred
 
Nightwing
The Joker
Harley Quinn
The Penguin
Poison Ivy
Catwoman
The Riddler
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
League of Justice
6 x 1st (85p)
Batman
Wonder Woman
 
Green Lantern and The Flash
 
Superman
 
Cyborg and Aquaman
 
Supergirl and Shazam!
 
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4587
SG# 4575 - 4586 // 4591 - 4596 // 17 Sep 2021
Detective Comics Collection
(Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, ...)
The stamp book contains 26 definitive/special stamps (8/18) on five panes
with a total face value of £19.58, post office sales price £21.20.

SG# PM82 // 17 Sep 2021 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
SG# 4575 - Batman
SG# 4577 - Robin
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2i«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
year/source code M21L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
SG# PM83 // 17 Sep 2021 // Retail Booklet
6 x NVI 1st Class self-adhesive stamps (2 x Specials & 4 x Machin Definitives),
printed in gravure by ISP (Walsall)
Special stamps
2 x SG# 4593 - Wonder Woman
Security Machin Definitives
on security backing paper type »2u«
SG# U3027 - bright scarlet; P 14; 2 phos bands;
year/source code M21L/MCIL;
U-slits type »2«
Machin Technical Details

        

DY41 22 Jan 2022 Rolling Stones
(6th issue of the series »Music Giants«)
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M21L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin Definitives 
2 x 10p 2 x 20p 2 x50p 2 x £ 1.00  
central label
 
          Voodoo Lounge
Poster Rolling Stones
Voodoo Lounge
Studio Album
July 1994
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (85p) & 4 x £ 1.70
London, UK 1969
East Rutherford, New Jersey,
USA 2019
New York City, USA 1972
Oslo, Norway 2014
Rotterdam, Netherlands 1995
Tokyo, Japan 1995
Hertfordshire, UK 1976
Dusseldorf, Germany 2017
Special postmark
• The Rolling Stones •
Twickenham • 20.1.22 •
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
The Rolling Stones
2 x 1st (85p) & 2 x £ 1.70
Special postmark
Rolling Street, Salford - 20.01.22
Posters
Urban Jungle and Tour of the Americas
Posters
UK Tour 1971 and American Tour 1981
Special postmark
Rock Village, Alnwick - 20.01.22
The Rolling Stones
Ron Wood, Mick Jagger,
Keith Richards, Charlie Watts
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4622
SG# 4614 - 4621 // 4623 - 4626 // 22 Jan 2022
The Rolling Stones
British Rock Band
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £18.90, post office sales price £20.85.

        

DY42 04 Feb 2022 HM Queen Elizabeth II. Platinum Jubilee
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  litho  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M21L/MPIL  PVA  Cartor
  Machin/NVI Definitives 
2 x 2p 2 x 10p 2 x 50p 2 x £ 1.50 FDC Postmark
central label
        Windsor  HMQ Elizabeth II.
POST CANADA
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (85p) & 4 x £ 1.70
April 1980, Worcester
October 1957, Washington
June 1977, Camberwell
February 1966, St Vincent
February 2020, London
May 2005, Alberta
June 1999, Windsor
June 1978, London
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (85p)
HMQ Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne,1952
Golden Jubilee 2002
HMQ Elizabeth II at State Opening of Parliament, 2012
Trooping the Colour 1967
SG# 4527 - 4634 // 04 Feb 2022 // SG# 3319A, 3320A, 3827,3828
HMQ Elizabeth II. Platinum Jubilee
The stamp book contains 20 definitive/special stamps (8/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £17.84, post office sales price £19.50.

        

DY43 05 May 2022 Unsung Heroes - Women of World War II
Technical Specifications of Machin Definitive Stamps
  gravure  OFNP  2-band (violet) phos  el perf 15 x 14½  M22L/MXIL  s/a  Cartor (CSP)
  Machin Definitives (
new design Machin
New Design
»Cameo« Head style
Reversed colour scheme
Datamatrix code separated
by a simulated wavy-line die cut
) with datamatrix code   
2 x 50p 3 x £1.00  
Non-value label Strip of Machin barcoded definitive stamp
and pictorial non-value label
 
