Postage stamps and postal history of Great Britain
Postage stamps and postal history of Great Britain surveys postal history from the United Kingdom and the postage stamps issued by that country and its various historical territories until the present day.
The postal history of the United Kingdom is notable in at least two respects: first, for the introduction of postage stamps in 1840, and secondly for the establishment of an efficient postal system throughout the British Empire, laying the foundation of many national systems still in existence today. As the originator of postage stamps, the UK is the only country that does not need to specify the country on its stamps, but only the denomination.
Until 2022 any postage stamps since the 1971 decimalisation of British currency could be used; old "definitive" design stamps without barcodes will no longer be valid from 1 August 2023, with old ones exchangeable for barcoded ones indefinitely. It was initially announced that stamps without barcodes would not be valid from 1 February 2023. However, Royal Mail decided to add an additional six month grace period.[1] Special stamps with pictures and Christmas stamps without a barcode will remain valid.[2]
Images of UK stamps are protected by Royal Mail copyright, therefore images of current stamps are not in this article.[3]
Early history
The story begins in the 12th century with
In 1661,
In 1680 William Dockwra established the London Penny Post, a mail delivery system that delivered letters and parcels weighing up to one pound within the city of London and some of its immediate suburbs for the sum of one penny.[8]
Postage stamps and The Great Office Reform
The Great Post Office Reforms of 1839 and 1840 were championed by
From December 1839, letters could arrive at any address in the United Kingdom. The flat postage rate went into effect on 5 December 1839 but only lasted for 36 days.[9] This was immediately successful, and on 10 January 1840 the Uniform Penny Post started, charging only 1d for prepaid letters and 2d if the fee was collected from the recipient. Fixed rates meant that it was practical to avoid handling money to send a letter by using an "adhesive label", and accordingly, on 6 May, the Penny Black became the world's first postage stamp in use.
After more than 2,000 suggestions were submitted, Rowland Hill chose the method and printer, and worked by trial and error to achieve the required result. He decided to go with
The stamp was originally for use only within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and as such was, in effect, a local stamp. For this reason the name of the country was not included within the design, a situation which continued by agreement with foreign post offices, provided the sovereign's effigy appeared on the stamp. Envelopes sold with postage paid did not include this, so were marked with the country's name. In 1951, the special commemorative issue for the Festival of Britain included the name "Britain" incidentally. It could therefore be said that the name of the country then appeared for the first time on a stamp of the UK, although the word "British" had appeared on British Empire Exhibition commemorative stamps of 1924.
After the stamp was circulating, it became obvious that black was not a good choice of stamp colour, since any cancellation marks were hard to see. So, from 1841, the stamps were printed in a brick-red colour. The Penny Reds continued in use for decades with about 21 billion being produced.[11]
Victorian era
The Victorian age saw an explosion of experimentation. The inefficiency of using scissors to cut stamps from the sheet inspired trials with
Surface-printed stamps first appeared in the form of a 4d stamp in 1855, printed by De La Rue, and subsequently became the standard type. 1⁄2d (halfpenny) and 1+1⁄2d (penny halfpenny – pronounced pennyhaypny or threehaypence) engraved stamps issued in 1870 were the last engraved types of Queen Victoria; the next would not appear until 1913. Surface-printed stamps of the 1860s and 1870s all used the same profile of Victoria, but a variety of frames, watermarks, and corner lettering.
A 5-shilling (abbreviated as 5/- or 5s) (£0.25) stamp first appeared in 1867, followed by 10 shilling (£0.50) and £1 values in 1878, culminating in a £5 stamp in 1882.
Meanwhile, the age of the Penny Reds had come to an end along with the Perkins Bacon printing contract. The new low values were also surface-printed: first was a penny stamp coloured Venetian red in a square frame, issued in 1880. However, the passage of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1881 necessitated new stamps valid also as revenue stamps, and so the Penny Lilac was issued in that year, inscribed "POSTAGE AND INLAND REVENUE". This stamp remained the standard letter stamp for the remainder of Victoria's reign, and vast quantities were printed. Later issues were inscribed POSTAGE & REVENUE which became the more familiar POSTAGE REVENUE.
1883 and 1884 saw experimentation with stamps using
The last major issue of Victoria was the "
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A perforated Penny Red, letters in four corners and plate 148, therefore printed 1871 or later.
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Threepence surface-printed value from 1873.
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"Penny Lilac" of 1881; 16 dots in each corner.
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2½ old pence (twopenny halfpenny) value of the unpopular series of 1883/4.
