George V Commemoratives - Sunday Stamps II

King George V (1910-1936) was a keen stamp collector who played a large role in turning the Royal Philatelic Collection into the most comprehensive collection of UK and Commonwealth stamps in the world, including setting record purchase prices for them.

A set of four stamps was issued to commemorate his silver jubilee in 1935. I can show two of them.

Great Britain - 7 May 1935

A 1 penny red and a 2.1/2d blue made up the set.

For other commemorative stamps check out the links at Sunday-Stamps-II-126.

Royalty - Sunday Stamps II

I have a lot to choose from for this 'Royalty' theme. I've shown Queen Victoria stamps before so this time I'll start with George V.

George V - Postal Union Congress 1929

Philympia 1970 keeps up the postage theme and also gives us another look at Victoria.

Great Britain - Philympia 1970

The three stamps reproduce images of;

• 1840 first engraved issue
• 1847 first embossed issue
• 1856 first surface printed issue

If these don't get me Violet's promised bonus for Victoria then please check out Old-Stamps-from-Great-Britain

I am also spoilt for choice from other countries. Here's a look at royalty in Sweden.

The man who was to become Gustav VI in 1950 was alive when our Queen Victoria was on the throne.

Sweden - Gustav VI

In 1973 he was succeeded by his son.

Sweden - Carl XVI

Carl XVI and Queen Sylvia

This brings us full circle as their eldest child is Crown Princess Victoria.

For royalty from elsewhere and I suspect more mention of Victoria check out the links at Sunday-Stamps-ii-23.

Postal Union Congress - Sunday Stamps

I recently acquired, from my favourite market stall again, a set of stamps first issued on 10 May 1929.

King George V - Postal Union Congress, London 1929

The Congress is the main meeting of the Universal Postage Union which is normally held at every four years. 1929 was the only time it has been held in the UK.

Issues covered at that meeting were the approval of postal paid franking and the establishment of the first airmail regulations.

A £1 stamp was issued at the same time,

(Scanned image from Wikipedia)

As this is valued at £550 by Stanley Gibbons in the used condition I don't expect to see one on my market stall.

This has been a Sunday-stamps. post hosted by Viridian. Visit the links to see what others have selected this week.

Seaside Postcard - Sepia Saturday

People paddling in this week's prompt - 

reminded me of an old postcard sent around 100 years ago from Mabel to Mrs Baker.

Brighton Beach

The card was posted on January 3rd but we have to work out the year from its reverse side.

Mabel's message to Mrs B

"Dear Mrs Baker, Brighton is very windy. We went out this morning and nearly got blown away, This afternoon we went on the pier. 

Jan 3rd, Thank your for the litter (sic). Wishing you a happy New year.

With love from Mabel."

The George V red one penny stamp was in use from 1912 - 1924. So that's why I say the card is around 100 years old.

I can't find either Littledene on Victoria Road or a Mrs Baker in that street although there are many 'Bakers' in the neighbourhood.

I doubt that Mabel would have been paddling on Brighton Beach in January all those years ago. However the postcard shows that it was a popular pastime there at other times.

Brighton beach is made up of shingle and not the sort I would be happy paddling from. I prefer the sandy type that we have in the north-east.

Saltburn Beach and Hunt Cliff 2013

And on the other side of the pier on the same October day.

Saltburn Beach

Well at least the dogs were paddling if not the people.

Now you may paddle over to Sepia-Saturday-234 to see who else is getting their feet wet.

Great Britain - Sunday Stamps

The use of postage stamps started in Great Britain with the famous Penny Black in 1840.

Penny Black (reproduction)

As the stamps were only for internal use the country's name was not included on the stamps; later it was agreed internationally that British stamps did not need the name but all should contain the sovereign's head. In fact there has only been one stamp that has included the name Britain - the stamp commemorating the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Use of the Penny Black was discontinued when it was replaced due to the black colour not showing postmarks clearly. The Penny Red took its place.

I have only one stamp showing Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837-1901 and I have shown this before.

Queen Victoria 1851

There is another stamp of the same value and colour as this. The difference between lies in the design; the stamp I've shown has 16 dots around each corner, the other only 14.

After Victoria Great Britain had four Kings as shown on these stamps from my collection.

Edward VII (1901-1910)

I've shown a reproduction here as my Edward VII stamps are so heavily postmarked.

George V (1910-1936)

Edward VIII (1936)

These are the only four stamps issued for Edward VII before his abdication.

George VI (1936-1952)

These early stamps from George VI's reign include the commemorative for his coronation.

Our present Queen came to the throne in 1952 and is to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee this year.

Elizabeth II

The first stamps issued became known as the Wilding issues as they were based on a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by photographer Dorothy Wilding. Variations on this theme were used until 1967, when the Machin issues were introduced. The Machin design is a profile of the queen on a solid back ground.

Machin issue

In 1971 the currency was decimalised so the stamps changed again for the new values.

Decimal currency

 To save stamps from Great Britain you have always needed to recognise different water marks. In addition technical improvements in printing mean you also need to be able to identify graphite lines on the back of the stamp, phosphor bands (all over, single or double), position and design of the demonination value.There are literally hundreds of varieties.

With the advent of first and second class postage rates the demonination has been removed and in my opinion the design has been ruined by unsightly postage class numbering.

First and Second Class Postage.

 As you can see there is also a different stamp and charge for large envelopes. Postage rates have gone up by over 4000% since Queen Victoria''s days. She would not have been amused.

To amuse yourself further you should view other stamps at Viridian's Sunday Stamps

Universal Postage Union - Sunday Stamps

Last week I put up a first day cover and this week I discovered another that I had forgotten.

 

 

Universal Postage Union Centenary 1974

 The four stamps issued on 12 June 1974 show methods of transport which have played a part in overseas mail in the hundred years, 1874 - 1974.

• 3.1/2p - The P&O packet steamer of 1888
• 5.1/2p - The first official air mail flight from London to Paris at the time of the Coronation of George V in 1911.
• 8p - An Imperial Airways flying boat of 1937 which was later used on the England-Australia service.
• 10p -The blue air mail van and posting box first seen in London in 1930.

 To see what others have posted this week don't forget to visit Viridian's Sunday Stamps 47