Postage stamps and postal history of the United Kingdom: From Victoria to Elizabeth

The United Kingdom has a rich history of postage stamps, with the first stamps issued during the reign of Queen Victoria in 1840. The Penny Black, featuring a profile of the Queen, was the world's first adhesive postage stamp.

The Penny Black was a significant innovation, introducing the concept of pre-paid postage to the public. It was a game-changer for postal services, making it easier for people to send letters.

The UK's postal system continued to evolve under Queen Victoria's rule, with the introduction of the Penny Red in 1841. This new stamp featured a red design and was used alongside the Penny Black.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II saw the introduction of new stamp designs, including the famous Machin series, which was first issued in 1967.

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The early history of postage in the United Kingdom is fascinating. Henry I appointed messengers to carry letters for the government in the 12th century.

Between 1100 and 1135, these messengers carried an estimated 4,500 letters. Private individuals had to make their own arrangements for sending mail during this time.

Henry III provided uniforms for the messengers, and Edward I instituted posting houses where the messengers could change horses. This made the process of sending mail much more efficient.

The reign of Edward II saw the first postal marking, with handwritten notations saying "Haste. Post haste". This was a way to indicate the urgency of a letter's delivery.

During the reign of Elizabeth I, gallows were drawn on the letter to express an extreme degree of urgency of delivery. This was known as a Gallows letter.

Henry VIII created the Royal Mail in 1516, appointing Brian Tuke as "Master of the Postes". This marked a significant milestone in the development of the postal system in the UK.

In 1661, Charles II made Henry Bishop the first Postmaster General. Bishop introduced the Bishop mark, a small circle with month and day inside, applied at London and soon adopted in Scotland and Ireland.

Here's a brief timeline of key events in the early history of postage in the UK:

The Great Post Office Reforms of 1839 and 1840 were a game-changer in the history of postal services. Rowland Hill championed these reforms, which included the invention of the postage stamp.

A flat 4d per half ounce rate was charged regardless of distance, making it practical to send letters without handling money. This rate went into effect on 5 December 1839.

The Uniform Penny Post started on 10 January 1840, charging only 1d for prepaid letters. The Penny Black, the world's first postage stamp, was introduced on 6 May 1840.

The Penny Black was originally designed for use within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and as such, it didn't include the country's name.

Queen Victoria's reign marked the beginning of the adhesive postage stamp era in Britain, with the world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black, being issued in 1840.

The Penny Black was designed by Rowland Hill and featured a profile of Queen Victoria, making it a historic moment in postal history.

The original Penny Black was black, but it was later replaced by the Penny Red in 1841, which introduced perforations for easier separation.

The Penny Red became one of the most widely used stamps of the era, with over 33 billion of the Penny Lilac being printed and released between 1881 and 1901.

The surface-printed stamps of Queen Victoria's reign featured intricate designs and were printed in various colours, reflecting advancements in printing technology.

The portrait of Queen Victoria remained constant on stamps throughout her reign in Britain, though there were varied depictions of the monarch on different Commonwealth stamps.

The Channel Islands released a special stamp in 1945 to commemorate their liberation from German occupation.

Here's a list of some of the notable stamps of Queen Victoria's reign:

The Penny Black's success paved the way for additional denominations, making postal rates more accessible and standardized based on weight rather than distance.

In the modern era, Royal Mail retained the power to issue Britain's stamps after being privatized in 2013.

The postal service initially planned to make old stamps with barcodes invalid from 1 February 2023, but later extended the deadline to 1 August 2023.

Old "definitive" design stamps without barcodes will no longer be valid from 1 August 2023.

However, these stamps can be exchanged for barcoded ones indefinitely.

Special stamps with pictures and Christmas stamps without a barcode will remain valid.

UK stamps bearing the head of Charles III became available on 4 April 2023, featuring a unique design without crowns or decorations.

