Yet another Prestige Stamp Book is being issued, this time for the 350th Anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Observatory - probably more qualified than some subjects. Royal Mail is pushing the boat out with a set of six stamps, a miniature sheet, PSB and coin covers.
Information from Royal Mail
This stamp issue celebrates the history of, and the scientific developments achieved at, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, since the 350th anniversary of its foundation in 1675.
The Royal Observatory was founded by King Charles II and is one of Britain’s oldest institutions.
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, was founded to provide better star charts that would enhance navigation for global trade.
Flamsteed House became home to ten successive Astronomers Royal who observed the stars and developed new instruments such as the Airy Transit Circle and Great Equatorial Telescope. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was made publicly visible via the Shepherd Gate Clock and its distribution via telegraph signals became an essential part of daily life.
Out at sea, Royal Navy surveyors plotted their longitude from Greenwich using chronometers based on John Harrison’s revolutionary marine timekeepers. The widespread use by ships worldwide of charts based on the Greenwich Meridian contributed to the international recognition of Greenwich as Prime Meridian of the world in 1884.
The Observatory survived two world wars but was ultimately defeated by London’s polluted skies. Today the historic site welcomes thousands of visitors each year and attracts even more people online with livestream events from the Annie Mauder Austrographic Telescope.
The stamps
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| Set of 6 x 1st class stamps marking the 350th Anniversary of the Royal Observatory,12 June 2025 |
In the order shown above: Flamsteed House; Airy Transit Circle Telescope; Shepherd Gate Clock; Prime Meridian; Great Equatorial Telescope; Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope. [The stamps are in vertical se-tenant pairs in separate sheets, as shown above.]
Technical details and acknowledgements
Designed by Steers McGillan Eves, the 60 x 30 mm stamps are printed in lithography in sheets of 60 in se-tenant pairs by Cartor Security Printers (CSP). All images © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, except: Prime Meridian Stamp – lines of longitude drawing © Patrick Guenette/Alamy Stock Vector; Airy Transit Circle Telescope stamp – Black-and-white drawing © Chronicle/Alamy Stock Photo; Shepherd Gate Clock stamp – main image © Terry Mathews/Alamy Stock Photo.
The miniature sheet honours John Harrison, who has been honoured twice before on Britain's stamps.
The four-stamp miniature sheet celebrating Harrison's perseverance, determination and ingenuity.
Four First Class stamps showcase each of Harrison’s prototypes for measuring Longitude at sea that became known as H1, H2, H3 and H4.
H4, defying conventional wisdom by adopting a watch design went on to win the 1714 Longitude Act just three years before his death after a dispute over the criteria.
The next generation of clockmakers subsequently developed Harrison’s ideas into the marine ‘chronometer’ that became an essential part of navigational practice in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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| Miniature sheet of 4 x 1st class stamps issued to mark the 350th Anniversary of the Royal Observatory, 12 June 2025 |
Steers McGillan Eves also designed the 115 x 89 mm miniature sheet, which contains four 27 x 37 mm stamps printed in litho with ordinary gum by CSP. Stamp images © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London; background image – portrait of John Harrison oil on canvas by Thomas King © Science Museum, London/ Bridgeman Images.
Prestige Stamp Book
The 24-page Prestige Stamp Book explores the rich history of Astronomy at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.
It contains all ten stamps in the Royal Observatory stamp issue and an additional page of definitive stamps, unique to the issue. Packed with historical insights the book delves into how the Observatory survived two world wars, the first female astronomers and various discoveries made by Astronomer Royals. The Special Stamp panes (including Minisheet) are printed in Litho and PVA gum. The Stamps on the Mixed Definitive pane are printed in Gravure and Self-Adhesive.
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| Cover of 350th Anniversary of the Royal Observatory Prestige Stamp Book, 12 June 2025 |
The definitive pane contains two 2nd class and two 50p stamps, cost £2.74, expected to be MPIL M25L
Products available
Set of 6 stamps, 4-stamp miniature sheet, first day covers (3 including PSB definitive pane), presentation pack, stamp cards (11), press sheet of 15 miniature sheets, £2 coin covers (cupro-nickel & brass, silver proof, gold proof), framed set, and a product described as a framed minisheet but which actually has the four stamps removed from the minisheet (or PSB pane, the mount has the same design as PSB pane 4).
Again, no 2nd class stamps?
ReplyDeleteIf Royal Mail had said that all special stamps would be 1st class only - except for Christmas - it would have been disappointing... but only once, not recurring regret every single time a new issue is promoted without 2nd class offerings.
As I mentioned on a previous issue, it is likely that some sets were printed before that announcement.
DeleteYou will be pleased to know - as mentioned in a comment on the 2025 programme thread (I think it was that one) - the Mushrooms include 5 each 2nd and 1st.
Thank you for that; it's certainly good to know.
DeleteIndeed, I had hoped that the price point of the Mushrooms issue meant that was the case - esp. by comparing with the price of the Garden Wildlife issue (allowing for the intervening tariff increase) - but I had also thought that the lower price of the Royal Observatory set didn't just mean fewer stamps than the preceding issues.
Again, many thanks.
As I read the announcement (maybe wearing my cynic's hat?) issues would not include anything other than 1st or 2nd, not that all issues would include 2nd class.
DeleteNo Harrison H6 Lesser Watch Del Boy will be disappointed !!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete