Royal Mail has announced details of the In Memoriam Stamp Issue for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving Monarch in British history. The black-and-white set of 4 stamps commemorates the HM Queen Elizabeth II with four portrait stamps, each featuring a photograph over the years.
These are the first stamp images to be approved by King Charles III.
Predictably the stamps draw on previously used black and white photographs of Her Majesty, with the caption 1926-2022 added.
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| 2nd class Dorothy Wilding, 1st class Cecil Beaton photographs as used in the Golden Jubilee set. |
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| £1.85 Yousef Karsh and £2.55 Tim Graham photographs as used in the Golden Jubilee set. |
Technical details
The 35 x 37mm stamps are printed by International Security Printers in litho, in sheets of 50, perf 14.5 x 14. Design is by Kate Stephens and Royal Mail Group Ltd.
Acknowledgements: 2nd class – portrait by Dorothy Wilding © William Hustler and Georgina Hustler/National Portrait Gallery, London; 1st class – portrait by Sir Cecil Beaton, Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022; £1.85 – portrait by Yousuf Karsh © Camera Press London; £2.55 – photograph by Tim Graham ©Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images.
The original Golden Jubilee values were 2nd, 1st, 45p & 65p, and they were printed in gravure by De La Rue, with a 50 watermark (sideways in sheets, upright in the prestige stamp book).
Photograph details:
Photograph taken by Dorothy Wilding in 1952. To mark her accession and coronation, Her Majesty The Queen posed for Wilding 59 times, wearing evening gowns designed by Norman Hartnell.
Photograph taken by Cecil Beaton. The Queen is pictured standing in her admiral’s cloakwith her head tilted to the left. Cecil Beaton to this start, simple and direct image of HM The Queen for use in his first major retrospective at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He hoped that the final section of the exhibition would be the highlight and therefore wanted to ‘try something different’ when photographing HM The Queen. There are no familiar regal trappings such as tiaras, jewels or lavish interiors, but despite this simple approach, HM The Queen remains instantly recognisable.
Portrait of HM The Queen taken in November 1984 by Yousuf Karsh.
Photograph of HM The Queen taken in 1996 whilst she attended a banquet at Prague Castle during her visit to the Czech Republic. It was taken by Tim Graham.
Comment
Looking back at previous stamps depicting her Majesty, few have been studio portraits and most have included other people. Although these must be over 20 years old, they are probably the best that Royal Mail has available which makes it much easier to have the approval of The King.
Very nicely compliment the Duke of Edinburgh miniature sheet - Well done Royal Mail.
ReplyDeleteAs with the Marines stamps, another set being released without the head of the current monarch. I suppose we now have a precedent.
ReplyDeleteThe precedent was actually set well over a century ago. George V's reign began on 6th May 1910 but there were Edward VII stamps issued during 1911 & even 1912.
DeleteI notice there is no side profile of any monarchs head on these. Is this the first ever set of stamps to be issued like this? I know they depict our late queen but previously issues celebrating QEII still had a side profile head on them.
DeleteAlmost all sets which include as a major part of the design, a portrait of the Queen, have no profile.
DeleteA quick look through my Concise catalogue....1972 Silver Wedding, 1992 40th Anniversary of accession, etc etc
Given that Queen Elizabeth II is no longer the Queen though, should they not also have a silhouette of King Charles III as well? I can understand stamps featuring the Queen not having a silhouette when she was still the Queen, but it seems a little odd now that she isn't...especially when it's not like they were printed before she passed away.
DeleteThanks Ian, I stand corrected. I was going from memory 🙂
DeleteIs a reissue of four old stamp images some 20 years later really going to be all that the Royal Mail can produce as a final commemoration of our Queen’s life and service?!? Most disappointing!
ReplyDeleteWhat surprises me is that there was obviously no design kept in reserve for the Queen's passing. The designs are suitably dignified, and as mentioned fit in nicely with the Duke of Edinburgh issue. However, I remember the outcry of the Queen Mother's memorial stamps. At least Diana's stamps were new.
DeleteI agree completely. It's almost an insult. I know they did the same for the Queen Mother, but then, that was only the Queen Mother. This is The Queen we're talking about here. The least they could have done is get some new photographs, or paintings or whatever. It's not as if nobody had seen this coming. Incredible.
DeleteI agree Hutcho a very disappointing tribute for 70 years of service.
DeleteThe end of an era marked by grey stamps. A terrible shame for our Queen who embodied colour in her fashions. Still, I understand why they've chosen to keep them muted.
ReplyDeleteIN MEMORIAM - We may get a Celebration of Her Majesty's Life with lots of pretty pictures a miniature sheet a PSB Retail Booklets Smiler Sheets and Fan Sheets etc another day ...
ReplyDeleteWith the same design of the past issue of the Queen, it is obvious without objection from the King.
ReplyDeleteI note the images of the first coins to feature King Charles have been released. Precursor for design of new definitives perhaps https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63073983
ReplyDeleteA very interesting fact going back to King George I in the 1700's & probably further back no monarch except Queen Elizabeth II has worn a crown on either coins or stamps! She let everyone know who was the boss :-)
ReplyDeleteThis applies to GB stamps, plenty of regal headgear seen on pre-QEII Commonwealth issues.
DeleteIndeed but then in the UK we would not use foreign stamps or currency?
DeleteAre they going to be issued as a miniature sheet or will they be seen used on letters
ReplyDelete"The 35 x 37mm stamps are printed by International Security Printers in litho, in sheets of 50, perf 14.5 x 14. " As stated immediately below the pictures.
DeleteThis a nice set to mark the occasion, and it has been announced June 3 for the Coronation of King Charles III, guessing there will be a set of stamps to mark this occasion
ReplyDeleteAlleged by The Telegraph but not yet confirmed. Don't bank on having a day off yet.
DeleteThe coronation of King Charles III will be Saturday 6th May 2023 officially announced this morning from Buckingham Palace
ReplyDeleteI also expect the commemorative issue to celebrate the event will cost slightly more than the 3s 3/12d they cost in 1953.
ReplyDeleteI've just read the latest November Royal Mail Postmarks bulletin. Postmark 15684 sponsored by The Postmark Club, Cotswold and Stuart covers has the incorrect title of HRH Elizabeth II instead of the HM for Her Late Majesty The Queen
ReplyDeleteWell spotted: I mentioned this to my Royal Mail contact; the covers have probably been cancelled by now, but there may be a review by the sponsor before any embarrassment to Royal Mail.
DeleteWhy is the presentation pack with individual stamps “Pack no. M27” when the In Memoriam HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh pack with mini sheet is “Pack no. 602” (Normal sequence for presentation packs)
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if there is a delay on issue of these? Haven't received mine yet. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, just got them through the letterbox within half an hour of submitting this and sending an online query to Royal Mail.
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