Stamp Artwork Project

The Stamp artwork project encompasses stamp issues from the reigns of George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II, and covers the entire process of each issue, from submitted artwork, through essays to the issued stamps.

The BPMA will be adding further items to the catalogue through the course of 2009 and 2010, taking the cataloguing of stamp artwork into the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

George V stamps

British Empire Exhibition (1924)

Great Britain's first commemorative stamps were issued on 23 April 1924 - this marked the first day of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley. This hugely ambitious exhibition was held as a celebration of the Empire, and the stamp designs were intended to reflect this.

Read more about this issue | Find this on our online catalogue - 1924 issue; 1925 issue
View the stamp history - 1924 issue; 1925 issue

Postal Union Congress (1929)

The ninth Postal Union Congress was opened in London on 10 May 1929, with special stamps released on the opening day.

Silver Jubilee, 1910-1935 (1935)

The stamps issued to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V were printed in photogravure, the first time the process had been used for a special issue.

Proposed Memorial issue (1936)

The death of King George V on 20 January 1936 led to calls for a memorial stamp. The possible designs were shown to a meeting of the Jubilee Trust, but subsequently the King found none of the suggestions acceptable.

Edward VIII stamps

King Edward VIII Accession issue (1936)

The accession of King Edward VIII resulted in ambitious plans from the Post Office. The Accession issue was intended to be temporary, and would be replaced by a Coronation issue.

Proposed King Edward VIII Coronation issue (1936)

Various designs were produced for the King Edward VIII Coronation issue, but when the King abdicated the whole exercise came to an abrupt end.

George VI stamps

Coronation (1937)

Plans for the Coronation of King Edward VIII on 12 May 1937, including a set of stamps, had to be aborted on news of the abdication on 11 December 1936. The Post Office was faced with two demands: new definitives for King George VI and an issue to celebrate his Coronation, still scheduled for 12 May.

Centenary of first adhesive Postage Stamps (1940)

The Post Office had made an early decision to mark the centenary of the Penny Black with both special, perhaps even bi-coloured, stamps and an exhibition.

Proposed Anglo-French issue (1940)

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, and the resulting greater co-operation between Britain and France, there were many calls, often expressed through the Press, for a joint stamp issue, perhaps a stamp valid in both nations or a common design.

Victory (1946)

While the Second World War was still in its early stages there were calls for designs to be prepared for 'Victory' stamps. However, the idea was resisted, apparently at Cabinet level.

Proposed issue for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth (1947)

The Post Office felt that the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Philip Mountbatten, later Duke of Edinburgh, was worthy of new stamps. However, as the announcement was made on 9 July, and the wedding was on 20 November 1947, it believed there was insufficient time to prepare an issue.

Royal Silver Wedding (1948)

The Royal Silver Wedding of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was marked by stamps following criticism at the failure of the Post Office to issue stamps for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth in 1947, and the valuable dollars thereby lost.

Channel Islands Liberation (1948)

Following the liberation of the Channel Islands on 9 May 1945, representatives from the islands pressed the Post Office for ways to rejuvenate their tourist trade. Among the options were separate definitives, or at worst a special postmark.

Proposed issue for the Birth of the King's First Grandchild (1948)

When calls came for stamps to celebrate the birth of King George VI’s first grandchild, reaction within the Post Office was reserved, fearing that similar demands would be made on every Royal occasion and anniversary.

Universal Postal Union (1949)

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) effectively came into being on 9 October 1874. The idea was put forward that all members should commemorate the 75^th anniversary in 1949, perhaps using common designs, and with a single printer. While such extremes were viewed as impracticable, agreement was reached that stamps be produced.

Festival of Britain (1951)

The plan to celebrate the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851 with a Festival was accompanied by a request for stamps. The request was bold, suggesting a complete new range.

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