The Penny Black, the world's first postage stamp, was introduced in 1840 and was originally designed for use within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The design featured a portrait of Queen Victoria, engraved by William Wyon, and was printed in black, but was later changed to a brick-red colour from 1841 due to the difficulty of seeing cancellation marks on the black stamps.

The Penny Black was a groundbreaking innovation that made sending letters more practical and affordable, and its design has had a lasting impact on the history of British stamps.

In fact, many British colonies, including Barbados and India, used similar designs featuring the Queen's portrait on their stamps.

The design of British stamps has undergone significant changes over the years, with a shift from traditional monarch portraits to more creative and flexible designs.

In 1965, a new set of design criteria was introduced, allowing for more variety and creativity in stamp design, and a small silhouette of the Queen, based on the coinage head of Mary Gillick, became the standard for commemorative stamps.

This change allowed for more flexibility in design, and paved the way for the introduction of artwork and other national symbols on British stamps.

In 1967, The Red Boy by Sir Thomas Lawrence became the first artwork to appear on a British postage stamp, marking a significant departure from the traditional monarch portraits.

Today, British stamps continue to evolve, with new designs and themes being introduced regularly, and a growing focus on commemorating events related to the present Royal Family.

Country definitives were introduced in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales as early as 1958. These regional issues were initially only sold at post offices in the respective countries.

The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man now issue their own stamps, which are not valid anywhere else. This change occurred in 1969 for the Channel Islands and 1973 for the Isle of Man.

The English, Northern Irish, Scottish, and Welsh issues are valid throughout the United Kingdom. This means you can use them anywhere in the UK.

Queen Elizabeth II's reign saw a significant shift in British postage stamps, with the introduction of the 'Wilding issues' in 1952. These stamps featured a portrait of the Queen taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding and were produced until 1967.

The Wilding issues were the first stamps of their kind, and they paved the way for future portrait-based stamps. The 'Machin series', which followed in 1967, became some of the most widely used stamps in history, remaining in production for five decades.

The Machin series featured a portrait of the Queen, and they were produced in many different colours. This was a significant departure from earlier stamps, which often featured intricate designs and allegorical figures.

In 1989, the Royal Mail stopped issuing stamps with specific values, instead opting for first and second class stamps that didn't need to be replaced every time postage rates changed. This move marked a significant shift in the way British stamps were designed and issued.

Here's a brief overview of the stamps issued during Queen Elizabeth II's reign:

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II saw a new diversity of imagery on commemorative British stamps, showcasing other members of the Royal Family, ships, historical figures, and more. This marked a significant departure from earlier stamps, which often focused on the monarch and the war effort.

Postage Dues are a special type of postage stamp used in the UK, specifically for mail that doesn't have enough postage on it.

Furfie's book, "British Postage Due Mail, 1914–1971", provides a comprehensive study of these stamps, highlighting their uses during the pre-decimal era.

A notable study on the subject is Furfie's book, which offers a detailed look at the history and usage of pre-decimal postage due stamps in the UK.

Postmarks have a rich history in the UK, with various books and resources available to collectors and enthusiasts. Alcock and Holland's "British Postmarks: A Short History and Guide" is a notable publication, offering a comprehensive overview of postmarks from 1840 to 1876.

The British Postmark Database is a valuable resource for those interested in postmarks, providing a wealth of information on this topic. John G. Hendy's "The History of the Postmarks of the British Isles from 1840–1876" is another significant work, shedding light on the evolution of postmarks during this period.

If you're interested in collecting special event postmarks, George R. Pearson's "Special Event Postmarks of the United Kingdom" is a must-have resource, covering various events and postmarks from across the UK.

Postmarks are an essential part of a letter's identity, and understanding their history and significance can be a fascinating hobby.

The British Postmark Society has published several guides to help collectors and enthusiasts navigate the world of postmarks. For example, George R. Pearson's book "Special Event Postmarks of the United Kingdom" is a comprehensive guide to postmarks from special events.