2-band (6.5 mm)
missing source code »P«
Machins in new design and attached datamatrix code
  Members of the ATS
searching the night sky
for hostile aircraft, c. 1942
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
10 x 1st (95p)
Arming the fleet
Women's Royal Naval Service
Powering the war effort
Factory Worker
Maintaing RAF aircraft
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Meeting Britain's demand
Women's Land Army
Protecting Civilians
Air Raid Precautions
Repairing Army vehicles
Auxiliary Territorial Service
Nursing on the frontline
Queen Alexandra's Imperial
Military Nursing Service
Deciphering enemy messages
Codebreakers
Supplying military production
Women's Voluntary Services
Lighting the way to victory
Auxiliary Territorial Services
FDC Cachet
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
»Spitfire Women«
Ferry pilots of the air transport auxiliary
2 x £ 1.85 & 2x 1st (95p)
Pilot completing her post-flight paperwork
in a Lockheed Hudson
FDI Special Postmark
• Royal Mail • Tallentshouse • Edinburgh • 5.5.2022
Pilots of the No. 5 ferry pool disembarking
from an Avro Anson
Pilots meet in their ferry pool
briefing room
FDI Special Postmark
London SW1 5.5.2022
Pilot climbing into the cockpit of a
Supermarine Spitfire
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4671
SG# 4661 - 4670 // 4672 - 4675 // 05 May 2022
Unsung Hereos: Women of World War II
The stamp book contains 19 definitive/special stamps (5/14) on four panes
with a total face value of £19.10, post office sales price £20.75.

        

DY44 01 Sep 2022 The Transformers TV serial
The Transformers - alien robots who can change into vehicles, machinery and weapons - first appeared in toy shops and on TV screens in 1984. Nearly 40 years on, thanks to the addition of comic books, computer games and movies, the likes of Optimus Prime and Megatron have become pop-culture titans.
The main eight stamps are printed with a hidden ink which reveals each of the character's faction logos and names in the Cybertronian alphabet when shone under UV light.
In addition, fans who download the Royal Mail App, can scan the stamp, and watch a unique Augmented Reality animation including a clip from the original animated Transformers TV series.
Technical Specifications of Definitives
  gravure  OFNP  2-band violet phos  el perf 15  M22L/MPIL  s/a  Cartor
  Barcoded Machin Definitives 
2 x 50p 2 x £ 1.00 central labels
2-band (6.5 mm) Optimus Prime Megatron
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (95p) & 4 x £ 1.85
Optimus Prime
   
Megatron
 
Bumblebee
Starscream
Grimlock
 
Shockwave
Arcee
Soundwave
 
FDC Cachet »Transformers«
Optimus Prime
Transformers Insignia - Special Postmarks
Transformers
Decepticon insignia
Botley, Southampton • 1.9.2022
First Day of Issue
Autobot insignia
Royal Mail • Tallents House •
Edinburgh • 1.9.2022
The Dinobots
Insignia covered by Slogan
Grimley, Worcester • 1.9.2022
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
3 x 1st (95p) & 1 x 2nd (68p) & 1 x £ 1.85
Slug (tactician)
 
FDC Cachet »Dinobots«
Grimlock
Swoop (scout)
Sludge (logistician)
 
Snarl (analyst, engineer, and medic)
Grimlock (leader)
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4708
SG# 4700 - 4707 // 4709 - 4713 // 01 Sep 2022
The Transformers
British TV serial
The stamp book contains 17 definitive/special stamps (4/13) on five panes
with a total face value of £19.58, post office sales price £21.25.

        

DY45 12 Dec 2022 Tutankhamun
100th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Pharaoh's Tomb
Technical Specifications of Machin Definitive Stamps
  litho  OFNP  2-band (violet) phos  el perf 15 x 14½  M22L/MPIL  s/a  Cartor (CSP)
  Barcoded Machin Definitives (mixed image types  
2 x 10p 2 x 20p 1 x £1.85
Non-value label Strip of Machin barcoded definitive stamp
and pictorial non-value label
      Outermost coffin
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (95p) & 2 x £ 1.85
Gold mask
Falcon pendant
Lion couch (detail)
Throne (detail)
2 x 2nd (68p) & 2 x £ 2.55
Head of the king
Inlaid fan
Boat model
Guardian statue
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
2 x 1st (85p) & 2 x £ 1.85
Objects in the antechamber
Head of the outermost coffin
Examining the
innermost coffin
Moving small shrine
to laboratory
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4751
SG# 4743 - 4750 // 4752 - 4755 // 17 Dec 2022
Tutankhamun - Finding a Pharaoh
The stamp book contains 17 definitive/special stamps (5/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £20.11, post office sales price £21.55.

