Collecting British Stamps. by Vincent McCarthy 1840 to 1951 with price guide. As in most areas of collecting it is wise to buy and twopence issues. It was not until 1870 that 4 the best examples of stamps that can be found. two intermediate values were added, the half- The early issues present particular difficulties penny and three halfpenny in a rather dull which make for a real challenge. Imperforate rose-red. Again, decent used examples are stamps were closely printed in sheets and had inexpensive costing between £5 and £15 each. to be cut out by the postmaster with scissors 2 for use by the public. As you might well imag- ine, this practice led to most individual stamps having less than four even margins and why it is difficult to find full, wide margin examples 5 today. The earliest postmarks, the Maltese Cross and barred oval, were designed to pre- vent the stamps being re-used and often obscured the design more or less completely. Embossed Issues. They were in fact known as ‘obliterators’ and Between 1847 and 1854 the new values of six- have left a legacy of problems for today’s col- pence, and one were intro- lectors. duced. These were distinctly different from the 1 existing issues, being of octagonal shape and individually printed on woven paper with embossed dies. The method of printing - clus- tered together on sheets and cut with scissors - means that again it is difficult for the collector to find clear-margined, square-cut specimens. Prices for decent collectable specimens range from around £50 to £150. Some History. 6 Britain has had a postal service since Tudor times when the Royal Mail was carried by 7 courier between the various palaces and noble houses. Charles I made improvements and the service began to carry letters of private citi- zens, for a fee of course. Successive kings and governments saw the Royal Mail as a means of raising revenue, but the system was complicat- 3 ed and inefficient. Mail fees were charged according to distance and weight, and were Surface Printed Issues. generally paid at the end of the journey. It had The embossed stamps were not satisfactory 8 become obvious that a better system was need- and were replaced by surface printed designs. ed and popular support for a prepaid, single To many collectors, this is the ‘golden age’ of price scheme won the day. Rowland Hill was Victorian philately. There is a wide range of Postmaster General in the 1830s and launched types and colours: the work of some very fine a competition to design a suitable label for the artists and engravers. Most have letters in the new postal system, and in 1840 the world’s corners and plate numbers within the design so first postage stamps were issued. The first that the actual year of issue can be determined. stamps bore the head of a young Queen Prices for the lower values is very reasonable: 9 Victoria, based on a medal designed by from £2 or £3 and up. The higher values, from William Wyon, an image of striking simplicity 2/6 to £1, are more valuable today. A few hun- which soon became known world-wide. The dred pounds will buy decent examples, but the Queen herself was fond enough of her youth- scarce £5 orange could now set the collector ful portrait to forbid any sign of ageing on back £600 or more. stamps to the end of her long reign. In 1883 a new range of definitive stamps The penny black and the twopenny blue first appeared, known to collectors as the ‘lilac and appeared in May 1840. These were imperfo- green’ issue. These are not the most attractive rate issues, usually cancelled in red with a of stamps and the problems of fugitive printing Maltese Cross. Even though these were the inks makes it difficult to find decent examples world’s first adhesive backed postage stamps today. The ten values, halfpenny to one they are not as rare or expensive as you might shilling, can be bought as a set for anything think. An average used example of the penny between £200 and £400 in good condition. black can be bought for around £50, whilst the The Golden Jubilee year of 1887 saw another twopenny blue can be found for around £150. issue of most values. This is an interesting Perforated issues came into being in the 1850s, design with the profiled head of the Queen set the same design still being used for the penny in the centre of a variety of ornate borders and 10

