KIng Charles II Coronation: Royal Mail decorates four postboxes, the public decorate others

Press Release 3 May 2023

Ahead of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Royal Mail has unveiled four special postboxes across the UK. The postboxes display the occasion’s official emblem in celebration of The Coronation.

The postboxes are located across the UK in:

• Westminster, London: Abingdon Street (on the corner of Great College Street), SW1P 3JY
• Edinburgh: High Street, EH1 1SG
• Cardiff: St John’s Street, CF10 1GL
• Royal Hillsborough, County Down: Main Street, BT26 6AE

The Westminster postbox is situated very close to Westminster Abbey, where the Coronation is taking place on Saturday, 6 May.

Government Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “The Coronation of Charles III is going to be a huge historic moment for the UK and one that will be celebrated with a weekend packed with different ways for people to get involved.

"Our postboxes are recognised the world over as an iconic symbol of Britain and these four iconic unique Coronation postboxes will leave a lasting royal legacy in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Royal Hillsborough."

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy at Royal Mail, said: “The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla is a momentous occasion and one that will be celebrated across UK. We are proud to mark such a historic event and to offer our warmest congratulations to the King and Queen”.

Double postbox in Westminster, London, decorated for the Coronation.

Postbox in Hillsborough, Belfast, decorated for the Coronation.

Postbox in Cardiff decorated for the Coronation.
Uproar over coronation postbox unveiled outside Owain Glyndŵr pub

Unofficial Box toppers made by 'yarn-bombers' around the country

From the top: Chesterfield, Edinburgh, Felixstowe, Gateshead, unknown, Cheadle.

Thanks for the Cheadle picture to AW; all other pictures from Twitter.  I'll not be posting any more as there are limits to just how many images Google will allow to be posted on blogs, and I am at 85% of that!

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A New Reign - miniature sheet 6 May 2023 (absolutely not a Coronation set?)

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

The stamp design features a silhouette of The King at the moment of crowning, with St Edward’s Crown being lowered onto his Majesty’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The King holds the Sovereign’s sceptres in his hands (the Sceptre with Dove and the Sceptre with Cross) and sits in the Coronation Chair. The scene is set in front of Westminster Abbey and in the background a gun salute is being fired by a member of the King’s Troop. Celebratory crowds and fireworks also appear.

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

The stamp design features an imagined Commonwealth meeting, a representation of the Commonwealth Games, some of the flags of the Commonwealth nations, a scene depicting trade and commerce, and a Commonwealth War Graves cemetery.

£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.

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April 2023 Postmark Slogans and other interesting postal markings.

All slogan postmarks used in April will be shown here; please check for latest updates before spending your time scanning, but if you have something new or another format, then please do send it in for publication. 

The British Heart Foundation slogan has continued this month as expected.  Thanks to RW and JG for these two examples, in the alternative layouts from IMP and iLSM, from Croydon Mail Centre 04-04-2023 and North & West Yorkshire 11/04/2023

British Heart Foundation slogan, Croydon Mail Centre 04-04-2023

British Heart Foundation slogan, North & West Yorkshire 11/04/2023

And then there's this one, from JH, who's note sure whether to attribute the appearance a fault of RM or the slightly bulky letter.   Anyway, Birmingham Mail Centre produced a spectacular slogan!

British Heart Foundation slogan, Birmingham Mail Centre 11/04/2023

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I forgot to include this one in the original post.  Also on 11 April, Nottingham Mail Centre was using the 'use your old stamps by 31 January' slogan!

Use up your non-barcoded stamps by 31 January 2023 - used Nottingham Mail Centre 11/04/2023

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UPDATE 28 April

A new postmark will be in use from today until May 10 marking the King's Coronation.  There have been reports in various media, and this image on Twitter.

Mock-up of Coronation slogan postmark.

This will be available to use on First Day Covers - if you dare!   Unless you can get to one of the Mail Centres it is likely to be either diverted to a Handstamp Centre, or (at least the stamps not hit by the slogan) will be pen-cancelled.

UPDATE 29 April. My thanks to AB, JS & JE for sending three examples yesterday. I was working on a display project so didn't have time to update this report then.  All from the first day of use, 27 April (for delivery on 28th) these are Medway Mail Centre, Peteborough Mail Centre and, in the other 5-line format, Preston Mail Centre (Lancashire and South Lakes).

