SHOW MENU

George V Commemorative Stamp Issues

Introduction

Purpose

The purpose of this exhibit is to show the commemorative stamps issued in Britain during the reign of George V. Included are the reasons for their issue, pre-production material, the production process, various fonnats of the stamp issues, varieties and examples of stamp usage.

Introduction

Eighty years after the introduction of the adhesive postage stamp in 1840 the only Commemorative item that had been issued by the British Post Office was a commemorative envelope to celebrate the first 50 years of the Penny Post in 1890. King George V, a keen philatelist, did not approve of commemorative issues considering them to be "too American". However three events were celebrated during his reign with Commemorative Stamp Issues: the British Empire Exhibition of 1924/5, the Postal Union Congress in 1929 and the King’s Silver Jubilee in 1935. All the time the King kept a watchful eye on the stamp production making sure that the basic designs should have His Head, the value, and purpose (postage and revenue) clearly shown.

The reign of George V saw many advances in the production and issue of postage stamps. There were developments in printing techniques, changes in booklet design, and use of vending machines. Advances in transportation by land, sea and air encouraged the greater use of the Postal Services.

"Only known items" are matted in blue.

Purpose and Introduction - page 1
British Empire Exhibition - pages 2-24
Postal Union Congress - pages 25-56
Silver Jubilee - pages 57-79
Summary - page 80

(link)

Frame 1

  1. Title Page
BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION 1924-25
  1. Introduction and Unaccepted Design by Harold Nelson
1924 Issues
  1. Unadopted Design by Miss Maitland Howard
  2. See sheet 3
  3. Accepted Design by Harold Nelson - Presentation cards
  4. Post Office Circular Announcement
  5. Issued Stamps
  6. Comb Perforation and Numbered Sheets
  7. Postal Stationery
  8. Coil Stamps
  9. Varieties
  10. Usages
  11. Postal Stationery First Day Usages
  12. Usages
  13. Airmail Usages
  14. Airmail and Registered Usages
(link)

Frame 2

BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION 1924-25 (cont)

1925 Issues
  1. Introduction
  2. Stamp from 1½d Registration Sheet
  3. Postal Stationery
  4. Usages
  5. Complete Pane of 1d
  6. Registered and Paquebot Usages
  7. Surcharged and TPO Usages
  8. Souvenir Telegrams
1929 POSTAL UNION CONGRESS
  1. Introduction
½d, 1d, 1½d, 2½d Low Values
  1. Master Die Proofs for 1d and 1½d
  2. Die Proofs for All Values
  3. Issued Stamps
  4. Inverted Watermarks on Sheets
  5. Coils
  6. Booklets
  7. 3/- Booklets
(link)

Frame 3

1929 POSTAL UNION CONGRESS (cont)

½d, 1d, 1½d, 2½d Low Values (cont)
  1. Booklet Panes
  2. Advertising Panes
  3. Cancelled and Punched Stamps
  4. Varieties Found on Sheet Stamps
  5. Varieties Found on Sheet Stamps inc. varnished Ink
  6. "1829 for 1929" Errors
  7. Varieties from Booklets
  8. Varieties from Coils
  9. Plate Markings: ½d Plates 1-3
  10. See sheet 41
  11. Plate Markings: ½d Plates 2-8
  12. See sheet 43
  13. Plate Markings: 1d Plates 1-4
  14. See sheet 45
  15. Plate Markings: 1d Plate 4, 1½d Plates 1-3
  16. See sheet 47
(link)

Frame 4

1929 POSTAL UNION CONGRESS (cont)

½d, 1d, 1½d, 2½d Low Values (cont)
  1. Plate Markings: 1½d Plates 1-5, 2½d
  2. See sheet 49
  3. Plate Markings: 2½d Plates 1-2
  4. Conference Cancellations
  5. First Day of Issue
  6. Airmail Usages
  7. Usages
  8. Usages
£1 High Value
  1. Introduction and Bromide Proof
  2. Largest Known Used Block
  3. Usage on Cover
  4. Souvenir Presentation Sheet for Delegates
1935 SILVER JUBILEE
  1. Introduction and Essays
  2. Autographed Vandyke Portrait Photograph
  3. Essays and Specimens
  4. Issued Stamps
(link)

Frame 5

1935 SILVER JUBILEE (cont)
  1. Booklets
  2. Booklet Pane Multipositives
  3. Booklet Varieties
  4. Booklet Varieties
  5. 2½d "Prussian Blue" and Other Varieties
  6. Perforation Types, ½d Cylinders
  7. 1d Cylinders
  8. 1½d Cylinders
  9. 1½d, 2½d Cylinders
  10. Usages
  11. Usages
  12. Usages
  13. Usages
  14. Revenue Usage
  15. Commemorative Postal Orders
SUMMARY
  1. Developments Affecting Commemorative Stamps During the Reign of George V