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 05 printed in two colours, sometimes on coloured bold profile bust of the king, striking in its sim- 15 paper. The lower values are inexpensive, only plicity. A set of the four stamps can be bought the one pound value being a little expensive at today for just £1 or even less. around £120 in used condition. The abdication of Edward after a reign of less The stamps of Edward VII are not very than a year brought his younger brother inspired, being a virtual continuation of the George VI to the throne. And a very busy reign Jubilee types of Victoria. Most of the lower this was with the Second World War coming in values can easily be found in reasonable used the middle of it. The occupation of the Channel condition for less than £5, whilst the higher Islands gave rise to an unusual issue of stamps, values (2/6 to £1) are around £50 to £120 in bearing no monarch’s head but only the arms fine used condition. of Jersey and Guernsey. These were printed 16 locally at first then at the the French Government works in Paris. A selection of around a dozen of these stamps can usually be bought for between £20 and £25. After a single 12d stamp to mark the Coronation, a full range of definitive stamps were issued between 1937-39. The lower values are still common today and a good range of values, shades and perforations can easily be put together for no 11 more than a few pounds. The higher value The 25 years of George V’s reign is more inter- stamps will cost a little more; around £30 will esting with the first real commemorative issues buy a fine used set of these attractive stamps. 1. 1941-44 Channel Islands. 1d; 2 1/2d.£2. appearing. The range of common denomina- More commemorative issues followed: the 2. 1887-92 One pound green. £120. tions is redesigned with an attractive royal Penny Black Centenary in 1940; Victory in 3. 1939-48 2/6 green £1; 10s blue £2. head. The higher values, two shillings and six- 1946; Silver Wedding in 1948; London 4. 1840. 1d black £50. 2d blue £110. pence to one pound, were designed by Bertram Olympic Games in the same year and the 75th 5. 1870.1/2d. bantam size. £2; 12d rose-red £4. Mackennal. These have become known as the Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union in 6. 1847-54. Embossed issue. 6d. £60; 10d. £90. ‘sea horses’ and depict Britannia armed with a 1949. The marketing of stamps to collectors 7. 1862-64. 6d lilac £25. and 1s green £35. shield and trident, riding a three horse chariot had begun. 8. 1880-83. 2d rose £8; 6d greyish-brown £12. into the waves. To my mind this is one of the The final issues of the reign of George VI 9. 1862-67. 9d straw £35; 10d red-brown £60. finest and most satisfying designs in philately. came in 1951, the year of the Festival of 10. 1883-84. 2/6 lilac £15; 10s blue £55. The early ‘sea horses’ were issued between Britain, when a pair of low values was issued. 11. 1887-92. Jubilee. 4d green £2; 5d blue £4. 1913 and 1918. Prices for these range from More interesting for collectors was the issue of 12. 1937-47 2 1/2d blue; 6d purple. 20p. £25 for the 2/6 to £300 for the one pound. The a set of four re-designed high values. The 13. 1946 Victory 3d violet 10p. three lower values were re-issued in 1934 and designers, Mary Adshead and , 14. 1929 PUC. One pound black.£250. a used set can be found for about £70. A pair of produced a fine and impressive set of stamps 15. 1918. 2/6 ‘Seahorses’ £10. low value stamps was issued for the British which can be bought today from £15 to £35 16. 1948 Silver Wedding 1 pound blue £18. Empire Exhibition in 1924-25. Those dating depending on condition. 17. 1940 ‘penny black’ centenary 1d red 50p. from 1925 are more common and a pair can be 18. 1902-10 ten shillings. £55. bought for £10 or less. 19. 1937 Coronation 12d 10p. 17

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12 Collecting themes Collectors will be able to find a suitable theme The 9th Postal Union Congress was held in such as type or plate number, whilst those London in 1929 and was marked by the issuing interested in postal history may decide to of four very ordinary low value stamps and search for various postmarks. The illustrations one quite spectacular example of the £1 value. on these pages include both mint and used This is a fine rendition of St George, mounted examples, as collectors may opt to include on a lively steed and slaying the dragon. either or both in their albums. Unusually printed in black, the first time this colour was used since the original penny black 14 of 1840, this is a very popular stamp with col- 18 lectors in mint or used condition and will cost £300 to £500. The 1935 Silver Jubilee sees an 19 issue of four attractive commemoratives and these are easily found in mint or used at around £3 the set. The old king died early the follow- ing year to be succeeded by Edward VIII. Only the four most commonly used values were issued, 2d, 1d, 12d and 22d. The design is a

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 05