Design Process
King Edward VIII agreed to the idea of Coronation stamps featuring Royal Castles at a meeting on 10 March 1936, requesting the designs to be kept as simple as possible.
The work of progressing designs was entrusted to the stamp printers,
Harrison & Sons, as it was felt approaching several artists had not
previously worked well. There were difficulties deciding the size of
the stamps, and finding suitable photographs of the King and the
castles. While ideas were being considered, the Post Office received
artwork for a Coronation medal for the Royal Mint featuring a portrait
of the King by Percy Metcalfe.
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At a late stage the Royal Fine Arts Commission was brought into the discussions. As a consequence Eric Gill was invited to develop the designs so far considered. From the results, the Commission favoured using the Metcalfe head, which being shown crowned was appropriate for the Coronation.
The King’s abdication on 11 December 1936 brought the whole exercise to an abrupt end.
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