Catalogue Great Britain

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

Later issues for Great Britain (later than 1936), though these issues are outside the scope of this catalogue I'll list the stamps of this period here for clarity (also because they don't bear any country name):

1936 King Edward VIII

1937 Coronation of King George VI, inscription "12 MAY 1937"

  1 1/2 p brown

A German propaganda forgery with the portrait of Stalin instead of the Queen, and with "SSSR BRITANNIA TEHERAN 28.11.1943" inscription.

1937 King George VI, definitive set

Specialists distinguish between dark colours (issued 1937) and light colours (1941):

Dark colours: 
  1/2 p green 
  1 p red
  1 1/2 p brown
  2 p orange
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p violet
  4 p green
  5 p brown
  6 p lilac
  7 p green
  8 p red
  9 p green
  10 p blue
  11 p
  1 Sh brown

Light colours: 
  1/2 p light green
  1 p light red
  1 1/2 p light brown
  2 p light orange
  2 1/2 p light blue
  3 p light violet

In 1950 this set was re-issued in different colours (all in light colours): 1/2 p orange, 1 p blue, 1 1/2 p green, 2 p brown, 2 1/2 p red, 4 p blue.

I've seen these stamps with "B.A. TRIPOLITANIA" overprint and surcharge: 1 M.A.L. on 1/2 p green, 2 M.A.L. on 1 p red, 3 M.A.L. on 1 1/2 p brown, 4 M.A.L. on 2 p orange, 5 M.A.L. on 2 1/2 p blue, 6 M.A.L. on 3 p violet, 10 M.A.L. on 5 p brown, 12 M.A.L. on 6 p lilac, 18 M.A.L. on 9 p green and 24 M.A.L. on 1 Sh brown.
Furthermore the overprint "B.M.A. TRIPOLITANIA" exist on 1 M.A.L. on 1/2 p green, 2 M.A.L. on 1 p red, 3 M.A.L. on 1 1/2 p brown, 4 M.A.L. on 2 p orange, 5 M.A.L. on 2 1/2 p blue, 6 M.A.L. on 3 p violet, 10 M.A.L. on 5 p brown, 12 M.A.L. on 6 p lilac, 18 M.A.L. on 9 p green and 24 M.A.L. on 1 Sh brown

I've seen overprints "B.A. SOMALIA" on these stamps with further surcharge: '5 CENTS' on 1/2 p green, '15 CENTS' on 1 1/2 p brown, '20 CENTS' on 2 p orange, '25 CENTS' on 2 1/2 p blue, '30 CENTS' on 3 p violet, '40 CENTS' on 5 p brown, '50 CENTS' on 6 p lilac, '75 CENTS' on 9 p green and '1 SHILLING' on 1 Sh brown. F
urthermore the overprint "B.M.A. SOMALIA" exist on 5 CENTS' on 1/2 p green, '15 CENTS' on 1 1/2 p brown, '20 CENTS' on 2 p orange, '25 CENTS' on 2 1/2 p blue, '30 CENTS' on 3 p violet, '40 CENTS' on 5 p brown, '50 CENTS' on 6 p lilac, '75 CENTS' on 9 p green and '1 SHILLING' on 1 Sh brown.
They also exists with overprint "B.A.ERITREA" or "B.M.A.ERITREA".

These stamps also exist with overprint "M.E.F." (Middle East Forces): 1 p red, 2 p orange, 2 1/2 p blue, 3 p violet, 5 p brown, 6 p lilac, 9 p green and 1 Sh brown, 2 Sh 6 p green.

They also exist with overprint "E.A.F" (East Africa Forces): 1 p red, 2 p orange, 2 1/2 p blue, 3 p violet, 5 p brown, 6 p lilac, 9 p green and 1 Sh brown.

