British Stamps
Our collection comprises registration sheets, essays (trial stamps) and proofs of all stages of British stamp production from 1840 to the present day. We also hold selected metal dies and printing plates.
From 1924 the collections include all artwork, adopted and unadopted, for all issued and some un-issued stamps. Material is constantly added to the collections as we receive around 500 pieces of stamp artwork from Royal Mail every year.
Also included in our collection are stamps for overseas territories produced under the auspices of the British Post Office. This includes some artwork and essays. We also hold some material on stamps for British colonies. These were produced by the Royal Mint or the Inland Revenue at Somerset House.
The final element of our British stamps is the De la Rue material. This contains the correspondence and day books of the stamp printers De La Rue to about 1940. These are available in microfilm format in our Archive Search Room.
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.
Queen Victoria stamps
For the stamps of Queen Victoria there are two major aspects to our collections - the R M Phillips Collection and unique registration sheets.
Edward VII stamps
In the our Edwardian collections we have stamp-size trials, colour trials, registration sheets and overprints.
George V stamps
Our collection of King George V stamps reflects the fact that his reign saw many "firsts" for British stamps.
Edward VIII stamps
Although only four postage stamps were issued for the reign of King Edward VIII there is still a wealth of material in the BPMA collections.
George VI stamps
Our George VI collections includes artwork and essays, proofs, registration sheets and overprints.
Elizabeth II stamps until 1964
From 1952 to 1964 the Post Office had a very conservative stamp-issuing policy, and there were only 20 commemorative issues in those years.
Elizabeth II stamps 1965-1970
The period of the mid 1960s saw a revolution in British stamp design and stamp-issuing policy.
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