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5d. "Jubilee" of 1887, among the first British stamps to be printed in two colours.
Early 20th century
When Edward VII succeeded to the throne, new stamps became necessary. The approach was very conservative, however most of the Jubilee frames were reused and the image of the King was still a single profile. Edward's reign was fairly short and there were no major changes of design as a result. Chalk-surfaced paper was introduced during this time (this type of paper can be detected by rubbing the surface with silver, which leaves a black mark).
By contrast, the stamps of George V were innovative from the very first. The first issue made was of the 1⁄2d and 1d values, which were in the same colours as used in the previous reign. Although the main design feature remained the same – a central ellipse for the portrait, an ornamental frame, value tablet at the base and a crown at the top – a three quarter portrait was used for the first time. However, subsequent designs reverted to the standard profile.
The UK's first commemorative stamps were issued for the British Empire Exhibition in 1924. The pair of large-format stamps featured a lion in an imposing stance; they were issued twice, in 1924 and then in 1925, the stamps of each year being inscribed with the year of issue.[12] A second set of commemoratives in 1929 marked the 9th Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), held in London that year.[13]
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Edward VII 1d of 1902.
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George V 1+1⁄2d of 1912, used in 1928 at Wootton Wawen in Warwickshire.
Independence of the Irish Free State
Following the
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Irish Free State three-line overprint Saorstát Éireann 1922 on 2s 6d King George V stamp
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Green painted Edward VII pillar box at Rosslare Harbour
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George V wall box showing small red specks under the green paint at Tullamore
Abdication and war
A set of four stamps was issued in 1936 for Edward VIII before he abdicated.[14] George VI's coronation was marked with a commemorative: part of an omnibus issue which included every colony in the Empire. New definitives featured a profile of the King on a solid colour background, based on a plaster cast by Edmund Dulac.[15] This was a precursor of the Machins three decades later: see below.
The century of the postage stamp was celebrated in 1940 with a set of six stamps depicting Victoria and George VI side by side. By the following year, wartime exigencies affected stamp printing, with the 1937 stamps being printed with less ink, resulting in significantly lighter shades. Post-war issues included commemoratives for the return of peace, the
In 1950 the colours of all the low values were changed. 1951 saw a new series of high values (2s 6d, 5s, 10s, £1), and two commemoratives for the Festival of Britain.
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Edward VIII 1d of 1936
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George VI 2+1⁄2d of 1937
Modern era
When Elizabeth II succeeded her father in 1952, new stamps were needed. A collection of variations on a theme that came to be known as the Wilding issues, based on a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, was the result. This portrait was by photographer Dorothy Wilding.[16]
Wildings were used until 1967, when the Machin issues were introduced on 5 June.[17] The Machin design is very simple, a profile of the Queen on a solid colour background, and very popular, still being the standard British stamp. They have been printed in scores of different colours; in addition, decimalisation required new denominations, and there have been technical improvements in the printing process, resulting in literally hundreds of varieties known to specialists. Special Stamps with pictures, and Christmas Stamps are also produced; they bear a small profile silhouette of the monarch.
For over a century
After first- and second-class postage was introduced, Non-Value Indicated (NVI) stamps were produced marked "1st" and "2nd", valid for the lowest weight of that class. Either a "class" stamp can be used, or denominated stamps to the value of the postage. "Class" stamps remain valid for the stated class even after price increases. When letter size in addition to weight came into use to determine postage, additional "large letter" 1st and 2nd class stamps were added.[18]
Colonies of Great Britain such as Barbados, Nevis, Fiji, Trinidad, British Guiana, and India at one time all used the William Wyon portrait of Queen Victoria on their stamps. Many formerly colonised countries whose head of state is the British monarch still include the monarch's profile, although some have branched out to stamps depicting scenery, birds or beasts without the profile.
UK stamps bearing the head of Charles III became available on 4 April 2023. Unlike previous stamps depicting male monarchs, the new set features no crowns or any other decorations.[19]
Design trends of British stamps
Up to the 1950s, British commemorative stamps were few and far between; most of the stamps were what are officially called "definitives",[20] in which the portrait of the reigning monarch was the dominant element. Even after commemorative stamps began to appear more often during the 1950s and early 1960s, the monarch's effigy was prominent, usually taking up a quarter to a third of the stamp's design, which limited flexibility and creativity. A change came in 1965 when the then Postmaster General Tony Benn issued new criteria for what could appear on stamps. Designer David Gentleman wrote to Benn about alternative design approaches, suggesting the monarch's head be replaced by another national symbol, such as a crown or the country name; "Great Britain" or "United Kingdom". A compromise, a small silhouette of the Queen based on the coinage head of Mary Gillick, was accepted and this has been the standard ever since for commemorative stamps.[21] When the monarch's portrait is part of the stamp's main design (as for example in the case of issues commemorating the Queen's birthday), then the silhouette is not needed and usually does not appear.