Forgeries

A war propaganda forgery from World War II (Nazi-fake), note that the cross on top of the stamp has been replaced by a jewish star. I have seen this propaganda forgery in the value 1/2 p green, 1 p red, 1 1/2 p brown, 2 p orange, 2 1/2 p blue and 3 p violet. Also with cancel 'LONDON AAA0 6 JUN 44 SPECIAL - STAMP'.

Here a 1/2 p Nazi-fake with additional red or black overprint 'LIQUIDATION OF EMPIRE St. LUCIA', 'BAHAMAS', 'BOUGAINVILLE', 'BORNEO', 'St VINCENT', TRINIDIAD' or 'RABAUL' in a rectangle; such overprints exist for many British colonies.

I have also seen imperforate and tete-beche forgeries (these are modern Maryland forgeries).

1939 King George VI, arms, larger size, definitive set

  2 Sh 6 p brown
  2 Sh 6 p green
  5 Sh red
  10 Sh blue
  1 Pound brown

I've seen these stamps with "B.A. TRIPOLITANIA" overprint and surcharged: 60 M.A.L. on 2 Sh 6 p green, 120 M.A.L. on 5 Sh red and 240 M.A.L. on 10 Sh blue.

I've seen overprints "B.A. SOMALIA" on these stamps with further surcharge: '2 SH.50CTS.' on 2 Sh 6 p green and '5 SHILLINGS' on 5 Sh red. Futthermore the overprint 'B.M.A. SOMALIA' exists on 2 SH.50CTS.' on 2 Sh 6 p green and '5 SHILLINGS' on 5 Sh red.

Some values exist with overprint "E.A.F." (East Africa Forces): 2 Sh 6 p green and 5 Sh red.

1940 Stamp centenary, Queen Victoria and King George VI

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  1 1/2 p brown
  2 p orange
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p violet

1946 Victory

  2 1/2 p blue (tractor, house, ship, King George VI in the center)
  3 p violet (dove with King George VI)

1948 Royal Silver Wedding "1923 1948"

  2 1/2 p blue
  1 Pound blue

1948 Channel Isles liberation

Horse and chariot with King George VI (two different designs): 1 p red, 2 1/2 p blue.

1948 Olympic Games, various designs, inscription "OLYMPIC GAMES"

  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p violet
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh brown

1949 UPU, various desings with portrait of King George VI

  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p violet
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh brown

1950 King George VI, higher values, large sized stamps

  2 Sh 6 p green (ship in an ellipse)
  5 Sh red (ships near land)
  10 Sh blue (man on horse fighting dragon)
  1 Pound brown (arms)

These stamps exist with overprint "B.A. TRIPOLITANIA" and surcharge in "M.A.L."

1951 Festival of Britain

  2 1/2 p red
  4 p blue

1952 Queen Elizabeth definitive set, so called 'Wilding'

In this and similar designs were issued:
Queen Elizabeth surrounded by a circle of flowers: 1/2 p orange, 1 p blue, 1 1/2 p green, 2 p brown,
Queen Elizabeth in ellipse, 'POSTAGE REVENUE' at bottom: 2 1/2 p red, 3 p violet, 4 p blue, 4 1/2 p brown
Queen Elizabeth in ellipse, 'POSTAGE REVENUE' in ellipse: 5 p brown, 6 p lilac, 7 p green,
Queen Elizabeth in ellipse, different design: 8 p lilac, 9 p green, 10 p blue, 11 p brown
Queen Elizabeth in ellipse, again different design: 1 Sh brown, 1 Sh 3 p green, 1 Sh 6 p blue.

A special stamp was issued in 1957 in the design of the 4 p, but with inscription "46th PARLIMENTARY CONFERENCE" added.

In 2003 some new values in 'p' were issued in the same designs (in fancy minisheets): 8 p blue, 4 p violet, 'TEN" lilac, 'TWENTY" green, 28 p dark green, 34 p brown, 42 p blue and "E", light brown in a first minisheet. Also "1ST" green, "2ND" red, 1 p orange, 2 p blue, 5 p brown, "THIRTY THREE" light brown, 37 p lilac and 50 p gre in a second minisheet. A third minisheet has two 47 p brown and two 68 p blue stamps, together with a 1 Pound green larger design.

