Norvic Philatelics - GB New Stamps and Special Postmarks
90th Birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth II - stamp issue 21 April 2016
This year marks the 90th Birthday of
HM The Queen Elizabeth II.
Already the longest reigning UK monarch,
she is also the oldest reigning monarch in the world, and 90 years is a
significant landmark. The six sheet stamps celebrate with three
stamps focusing on her family life, and three honouring her official work
for the country. Royal Mail has never issued a stamp featuring The Queen
with her father, and this is remedied with the first stamp. An image of
her with her children, the young Prince Charles and Princess Anne conveys
her family life, while a stamp with the Duke of Edinburgh marks their long
partnership. Three other stamps mark The Queen’s official duties: as Head
of State for the opening of Parliament; as Head of the Commonwealth where
she is depicted with Nelson Mandela; and on a state visit to New Zealand,
to represent more than 100 state visits made worldwide by Her Majesty
since her accession.
The photograph used for the miniature sheet (and PSB pane) shows Her
Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness Prince Charles The Prince of Wales,
His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales The Duke of Cambridge, and His
Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. This represents the line
of succession to the throne of the United Kingdom
|
1st Class
HM The Queen with her father 1930.
HM The Queen attends the State Opening of Parliament 2012.
HM The Queen with Princess Anne and Price Charles 1952.
£1.52 Airmail Europe 1000g:
HM The Queen Visits New Zealand 1977
HM The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh 1957
HM The Queen with Nelson Mandela 1996
|
 
 
|
Prestige Stamp Book.
These are studio designs but are believed to represent the actual
finished product, apart from the definitives.
Pane 3 - definitives.
2 x 1st class red Machin
2 x 1st class purple Machin
1st class England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland country
definitives.
The Machin definitives are shown in detail at the foot of the
table.
Pane 4 - miniature sheet
(scan of actual page)
4 x 1st class:
His Royal Highness Prince Charles The Prince of Wales
Her Majesty The Queen
His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge
His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales The Duke of Cambridge |
|
Miniature sheet
A differently cropped version of the photograph which shows the
Royal Group off-centre.
By the time the design was revealed it was too late for Royal Mail
to act on the suggestion that cropping out the 'spare' chair,
would result in a smaller sheet that would be more useful for
actually using as postage.
4 x 1st class:
For details see above.
|
A further Retail Book will be issued on 9 June 2016 containing the
other two stamps from the miniature sheet and 4 Machin
definitives. |
Self-adhesive
retail book containing 2 x 1st class stamps from the
miniature sheet and 4 x 1st class purple Machin
definitives |
Detail of definitive stamps
contained in the prestige book and retail booklet
 |
1st class red
has year code M16L and
source code MPIL at top
left and top right respectively.
1st class purple
from PSB has O16R below
the chin and (REI)GP
behind the head.
1st class purple
from retail booklet has O16R
below the chin and (REI)GC
behind the head. |
Technical details:
The stamps are designed by Kate Stephens and
printed by International Security Printers in litho. Each stamp is
37 x 35mm. Credits: HM The Queen with her father
c.1930, photograph by Marcus Adams © Camera Press London; HM The
Queen attends the State Opening of Parliament 2012 © Peter
MacDiarmid/Getty Images; HM The Queen with Princess Anne and Prince
Charles, 1952 © Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images; HM The Queen
visits New Zealand 1977 © Anwar Hussein/Getty Images; HM The Queen
with The Duke of Edinburgh 1957 © AP/PA Images; HM The Queen with Nelson
Mandela 1996 © Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images; typographic
elements by Mike Pratley
Designed by Kate Stephens (designer of the six special stamps) and
written by royal correspondent Robert Hardman, the Prestige Stamp Book
features a chronological account of the life and reign of Her Majesty The
Queen. It is printed by International Security Printers in litho,
all panes on gummed paper.
The miniature sheet is again a massive 179 x 74 mm, almost impossible to
use even on a c5 envelope. The stamps are 27 x 37 mm, and the sheet
is printed in litho by International Security Printers.
Set of 6 stamps Miniature Sheet
Presentation Pack Prestige Stamp
Book Limited Editon PSB*
First Day Covers (2) Set of 11 Stamp
Cards Retail booklet Coin
Cover
* A limited
edition version of 1926 PSBs will be produced with a different cover
and with 22ct Gold applied to both the front cover and to the gold
label in the centre of the Definitive pane. There will be special
additional packaging for this limited edition PSB. This product
is not aimed at the philatelic market, and is priced at £59.99.
Special Postmarks available on the day of this issue will be shown on
Royal Mail's Postmark Bulletin webpage.
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This page updated 22 May 2016
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