The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, 6 May 2023 and Royal Mail will issue a miniature sheet of 4 stamps to commemorate this historical event.
Since ancient times, different civilisations all over the world have honoured new leaders or rulers with a strikingly similar ritual, incorporating a religious dimension, some sort of throne and a crown. That has certainly been the model for every English, Scottish and, latterly, British coronation.
The monarchy can be regarded as the nation’s ultimate symbol of continuity and stability. As is traditional, the service for
King Charles III’s coronation will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry. It will also cement the King's role as Head of the Church of England, somewhat ironic when recent census results show fewer people regard themselves as Christian.
Controversially, the design approach considers the day itself only briefly with the Coronation event depicted on the first stamp of the set. The other three stamps are intended to look beyond the day to “A New Reign” and the New Carolean era, with a look at three aspects personal to King Charles III.
The four stamp designs and miniature sheet background feature newly commissioned wood engravings by British artist Andrew Davidson. The Miniature Sheet background depicts intermingling foliage, symbolic of the four countries of the UK: the rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock.
 |
| Miniature Sheet of 4 stamps marking the New Reign of His Majesty King Charles III issued 6 May 2023. |
1st class - THE CORONATION - Represents the Monarchy, continuity, longevity, heritage, and tradition
1st Class: DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY - Reflects a multi-faith community, cohesion, and the people of modern Britain.
The stamp design features figures representing the Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths in the foreground. It is representative of all faiths and none. The setting features aspects of both rural and urban Britain in the background, and includes religious buildings representing these six faiths from different regions of the UK.
£2.20: THE COMMONWEALTH - Depicts an outward looking Britain, global trade, co- operation, democracy, and peace
£2.20 SUSTAINABILITY AND BIODIVERSITY - Highlights the importance of conservation, biodiversity and a society that works with nature.
The stamp design depicts a juxtaposition of natural landscapes and sustainable farming methods and features renewable sources of energy such as hydro-electric power, solar panels, and electric trains. Wildlife conservation is referenced with the inclusion of diverse forests, wildflower meadows, insects, and pollination. Traditional crafts such as hedge-laying and beekeeping are also depicted.
Technical details
These designs would obviously be best reproduced in gravure/recess but the work is in lithography by Cartor Security Printers, design by Atelier Works. The sheet is 115 mm x 89 mm with stamps 35 mm square. The sheet is printed on conventionally gummed paper.
None of the stamps is being issued as a single in a counter sheet, although reproducing the Coronation stamp by itself in this way would be an ideal way for the ordinary social user to use the stamps on inland mail, and two of them would make the 100 g Airmail rate worldwide. An opportunity missed.
Other products
Presentation Pack, First Day Cover, Postcards, Collector Sheet, Press Sheet of 16 miniature sheets (price £105.60), Framed sheet (£29.99), coin covers, the cheapest being £19.99 - these will not be available until 15 May.
Collector Sheet - the sheet contains two sets of stamps with four different labels. It is self-adhesive, making the stamps different to those in the miniature sheet. The price is £14.40 (ie 9% more than the face value of the stamps).
 |
| King Charles III - A New Reign - self-adhesive collectors sheet |
UPDATE 9 May - I'm told that this sheet will not be at Tallents House until 12 May. Customers will probably see them next week.
First Day Covers sent to Handstamp Centres after the Coronation weekend will be postmarked as usual with the requested 6 May handstamp. The May Postmark Bulletin has been produced in email form, and should be published next week.
In the past there have been problems obtaining blank first day covers from Post Office branches after the day of issue - they are normally on sale for a week before the day of issue, but should in this case be available afterwards.
The May Postmark Bulletin is now online here.
On the main stamp not only is the crown shown half as wide again as it actually but also there's no way that with weighing five pounds the crown would be held aloft just at the front rather than at both sides. Dreadful.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteOh come on, that is really clutching at straws to find something to criticise. I let all your comments through, but people don't always disagree with you publicly.
DeleteI've been buying special stamps since 1965 (when they were rare). Does anyone else remember such a badly designed set?
ReplyDeleteWhat awful stamps for a coronation - better suited to a funeral than a celebration.
ReplyDeletehttps://shop.royalmail.com/special-stamp-issues/his-majesty-king-charles-a-new-reign suggests all the products are available from 6th May rather than 15th.
ReplyDeleteI can think of nothing positive to say about this issue. It is absolutely dreadful in every way,from the design to the fact that the stamps are only available as a miniature sheet.
ReplyDeleteI had intended to buy the stamps,presentation packs,FDC and probably any postcards produced but I will now only be buying one miniature sheet.