In 1967,
Another trend is the growing use of stamps to commemorate events related to the present Royal Family. Up to
With regard to previous monarchs, stamps were issued in 1987 to mark the 150th anniversary of
In February 2022 new barcoded "definitive design" stamps were introduced. The rectangular (matrix) codes, unique to each stamp, use a trademarked coding designed to prevent counterfeiting and to enable tracking of letters, and to enable correspondents to link digital content to their stamps. Until 2022 any 1st and 2nd class and decimal currency postage stamps could be used; old Machin and country definitive design stamps without barcodes are no longer valid from 31 July 2023, with old ones exchangeable for barcoded ones indefinitely [20] through a process which Royal Mail calls the "Stamp Swap Out scheme".[25] Special Stamps with pictures and Christmas Stamps without a barcode continued to be valid.[2] Stamps are exchanged like-for-like: a "1st class" stamp will be replaced by a 1st class one, not 95p.
Regional issues
Beginning in 1958, regional issues were introduced in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[26] While these issues are only sold at post offices in the respective countries, the Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh issues are valid throughout the United Kingdom. The Channel Islands (since 1969) and Isle of Man (since 1973) now issue their own stamps which are not valid anywhere else.
British postal services abroad
The United Kingdom has introduced postal services throughout the world and has often made use of British definitives bearing local overprints.
See also
- List of British postage stamps
- List of people on stamps of the United Kingdom
- London Penny Post
- Penny Blue
- Post Office (United Kingdom)
- The British Postal Museum & Archive
- Revenue stamps of the United Kingdom
References
- ^ Winchester, Levi. "Royal Mail stamp deadline changed with added grace period". LancsLive. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Reinventing stamps for the next generations". Royal Mail Group Ltd. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Reproducing Stamps". Royal Mail Group Ltd.
- ^ The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 17 May 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- ^ "The importance of high quality address data for transparency and the UK digital economy". Matt Hancock MP for West Suffolk. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ISBN 9780199576128. Archived from the originalon 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ISBN 0951679406.
- ^ "William Dockwra and the Penny Post Service". Canadian Museum of Civilization. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
- ^ "Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms". AskPhil.org – Collectors Club of Chicago. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
- ^ British Postage Stamp Design by John Easton. London: Faber and Faber, 1943. Print.
- ^ "The Penny Red". The Penny Red Collector. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 5 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Retrieved 22 July 2009.[permanent dead link]
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 3 September 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 15 April 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 15 April 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 15 April 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- ^ "1st and 2nd Class Stamps". Royal Mail Shop. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ Coughlan, Sean (7 February 2023). "No crown for King Charles on new stamp". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ a b Usborne, Simon (4 July 2022). "'Eventually it will just be a barcode, won't it?' Why Britain's new stamps are causing outrage and upset". The Guardian.
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 14 August 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ British First Day Covers, accessed 2015-11-19
- ^ National Gallery to acquire Sir Thomas Lawrence’s ‘The Red Boy’ for the Nation, accessed 2021-08-05
- ^ "British Postal Museum & Archive". Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ Royal Mail, Reinventing stamps for the next generations, accessed 6 September 2022
- The British Postal Museum & Archive. Archived from the originalon 11 August 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
Further reading
General
- Hamilton, Patrick. British Stamps: A description of the postage stamps of the United Kingdom. London: Peter Davies, 1948 338p. (Supplement in 1954; 75p.)
- Lowe, Robson. British Postage Stamps of the 19th Century. London: National Postal Museum, 1st ed. 1968, 2nd ed. 1979.
- Lowe, Robson. The Encyclopaedia of British Empire Postage Stamps: Vol. 1, Great Britain and the Empire in Europe. London: Robson Lowe, 1952 456p.
- Mackay, James. British Stamps. London: Longman, 1985 ISBN 0-582-40620-X, 247p.
- Mackay, James A. Under the Gum – Background to British Stamps 1840–1940. Limassol: James Bendon, 1997 ISBN 9963-579-76-0, 536p.
