Iconic Stamps - The battle of the Icons

Lets take a look at some of the most iconic stamps from the UK and Commonwealth. You may not agree with our choices, but we have to start somewhere!

Iconic British Stamps

The Penny Black

We have to start at the beginning! The black first went on sale on the 6th May 1840. The Post Office reforms by Rowland Hill saw that after months of lobbying the first postage stamp took shape, with the introduction of a flat rate which would be prepaid when the letter was posted. Oddly enough it is a quite affordable stamp with over 65 million printed. Another interesting thing to note that as Great Britain was the first country to issue postage stamps, is the reason we not required to include the countries name on stamp designs to this day.

The Five Pound Orange

Another Queen Victoria issue and a special one at that, it was never a postage stamp in its fore runner in life but started out as a Telegraphs stamp for sending lengthy telegrams. The Telegraphs stamp was abandoned and the plates used for the stamp had the word telegraph replaced with ‘postage’. It was the highest pre-decimal stamp to have been issued. It wont surprise you that very few were actually used for postage, but many were used for excise duty on whisky etc!

The Seahorses

These iconic stamps designed by sculptor Betran Mackennal were first issued in 1913 and printed by Waterlow & Bros originally in June and August of 1913. The £1 value featured here was only ever printed by Waterlow’s. The stamp itself depicts Britannia being pulled through choppy seas by three horses, along with to the left a striking portrait of George V. There were in addition three other high values from 2/6- to 10 shillings. These lower values were also printed by other Contractors, but as a set are considered by us and others as iconic in part to the design and the longevity of their use.

The Postal Union Congress

 These stamps were the second commemorative issues, after the British Empire Exhibition issue some 5 years earlier. The designer Harold Nelson depicts on the £1 value St George and the Dragon, along with the portrait of King George V. Although the stamp had a relatively low print run of under 70,000 stamps it does have a very good survival rate and is not that difficult to find.

The £10 Britannia

Possibly a contentious entry, but in our eyes this 1993 stamp deserves a place in this list. To date it remains the highest value stamp issued in Great Britain. We’ve included this stamp as it has many innovative design features including flourescent coloured fibres in the paper, Braille embossed dots as well as double eliptical holes. By many its considered Britain’s most secure stamp released. A modern icon in our view.

The British Empire and Commonwealth

It would be wrong of us not to include at least one issue from the former British Empire, our decision here was tough to say the least with issues such as the Aden Dhows in contention, but we have gone with this George V issue from the Falkland Islands of 1933. During the early 1930’s many of the British colonies were moving to pictorial stamps to depict events or life in these Colonies. One such set from the Falkland Islands stands out. To commemorate the 100 year Anniversary of British Administration. The set of 12 stamps depicts life on the Islands, and with the help of the stamp engravers and printers Bradbury Wilkinson, issued a stunning set and probably most recognisable sets of the 1930’s. Two values stand out the 5 Shilling King Penguin value, and the top £1 value depicting a frontal portrait of King George V. With the rather small print numbers of the higher values of this issue it is a difficult set to obtain. The King Penguin for interest can stand upto 3ft tall, and is the second largest of the Penguin family.