A huge opportunity missed - Royal Mail should be ashamed
As a stamp user, I usually buy (or have been buying) most issues to use on letters, but with the postage rate rise this month, and I really do have enough stamps for postage to last a while, I should resist the new stamps. Easily done for this miniature sheet.
DeleteI think it shows the shape of stamps to come in this reign out of touch with the public even what they portray is a country that doesn't exist anymore a land of Thomas Hardy
ReplyDeleteI can't agree. I had a discussion on another forum about the green stamp. It shows alternative energy - hydro and solar panels; it shows the way farmers are working to correct the errors of the past (hedge clearing) by proper hedge-laying or hurdle-fence making; and having space for beehives which are essential to the fertilisation of many food products in this country and around the world.
DeleteThe red stamp shows, inter alia, the Commonwealth Games, trade - yes even more important after Brexit - and our relations with the widening Commonwealth of Nations.
I like the designs, but agree that they have not worked very well on such small stamps. I also agree that at least the Coronation stamp should have been issued as a counter sheet so that the (still) many supporters of the Royal Family could use them for as along as they wanted to on their social correspondence.
Lastly I have used the word designs advisedly - these stamps are NOT bland photographs of birds, fish, royalty, trains, cars, planes - they are actually designed and with input by the subject of the stamps.
Currently (once again) unable to comment through my Google account!
Ian/Norvic
Well said Ian. I think these stamps capture well the King's priorities. It makes a nice change from yet more photographs. Hopefully the sign of things to come.
DeleteExcellent summary, Ian. As a long term 'lurker' on the blog (which is excellent, by the way), I have never before felt the need to join in the conversation.. so this is a first. I think many of us agree that the level of care put into design and production at Royal Mail have fallen away massively in recent years. Massive overproduction of issues is a chicken and egg issue.. are the designs poor because they are being churned out, or do they push out so many stamps because they have realized that they can rely on stock photos and a minimum of design sensibility? But the net effect is a pool of increasingly unimpressed collectors. Even this issue, which has had care taken over the design, is clearly weaker than it could have been.. in the past it would have been a real contender for intaglio. Personally, I have drawn my own conclusions. As the Elizabethan period ends, I am drawing a line under my 'completist' GB collection. For the new Carolean period, I will collect the stamps that I think have design merit and personal interest, and leave the rest alone...
Delete"I think these stamps capture well the King's priorities" - and we''ll soon know if Charles is as keen on American comics as his late mother evidently was !
DeleteMight as well not bothered to release a Coronation set of stamps, they don't even highlight the theme in any way, if you look back at the Queen's stamps, looking it from the point of someone studying history it gives more of a clear perspective a child can learn from it. Anyhow looking forward to the Blackadder stamps in June, it seems RM are keen to cover a comedy TV series every year. Maybe... Are You Been Served next year ha ha
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing 'Green' about wasting resources producing unnecessary and unwanted collectables
ReplyDeleteIsle of Man stamps always seem to do it better.
ReplyDeleteI think the designs are different and perhaps mark a change in the King's feeling about new stamps. Remember we had 10 stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation, while here we have a single stamp - which may reflect the difference between his coronation and that of his mother's. The others showing not only the King's interests, but also reflecting what the monarchy and Commonwealth is about - remember he is King of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was put off by the designs but as I thought about the King and his priorities I came around to really liking them. They mark a change in reign and outlook which is consistent with everything the King is about.
ReplyDeleteI like these stamps - well designed reflecting the concerns and interests of the new monarch. Certainly agree that they should have been printed in top quality gravure with counter sheets. Nevertheless it's good to see a proper stamp design, not just a photo or copy.
ReplyDeleteI must be in a minority as I really like these stamps - the bright colours and the topical designs make a big change to some of the boring things issued recently.
ReplyDeleteI will have to disagree with many of the comments above and say that I find the style of designs attractive and something different. The designs reflect His Majesty's concerns and issues that I feel are important to him. I do feel it is a shame that the stamps will never be seen and used by the general public. I have long given up trying to buy special stamps from any Post Offices near me and so I have to buy them online - something that I just don't understand
ReplyDeleteI notice on the May Postmarks Bulletin that Special Postmark 15783 marking HM The King's Coronation, available from The Northern Special Handstamp Centre, has the design 'HRH Charles III' ...so The Postmark Club don't know their royal titles and styles.
ReplyDeleteI am of two minds about this issue. I think the stamps are decent designs that do capture the King's interests and concerns well. But somehow they are not "Coronation" stamps to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is a case where Royal Mail's recent habit of issuing a set of stamps plus a miniature sheet for every issue could have been used to good effect. These designs would have made an excellent minisheet addition to a set showing the Coronation, but seem rather inadequate on their own.