    
La République française



1922 - 2022
Centenaire de la Découverte du Tombeau de Toutânkhamon
Souvenir Philatélique
28.03.22 - 1,65 €

        

DY46 16 Feb 2023 The X-men
Celebrating 60 years of the American comic book series
The X-Men were founded by mutant telepath Professor Charles Xavier. His first team consisted of Cyclops (Scott Summers), Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), Angel (Warren Worthington III), Beast (Hank McCoy) and Iceman (Bobby Drake) and was based in Xavier's home, which was transformed into the School for Gifted Youngsters and dubbed the X-Mansion. After many of the original X-Men were captured by the mutant island of Krakoa, Professor X formed a new squad to rescue them, bringing heroes such as Wolverine and Storm into a new international team. Xavier's school soon became a refuge for mutants from all over the world, forming and inspiring teams such as the New Mutants, Excalibur and Generation X. Now the X-Men live in a new home - a reborn Krakoa - that welcomes all mutants. Cyclops and his allies still fight the good fight as the world's premier mutant heroes the X-Men, keeping Xavier's dream alive.
[Source: Royal Mail]
Technical Specifications of Machin Definitive Stamps
  litho  OFNP  centre-/2-band (violet) phos  el perf 15x14½  M22L/MPIL  s/a  Cartor (CSP)
  Barcoded Machin FV/NVI Definitives (mixed image types  
2 x 2nd (68p) 2 x £1.00 2 x pictorial non-value labels
Centre band (4.5 mm) 2-bands (6.5 mm) Professor X Magneto
Special Stamps (1) printed in lithography
6 x 2nd (68p) & 6 x 1st (95p)
Professor X 
   
Kitty Pryde 
Angel 
Colossus 
One of the world's most powerful telepaths, Charles Xavier lost the use of his legs while fighting a super villain named Lucifer. Charles, aka Professor X, formed the X-Men to train young mutants and show the world that they could also be heroes.
For many years, Kate »Kitty« Pryde was the X-Men's youngest member, joining when she was a teenager. Her mutant ability allows her to phase through objects. She was taught martial arts by Wolverine's teacher Ogun and by Wolverine himself, and she adopted an alien dragon named Lockheed.
Sprouting wings while at college, Warren Worthington III fought crime as Avenging Angel before Professor X recruited him for the X-Men. He once lost his wings and was transformed by Apocalypse into a more fearsome entity but eventually regained his angelic appearance.
Hailing from Siberia, Piotr Rasputin [Collosus] has the mutant ability to transform his skin into an organic steel-like substance. His mutation also gives him exceptional strength and power. A gentle soul, Piotr has developed a close friendship with fellow mutant Nightcrawler [Kurt Wagner].
[Source: Royal Mail]
Jubilee 
Cyclops 
Wolverine 
 
Jean Grey 
An expert gymnast, Jubilee was the daughter of Hong Kong immigrants to the USA and raised in Beverly Hills. She joined the X-Men shortly after her parents' death, when her mutant ability to create explosive balls of light kicked in.
When he was a teenager, Scott Summers's deadly optic-blasts threatened those around him. Once Professor X invited him to join the X-Men, he learned to control his powers with the use of a ruby quartz visor. Codenamed Cyclops, he was the X-Men's first team leader.
Wolverine's mutation gives him an amazingly quick healing ability and wild, feral traits. Born James Howlett, he later took the name Logan. His virtually indestructible adamantium metal skeleton and claws - coupled with a warrior-like fury and exceptional martial arts skills - make him one of the world's deadliest mutant heroes.
Jean Grey was one of Professor Xavier's first students, and she learned to control her exceptional telepathic and telekinetic powers under his guidance. She was once also Phoenix, a powerful and fearful cosmic entity. She now leads a team of X-Men with Cyclops.
[Source: Royal Mail]
Iceman 
Storm 
Beast 
Anna Marie Rogue 
Bobby Drake [Iceman] was the youngest of the original X-Men. Able to freeze both himself and the world around him, he saw his abilities become increasingly powerful as he matured. Now he can not only create weapons made of ice but also transform his body into sentient ice.
Ororo Munroe's [Storm] parents were killed in an explosion. The orphaned child survived as a thief on the streets of
Cairo Flag of Cairo Flag of Egypt
until her mutant ability to control the weather made some believe that she was a goddess. Soon after joining the X-Men, she became one of the key members.
Gifted scientist Hank McCoy [Beast] was one of the X-Men's founding members. He gained a more beastlike form while trying to rid himself of his mutation. He has since come to terms with his appearance and revels in the extra strength and agility it gives him.
As a teenager, Anna Marie Rogue discovered that she had the mutant power to absorb other people's memories and abilities - including any superpowers they possessed. After starting out as a villain alongside Mystique, she turned to the X-Men for help, becoming one of their greatest heroes.
[Source: Royal Mail]
Special Stamps (2) printed in lithography
4 x 1st (95p) & 1 x £ 1.85
Juggernaut 
   
