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Tuesday, 27 September 2022

HM Queen Elizabeth II Memorial issue - 10 November 2022

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.

2nd class Dorothy Wilding, 1st class Cecil Beaton photographs as used in the Golden Jubilee set.

£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. 

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29 comments:

  1. GONJ27 September 2022 at 03:56

    Very nicely compliment the Duke of Edinburgh miniature sheet - Well done Royal Mail.

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  2. martin27 September 2022 at 06:22

    As with the Marines stamps, another set being released without the head of the current monarch. I suppose we now have a precedent.

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    Replies
    1. Jerwood Philatelics30 September 2022 at 09:51

      The 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.

      Delete
    2. Steve Martin1 October 2022 at 08:17

      I 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.

      Delete
    3. Ian - Norvic1 October 2022 at 10:27

      Almost all sets which include as a major part of the design, a portrait of the Queen, have no profile.

      A quick look through my Concise catalogue....1972 Silver Wedding, 1992 40th Anniversary of accession, etc etc

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    4. Jonathan1 October 2022 at 22:39

      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.

      Delete
    5. Steve Martin2 October 2022 at 17:33

      Thanks Ian, I stand corrected. I was going from memory 🙂

      Delete
  3. Hutcho27 September 2022 at 06:42

    Is 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!

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    Replies
    1. Chris de Haer27 September 2022 at 08:16

      What 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.

      Delete
    2. Adrian27 September 2022 at 08:20

      I 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.

      Delete
    3. petemk27 September 2022 at 09:12

      I agree Hutcho a very disappointing tribute for 70 years of service.

      Delete
  4. Anon27 September 2022 at 08:47

    The 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.

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  5. GONJ27 September 2022 at 11:24

    IN 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 ...

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  6. soldier28 September 2022 at 03:15

    With the same design of the past issue of the Queen, it is obvious without objection from the King.

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  7. Trevor30 September 2022 at 15:04

    I 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

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  8. petemk2 October 2022 at 13:27

    A 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 :-)

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    Replies
    1. Trelantis3 October 2022 at 11:05

      This applies to GB stamps, plenty of regal headgear seen on pre-QEII Commonwealth issues.

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    2. petemk3 October 2022 at 13:01

      Indeed but then in the UK we would not use foreign stamps or currency?

      Delete
  9. michael birmingham5 October 2022 at 21:34

    Are they going to be issued as a miniature sheet or will they be seen used on letters

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    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic5 October 2022 at 21:46

      "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.

      Delete
  10. Martin7 October 2022 at 15:03

    This 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

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    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic7 October 2022 at 16:29

      Alleged by The Telegraph but not yet confirmed. Don't bank on having a day off yet.

      Delete
  11. petemk12 October 2022 at 08:42

    The coronation of King Charles III will be Saturday 6th May 2023 officially announced this morning from Buckingham Palace

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  12. petemk12 October 2022 at 10:47

    I also expect the commemorative issue to celebrate the event will cost slightly more than the 3s 3/12d they cost in 1953.

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  13. redrugby4 November 2022 at 10:41

    I'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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic10 November 2022 at 09:07

      Well 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.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10 November 2022 at 16:25

    Why 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)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Trelantis16 November 2022 at 09:41

    Does anyone know if there is a delay on issue of these? Haven't received mine yet. Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Trelantis16 November 2022 at 11:39

      Believe it or not, just got them through the letterbox within half an hour of submitting this and sending an online query to Royal Mail.

      Delete

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