In 2012, for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizebeth II, the 1 Sh brown was resissued, with text "DIAMOND JUBILEE" instead of "POSTAGE REVENUE" and the value changed from 1 Sh to "1ST"..

These stamps, overprinted in "ANNA", "ANNAS" or "NP" were used in Oman, with additional overprint "BAHRAIN" in Bahrain.

Regional stamps were issued for Guernsey, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales/Monmouthshire.

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, various designs

2 1/2 p red, 4 p blue, 1 Sh 3 p green, 1 Sh 6 p blue (inscription '2 JUNE 1953').

1959 Queen Elizabeth, definitive set, higher values, large sized stamps with castles

2 Sh 6 p brown (Carrickfergus Castle), 5 Sh red, 10 Sh blue, 1 Pound black (Windsor Castle).

A minisheet was issued in 2005 with stamps in the above design: 50 p black (2 times, but different design), 1 Pound red and 1 Pound blue.

These stamps, overprinted in Rupees were used in Oman. They also exist with "BAHRAIN" overprint and surcharge

1957 Jubilee Jamboree 1907 1957

1958 British Commonwealth Games, various designs

1960 Anniversary of General Letter Office 1660 (two different designs)

1960 Conference of European Postal & Telecommunications Administration

1961 Post Office Saving Bank, various designs

1961 CEPT

1961 Seventh Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, two different designs

1962 National Productivity Year

1963 Freedom from hunger

1963 Paris Postal Conference Centenary

1963 National Nature week

1963 Ninth International Lifeboat Conference

1963 Red Cross Centenary Congress

1963 Trans Pacific Telephone Cable

1964 Shakespeare Festival

1964 International Geographical Congress

1964 International Botanical Congress

1964 Opening of Forth Road Bridge

1965 Commemoration of Sir Wiston Churchill

1965 700th anniversary of parliament

1965 Salvation Army Centenary

1965 Lister Centenary

1965 Commonwealth Arts Festival

1965 25th anniversary of battle of Britain

1965 Post Office Tower

1965 20th anniversary of UNO and International Cooperation year

1965 International Telecommunication Union

1966 Rober Burns commemoration

1966 900th anniversary of Westminster Abbey

1966... Not listed

1967 Queen Elizabeth, so-called 'Machins', many values were issued, examples:

The first Machins were still issued in 'd' (from the Latin denarius) and shillings '1/-, 1/6, 1/9' or Pound (predecimal Machins), sixteen small sized stamps and four bigger stamps were issued, ranging from 1/2 d to 1 Pound. Later issues (from 1971 onwards) are all in 'p' (pence), or pounds.

Stamps with 'elliptic' perforation were issued in 1993 (i.e. the bottom left and right have additional ellipic holes).

Stamps with security features (two security slits and a background text "ROYAL MAIL" issued in 2009 and "LONG TO REIGN OVER US" issued in 2015). The background text is best viewed under an angle (it is almost invisible from the front). In some of them, the year is also incorporated (for example the '16' for 2016 in front of the crown in the first image). I've also seen a "1ST" grey with "DIAMOND JUBILEE" as the background text.

In 1990 some Machins appeared with the portrait of Queen Victoria behind the portrait of Queen Elizabeth (to celebrate 150 year of the first issue of stamps).

I posess some stamps with silver dots on it, this was to aid the sorting machines, I've been told.

Northern Ireland (hand in star with crown), Scotland (lion), Wales (dragon) and finally the Island of Man (three legged symbol).

Training stamp of 1971(?) in the same colors as the issued stamps. I've seen 2 p green, 2 1/2 p pink, 3 p blue, 3 1/2 p grey, 4 p light brown.

A great site listing all Machin stamps can be found at: http://www.adminware.ca/machin.htm.

GREAT BRITAIN 1937 onwards