Mystique 
Magneto 
   
Emma Frost 
 
X-Men
Special postmark
Charleston, Forfar
16.2.2023
Sabretooth 
Cain Marko is the stepbrother of Charles Xavier. When Marko found a mystical ruby, it gave him the power of Cyttorak, an ancient god-like being, and transformed him into Cyttorak's avatar on Earth: the unstoppable Juggernaut, one of X-Men's deadliest foes.
Raven Darkholme has been both ally and enemy to the X-Men. Mystique can change her form to become a perfect copy of any humanoid. A highly trained espionage agent, she once led the Brotherhood of Mutants and is the mother of the X-Men's Nightcrawler.
Max Eisenhardt [Magneto] was once a close ally of Charles Xavier, but while Xavier believed that mutants and normal humans could live in peace, Magneto thought that mutants had to dominate to survive. A master of magnetism, Magneto is the founder of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
One of the world's most powerful telepaths, Emma Grace Frost was once of the X-Men's deadliest enemies as the White Queen of the notorious Hellfire Club. She later joined the X-Men and redeemed herself - but is still mistrusted by many of her teammates.
Victor Creed is the archenemy of Wolverine, the two having a grudge going back over a century. He is also a killer for hire who revels in his own animalistic brutality. Sabretooth has razor-sharp claws, heightened senses, aquick-healing ability and a heart as cold as ice.
[Source: Royal Mail]
The stamps were also issued in miniature sheet SG# MS4777
SG# 4765 - 4776 // 4778 - 4782 // 16 Feb 2023
X-men - Celebrating 60 years
American comic book series
The stamp book contains 21 definitive/special stamps (4/17) on five panes
with a total face value of £18.79, post office sales price £19.95.

     

DY47 09 Mar 2023 Flying Scotsman
Celebrating its 100th anniversary
Technical Specifications of Machin Definitive Stamps
  litho  OFNP  centre-/2-band (violet) phos  el perf 15x14½  M22L/MPIL  s/a  Cartor (CSP)
  Barcoded Machin Definitives   
3 x 20p 1 x £2.00 2 x pictorial non-value labels
2-bands (6.5 mm) 2-bands (6.5 mm) Engine Number Locomotive's Badge
Special Stamps printed in lithography
4 x 1st (95p)
Pickering Station on the
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
FDI postmark from
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
on 9.3.2023
featuring »4472«
the number of the first
Flying Scotsman locomotive
built at Doncaster Works
in 1923
In the Yorkshire Dales
National Park
Crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct
in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Steaming through the town of Blyth
in Northumberland
4 x £ 1.85
In a blizzard at Heap Bridge
on the East Lancashire Railway
Special postmark from
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
on 9.3.2023
featuring the
locomotive's front badge
Flying
Scotsman
Crossing the Royal Border Bridge
at Berwick-upon-Tweed
At London's Victoria Station
In close-up at Shildon, County Durham
2 x 1st (95p) & 2x £ 1.85
»Scotland by the Night Scotsman«
poster, artwork by Robert Bartlett, 1932
»LNER train service to and from Scotland«
advertisement, designed by HL Oakley, 1923
»Refuelling the Flying Scotsman«
poster, artwork by Frank Newbould, 1932
»Edinburgh: Mons Meg«
poster, artwork by Frank Newbould, 1935
The images of the four stamps were also issued as miniature sheet MS4791
SG# 4783 - 4790 // 4792 - 4795 // 09 March 2023
Flying Scotsman
Celebrating its 100th anniversary
The stamp book contains 16 definitive/special stamps (4/12) on four panes
with a total face value of £19.40, post office sales price £21.05.
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Great Western Railway Company
RM has issued on 22 January 1985 a set of five special stamps featuring famous British trains.
Cornish Riviera
Famous Trains
FDC cachet
The armorial bearings are those of the
GRW Logo of the Great Western Railway
incorporating the shields, crests and mottoes
of the cities of London (left) and Bristol (right).
SG# 1272 - 1276 // 22 Jan 1985 // stampset of five
Famous British Trains

QE 10 Sep 2022 In Memoriam - Her Majesty Queen  Elizabeth II. 
The Queen died on 8 September 2022, at the age of 96.
Special Stamps printed in lithography
1 x 2nd (68p) 1 x 1st (95p) 1 x £ 1.85 1 x £ 2.55
Photograph taken by  Dorothy Wilding  in 1952
to mark The Queen's
»Accession and Coronation«
Photograph of The Queen
in her admiral's cloak
taken by Sir  Cecil Beaton 
in 1968
Portrait taken in 1984
by  Yousuf Karsh 
Photograph taken
by  Tim Graham  in 1996
at  Prague Castle 
SG# 4739 - 4742 // 10 Sep 2022
In Memoriam
Her Majesty The Queen Stamp Set
The images of the four stamps were already issued in 2002 in a
Prestige Stamp Book (SG#  DX28  - Stamps SG#  2253/2257 )
to celebrate the »Golden Jubilee« of HM Queen Elizabeth II.


       

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