Unlike most items in the archive, to research original material in the philatelic collections you must make an appointment with the Curator of Philately (see contact details below).

This is because material relating to one particular subject or issue may be held in more than one location. These would include registration sheets of stamps, metal dies and plates, and modern stamp artwork (from 1985).

Philatelic material must also be viewed under on-to-one supervision, due to security and preservation reasons.

Philatelic material available through the Search Room

Commemorative or special stamp issues and definitives from 1924 to 1975 have been researched and ‘stamp histories’ have been written. These are being updated, and some are available online in the Stamps & Philately section and the online catalogue.

The stamp histories were primarily researched using these archive classes:

• POST 30
• POST 33
• POST 52
• POST 121
• POST 122

You can use these online catalogues to inform your enquiry to the Curator of Philately.

These POST classes contain files from the Post Office on the design and issue of various stamps, amongst other topics.

It is possible to see a small selection from the philatelic collections on display at The British Postal Museum & Archive. See What's On for further information.

The R M Phillips Collection of Victorian philately is available online thanks to a digitisation project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Viewing philatelic material - how to make an appointment

To make an appointment, or to find out more about philatelic material held at the BPMA, please contact:

Douglas Muir
Curator of Philately
The British Postal Museum & Archive
Freeling House
Phoenix Place
LONDON
WC1X 0DL

Tel: +44 (0)20 7239 2565
Fax: +44 (0)20 7239 2576
Email: douglas.muir@postalheritage.org.uk