Personal tools
You are here: Home → Collections → Archive collection → Stamps & Philately → Great British stamps → George VI stamps

George VI stamps

Hear this page read aloud

To enable the content of this page to be read aloud, download and install the latest Flash Player from Adobe's web site

Download - Help with audio

Our collections contain all of the artwork (adopted and unadopted) and essays for the definitive and commemorative stamp issues of George VI’s reign. This includes the plaster model of the king’s head created by Edmund Dulac.

Image of Dulac plaster cast of George VI

Plaster model of the king's head created by Edmund Dulac


It also includes the artwork that Dulac and Eric Gill created for low value definitives that was based on the model. For the high values printed recess we have the original metal dies but no plates.


Image of 1937 Gill and Dulac 1d stamp

Gill and Dulac definitive 1d stamp


We hold artwork, essays, or proofs, and registration sheets for all stamps issued in sheets, books and rolls. There are also sheets of overprinted stamps for:

  • Morocco Agencies
  • Wartime occupations
  • The Gulf after India became independent

Unissued stamps

Image of 1940 proposed Anglo-French issueOf particular interest are three stamp issues which never came to fruition. The most important was a proposed issue for the union of France and Great Britain in 1940 (pictured). This collapsed with the fall of France. In the collections is the entire history of designs and essays up to late June 1940.

Other proposed issues included Regional stamps and an issue for the birth of the King’s first grandchild (Prince Charles).

'Emergency' designs

Image of letter press stamp essay in case of emergencyAlso of interest is some material related to some designs created in case of emergency.  All low value GB stamps of George VI were printed in gravure by Harrison & Sons. The Post Office was worried that they were the only suppliers of gravure stamps. Designs (one pictured) were therefore created for letterpress stamps in case of emergency.

These were never issued, but dies and plates were created for several values and the design was used for postal stationery. Black proof sheets from the Royal Mint, several metal dies and three printing plates survive in our collections.

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.