And why does an event as significant as the Coronation only get 4 different designs when the last half a dozen special issues have been 10 or 12 designs? Especially given that there's no sheet stamps - so these won't get much use outside of the philatelic community.
Well, I don't know how many times it has to be said, despite what is reported in the on-philatelic press these are NOT Coronation stamps. They are stamps to mark a new reign, showing the interests and priorities of the new monarch.
DeleteIan,
DeleteYes, agreed, but the point we're making is that there SHOULD be some proper Coronation stamps and, given the importance of the occasion, recess printed and, so that they will actually be used postally, in normal sheets.
The "diversity and community" and "sustainably and biodiversity" here are wishful thinking rather like that "United Kingdom - A Celebration" issue with "Great Community" and three other "Great ..."s 27 months before the UK is described as bring "on life support".
I actually quite like them. Especially the originality. Nice to see something other than a photo. And topics other than American children's comics.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't get though (for this issue, and all British commemorative stamps recently) is why not produce a 4-stamp or 8-stamp (here it's normally a 10-stamp) booklet that's available widely - rather than just the definitives.
I would have expected a pair of shire horses rather than a tractor on the green stamp, but what looks like HS2 just behind keeps it up to date !
ReplyDeleteI think (apart from a few early comments) the consensus is that these are pretty good. Personally I think they are excellent stamps. They are properly designed specifically for the issue by a talented artist rather than being just a photo with a bit of text overlaid as we see so often.
ReplyDeleteThe one redeeming quality of these stamps is that they are engraved. They are engraved, right? The designs are mediocre. Are these stamps representative of Great Britain.... mediocrity? Is mediocity going to be the hallmark of this reign?
ReplyDeleteI'm sometimes guilty of commenting before reading, but it really is best to read everything before you press send.
DeleteTechnical details
"These designs would obviously be best reproduced in gravure/recess but the work is in lithography by Cartor Security Printers, "
As you can see from other comments, opinions are divided.
I waited to comment to see what other peoples thoughts were. It looks like we all agree this issue is not something we were expecting, whether it is the design, style, substance or format. To pick through comments.
ReplyDelete1. Do the stamps reflect the King and his priorities? - Yes. We have a monarch who has been happy to champion what is important to him. This is a change to the past where we didn't really know what the monarch thought on any subject apart from horses. Even the line engraving does this, harking at the past just like his model towns do.
2. Fit for The Coronation? This issue is not billed as a Coronation issue, rather stamps to reflect the new Monarch -which they successfully do. Maybe we should see that as refreshing? Maybe there is an acknowledgment that large swathes of the population simply aren't bothered about a Coronation?
3. Is this a change in direction? - No, I don't think so. If you look at RM's more recent track record, stamps issued in haste, outside of a planned programme are pretty dire. Either a rehash of something we have had before or a miniature sheet. Death of The Queen Mother, Diana, Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen are examples. RM will soon be knocking out hundreds of variations of Harry Potter stamps so no change there!
A good summary.
DeleteYou are, however, exaggerating - there won't be hundreds of Harry Potter variations - but we will be in double figures.
I think I might put up a post next week with the rest of the programme asking what the 'event' is - so get thinking, but no guesses here, please - I won't let them through.
I've grown to like the stamps, good thoughtful design for a change. I too would have welcomed the availability of sheet versions of the 1st class.
ReplyDeleteI've just had an email from Royal Mail titled "Reminder: New First Day cover commemorates Coronation" - Coronation not new reign !
ReplyDeleteWell, the First Day Cover might reasonably be described as commemorating the Coronation - esp. given its issue date - but the stamps don't.
DeleteI will gladly add my voice to what has been said already, and are indeed the obvious comments. These are nice stamps BUT....
ReplyDeleteThe 1st Class Coronation stamp should be made available properly, or a KC3 1st Class "special" definitive should have been available in books.
This is too big an occasion to make do with "just" a mini sheet that isn't going to be used for postage except by people "in the know".
Secondly, this cried out for recess/intaglio printing... Come on Royal Mail, stop cutting corners.
Rob
I agree with Anonymous 2 May 1713 - I'm not remotely a monarchist, but it does seem very odd given how many silly issues we've had, that Royal Mail have not produced these stamps in recess/intaglio (the 50p 1980 London Exhibition stamp is a good example of this) and just a Miniature Sheet and a ridiculous Souvenir thing for those that will want to get the self adhesive as well at a premium. A nice booklet of six of the first class would have been a good thing. Perhaps there will be a non-prestige booklet for Harry Potter?
ReplyDeleteTheir are planned PSB's for Shirley Bassey and Harry Potter
ReplyDelete