Stamps & Philately
This section gives an overview (and not an exhaustive account) of the philatelic and postal history material in our collections. These are managed by the BPMA as part of The Royal Mail Archive.
Most of the stamp and postal stationery collections are public records. This includes the R M Phillips collection and the collection of world stamps. The postal history items (with postal markings) have generally been acquired to illustrate the history of the posts. They are not public record.
Please note that the images in this section are not to scale.
In our collection
Great British Stamps
This collection includes all things to do with British
stamps from 1840 to the present day. It also includes stamps produced under the
auspices of the British Post Office.
Universal Postal Union
We hold a collection of world stamps from the Universal
Postal Union from 1874 until the present day.
Great British Postal Stationery
Like our British stamps, our collections of postal
stationery dates from 1840 to the present day.
British Postal Markings
Our postal markings collections includes postal markings on
letters and envelopes from 1661 to the present day. Famous collections include
those of Frank Staff.
Access
The best way to see all our philatelic and postal history collections is by appointment with the Curator of Philately, Douglas Muir. To make an appointment, please call 020 7239 2570 or email info@postalheritage.org.uk.
From the blog
The BPMA blog contains a number of posts relating to Stamps and Philately. To view these please click here, or follow these direct links:
- 150 Years of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, 11 March 2010
- Postcards of Bournemouth through the ages, 9 March 2010
- International Women's Day. 8 March 2010
- The British Library Philatelic Rarities, 1 March 2010
- The Royal Society 350 Years, 25 February 2010
- Spring Stampex 2010, 24 February 2010
- Stamps in the 21st Century, 19 February 2010
- Bath Postal Museum King George V Exhibition, 17 February 2010
- In celebration of Charles Darwin, 12 February 2010
- Stamp Active Network, 5 February 2010
- 100 years of the Girl Guides, 2 February 2010
- Two new additions to the website, 29 January 2010
- A visit to Post Abolition: commemorative stamps from around the world, 28 January 2010
- Stick it in the Family Album, 25 January 2010
- BPMA aids author, 22 January 2010
- Post Abolition: Commemorative stamps from around the world, 18 January 2010