- Oliver, Sidney and F. Hugh Vallancey. The Postage Stamps of Great Britain, 1840–1922. London: "Stamp Collecting", 1923, 563p.
- Rose, Stuart. Royal Mail Stamps: A Survey of British Stamp Design. Oxford: Phaidon, 1980 ISBN 0-7148-2072-5, 128p.
- Todd, T. A History of British Postage Stamps. London: Duckworth, 1949, 274p.
- Wijman, J.J. Postage Stamps of Great Britain and their history. Nuenen: Jeeboer Press, 1986 ISBN 9071622010, 396p.
- Williams, L.N. & M. Commemorative Postage Stamps of Great Britain. London: Arco, 1967, 206p.
Queen Victoria and King Edward VII
- Beaumont, K.M. and John Easton. The Postage Stamps of Great Britain. Part 3, The embossed issues; The surface-printed issues of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. London: Royal Philatelic Society, 1964, 344p.
- Seymour, J.B. and Clive Gardiner-Hill. The Postage Stamps of Great Britain: Part 1, Introduction to the line-engraved issues: the imperforate line-engraved issues, 1840–1853. London: Royal Philatelic Society, 1967, 336p.
- Wiggins, W.R.D. The Postage Stamps of Great Britain: Part 2, The Perforated Line-Engraved Issues. London: Royal Philatelic Society, 1962, 220p.
King George V
- Beaumont, K.M. and J.B.M. Stanton. The Postage Stamps of Great Britain. Part 4, The Issues of King George V. London: Royal Philatelic Society, 1957, 248p.
- Muir, Douglas N. George V and The G.P.O.: Stamps, Conflict & Creativity. London: British Postal Museum & Archive, 2010 ISBN 978-0-9553569-2-6, 275p.
- Phillips, Stanley. The Stamps of Great Britain, 1911–21. London: Stanley Gibbons, 1921, 105p.
King Edward VIII
- Kirk, A.J. King Edward VIII: a study of the stamps of the reign of King Edward VIII. Leigh-on-Sea: G.B. Philatelic Publications Ltd for the Great Britain Philatelic Society, 1974 ISBN 0-9015121-1-7, 31p.
King George VI
- Worsfold, Peter. Great Britain King George VI Low Value Definitive Stamps: An illustrated study of the development of their design. London: GBPS, 2001 ISBN 0-9076301-7-0, 40p.
Queen Elizabeth II
- Potter, David. British Elizabethan Stamps: The Story of the Postage Stamps of the United Kingdom, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, from 1952 to 1970. London: Batsford, 1971 ISBN 0-71340-381-0, 190p.
Postage dues
- Furfie, Michael. British Postage Due Mail, 1914 – 1971: a study of uses of the pre-decimal postage due stamps. Ashford: The Author, 1993 ISBN 0-9522208-0-6, 74p.
Postmarks
- Alcock, R.C. and F.C. Holland. British Postmarks: A Short History and Guide. Cheltenham: R. C. Alcock, 1960, 299p.
- Hendy, John G. The History of the Postmarks of the British Isles from 1840–1876. London: Stanley Gibbons, 1909, 184p.
- Pearson, George R. Special Event Postmarks of the United Kingdom. Hemel Hempstead: British Postmark Society, 1984 ISBN 0-9002140-1-5, 276p.
- Whitney, J.T. Collect British Postmarks. Benfleet, 1990.
- British Postmark Database
Postal stationery
- Huggins, Alan. British Postal Stationery. London: Great Britain Philatelic Society, 1971 188p.
- Huggins, Alan and Colin Baker. Collect British Postal Stationery: A Simplified Listing of British Postal Stationery 1840 to 2007. GB Philatelic Publications, 2007 ISBN 978-0-907630-22-7, 151p.
Postal history
- Campbell-Smith, Duncan. Masters of the Post: The Authorized History of the Royal Mail. London: Penguin, 2012 ISBN 978-0-2-4195766-0, 849p.
- John Bartholomew and Son. Postal History Map of Britain: an illustrated map in full colour with a border of postage stamps. Edinburgh: John Bartholomew & Son, 1970?
- Dendy Marshall, C. F. The British Post Office from its beginnings to the end of 1925. London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1926, 354p.
- Robinson, Howard. The British Post Office: A History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1948, 467p.
Bibliography
- Summers, Howard. Bibliography of the Philately and Postal History of the British Isles. Borehamwood: Howcom Services, 2020 ISBN 978-1-7025-2236-6210p.