Elizabeth II stamps 1965-1970
Gentleman Album design.
4d Machin head stamps, 1967.
Churchill Commemoration.
Salvation Army sheet.
Post Office Tower sheet.
British Technology sheet.
British Ships registration sheet.
Prince of Wales sheet.
General Anniversaries sheet.
The period of the mid 1960s saw a revolution in British stamp design and stamp-issuing policy. As a result, the collection reflects the increased number of issued stamps in its holdings of artwork (adopted and unadopted) and essays.
High values
For high values printed recess we also have metal dies, rollers and printing plates. In addition, all stamps are kept in registration sheets for every format including booklets and rolls.
'Off with her head'
Part of the revolution in design was the attempt to remove The Queen's head from stamps. We hold the album of experimental designs prepared by David Gentleman in 1965-6, and also most of the artwork on which that is based.
There are also a large number of essays showing different forms of The Queen's head and ideas for its replacement.
The Machin head
One other result was the development of a replacement for the Wilding definitives. We hold all the submitted artwork leading up to the accepted design by Arnold Machin. Many stages are represented by plaster cast models by Machin. Find out more about the Machin design in our online exhibition Timeless & Classic: Machin's Icon.
Phosphor trials
At the same time watermarked paper was phased out and various phosphor trials were undertaken. In preparation for the change-over to decimal currency in 1971 many colour trials of Machin definitives were carried out at Cambridge. These are all part of the collections.
Stamp Artwork Online
Commemorative stamps and stamp artwork can now be viewed on our online catalogue.
1965 700th Anniversary of Simon de Montfort's Parliament
1965 Commonwealth Arts Festival
1965 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
1965 Opening of the Post Office Tower
1965 20th Anniversary of United Nations Organisation
1965 International Telecommunications Union Centenary
1966 900th Anniversary of Westminster Abbey
1966 Anniversary of Battle of Hastings
1967 (EFTA) European Free Trade Association
1967 British Discovery and Invention
1969 British Architecture, Cathedrals
1969 Prince of Wales Investiture
1970 British Rural Architecture
1970 Proposed World Cup Winners
Access
Our philatelic and postal history collections can also be viewed by appointment with the Senior Curator, Philately, Douglas Muir. To make an appointment, please call 020 7239 2570 or email info@postalheritage.org.uk.
You may also be interested in...
Gentleman on Stamps
A look at the work of Britain's most prolific stamp designer
David Gentleman has designed 103 stamps for Royal Mail, and has had a profound influence on British stamp design.
The Machin Design
The story of the iconic Queen's head stamp
A potted history of Arnold Machin's stamp, one of the most enduring and recognisable designs of the 20th Century.