Postmarks have been a part of British postal history since the 19th century. According to John G. Hendy's book "The History of the Postmarks of the British Isles from 1840–1876", postmarks were first introduced in 1840.

If you're interested in collecting postmarks, there are several resources available to help you get started. The British Postmark Database is a valuable tool for researchers and collectors alike.

Here are some notable books on postmarks:

Postal stationery is a fascinating topic. British postal stationery has been extensively documented in books such as "British Postal Stationery" by Alan Huggins, published in 1971, which spans 188 pages.

One of the most comprehensive collections of British postal stationery is "Collect British Postal Stationery: A Simplified Listing of British Postal Stationery 1840 to 2007" by Alan Huggins and Colin Baker, published in 2007. This book is a must-have for any serious collector, weighing in at 151 pages.

If you're interested in collecting British postal stationery, you'll want to start with a good reference book. The Huggins and Baker book is an excellent choice, covering over 160 years of postal stationery history.

Commemorative stamps have a rich history in the UK, dating back to the reign of King George V in 1924, when they were first issued to mark the opening of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium.

The first commemorative stamps were only available for purchase at the Exhibition itself, but this was later changed to make them more accessible to the public.

A notable trend in commemorative stamps is the growing use of stamps to mark royal events, which started with the accession of Elizabeth II in 1952. This includes stamps issued to commemorate royal occasions, such as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's death in 2002 and Princess Diana's death in 1998.

Commemorative stamps have also been used to honor previous monarchs, with stamps issued in 1987 to mark the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession and in 1997 to mark the 450th anniversary of King Henry VIII's death.

The Royal Mail used to have a policy of not showing living people on British stamps, except for the monarch and other members of the Royal Family.

This policy changed in 2005 with the release of a series of stamps celebrating the England cricket team's victory over Australia.

The first clearly identifiable people were included on stamps in 2005, marking a significant shift in the Royal Mail's policy.

Since then, stamps featuring celebrities and sportspeople have become a regular occurrence.

One notable example is the 2012 release of stamps featuring Great Britain's Olympic and Paralympic gold medal winners, which proved to be a huge hit with collectors.

It's amazing to think that just a few years ago, it was rare to see living people on British stamps, but now it's almost the norm.

Edward VIII's reign was brief, lasting only a year in 1936. He was the first British monarch to abdicate the throne.

A series of postage stamps bearing his profile portrait were produced during his reign. These stamps were taken by Hugh Cecil's studio.

Unfortunately, due to his abdication, other issues of stamps bearing his image never made it past the concept and design stage. This kept his chapter in British postal history very short.

Commemorative stamps have a rich history in Great Britain, and it's fascinating to explore their evolution.

The first commemorative stamps in the way we know them today were issued in 1924, to mark the opening of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium.

The King himself was a highly enthusiastic stamp collector, and his collection is now one of the most impressive and valuable in the world.

The 1924 commemorative stamps were initially only available for purchase at the exhibition, but this was later changed.

Two stamps were issued in 1924, one worth a penny and the other valued at a penny and a half.

A very similar design was used for the 1925 Exhibition, and commemoratives gradually became more common.

Arnold Machin's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II has been used on British definitive stamps for nearly half a century.

Machin was an accomplished artist and designer, but his other work is relatively unknown.

In 1966, Machin was selected as the winner of the competition to decide whose design would be used on the new stamps.

The first Machin definitives were produced the following year, and since then, an astonishing 170 billion of his British postage stamps have been produced.

Machin's design was also used for quite a few years on British coins, many of which are still in circulation.

The early 20th century saw a significant increase in the use of postage stamps in the United Kingdom.

The introduction of the King Edward VII postage stamps in 1902 marked a new era in British philately, featuring the monarch's portrait for the first time.

The British Empire continued to expand during this period, with stamps issued for various colonies and dominions.

The 1908 Universal Postal Union Congress in Rome led to the adoption of a new standard for international postage rates.

The UK's first airmail stamps were introduced in 1919, marking the beginning of a new era in postal services.