Coronation of Their Majesties
King Charles III
and Queen Camilla
6 May 2023

Coronation slogan postmark Medway Mail Centre 27-04-2023

Coronation slogan postmark Peterborough Mail Centre 27-04-2023

Coronation slogan postmark Lancashire and South Lakes (Preston Mail Centre) 27/04/2023

If you have any other interesting postal markings, please send them to one of the email addresses in the top right of this blog.  Thank you.

Remember, all postmarks appearing in April will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing.  I'll add new ones as quickly as possible.

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King Charles III retail booklets.

The five booklets were delivered in three batches from Royal Mail, and none of mine had cylinder numbers. 

Thanks are due, then, to Robert for sending this picture of the 1st class Large with a cylinder number.

1st class Large King Charles III booklet with cylinder number.

These are the first booklets to have 'C' cylinder numbers for Cartor Security Printers, which is the new name for the group, although they are almost certainly still being printed at Walsall's Wolverhampton plant.

The cylinder number is printed in the same colour as the body of the stamp, but the KC is printed by the same unit that prints the barcode, and is in digital, raised, 4-colour process.

UPDATE - it was a mistake for me not to include this in the original KC3 post, so all future comments there please.

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The Legend of Robin Hood - 13 April 2023 set of 10

On 13 April Royal Mail celebrates the story of the legendary and popular English folk outlaw, Robin Hood, with a set of ten exclusively illustrated first class stamps. 

The ten new Special Stamps bring the legend of Robin Hood and his companions to life with illustrations exclusive to these Royal Mail stamps. 

Each stamp depicts an element of the famous Robin Hood legend; from being outlawed, then meeting and leading his merry men, his marriage to Maid Marian and his death. The set also features other popular characters from the Robin Hood story including Friar Tuck, the Sheriff and King Richard. 

The Presentation Pack contains the ten Robin Hood stamps and a deeper look into the history behind the legend: from the earliest dated stories in the 15th century through to contemporary references and re- creations in today’s media. The pack is written by Dr Lesley Coote, a Lecturer in Medieval Studies and Medievalism at the University of Hull and an established author in relation to Robin Hood.

The Stamps

Exclusively illustrated for Royal Mail by artist Jon McCoy, the ten 1st class stamps feature The Legend of Robin Hood told through powerful images in chronological order; from Robin being outlawed through him shooting his last arrow.

Designs: Robin Hood is declared an outlaw, Robin Hood meets Little John, Friar Tuck carries Robin Hood, Robin Hood robs the rich, Robin Hood wins the archery contest, Robin Hood captures the sheriff, Robin Hood helps Maid Marian, Robin Hood and Maid Marian marry, King Richard* III removes his disguise, Robin Hood shoots his last arrow.

Technical details

The 35 mm square stamps are printed by Cartor Security Printers in lithography in two sheets of 50, in se-tenant strips of 5.  The Stamps are designed by Godfrey Design Illustrations and are copyright Royal Mail Group Ltd 2023.

Products

Set of 10 stamps, presentation pack, stamp cards, first day cover, framed set.

  * Royal Mail mistakenly use 'King Richard III' in their narrative to us, when in fact it was Richard the Lionheart (Richard I) who would be chronologically accurate in the story.

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Some snippets: through the microscope and get handy with scissors!

I've been sent a couple of emails which don't really fit in with any other blog post and are too small for one of their own, so I'm going to use this to post these here.

First a look at the screens used in plate/cylinder production of modern Machins.  My thanks to CH in Austria for sending these pictures through the microscope showing the screening dots.  I know some people are very interested in these.  They are both 20p stamps, but the angle of the lines of dots is different.

Colour mix variations.

Still on the Flying Scotsman prestige book, one would have thought that the print run was so low on these now that colour consistency would be easy.

But I happened to fan out a few panes and noticed the significant variations as shown here.

Flying Scotsman PSB Definitive pane colour variants.

Litho/Gravure?

From the same reader, who is getting some really good pictures from his microscope, these two show the two printing methods on the £1 definitive from recent PSBs.

£1 definitive from X-Men prestige stamp book, printed in litho.

£1 definitive from Transformers prestige stamp book, printed in gravure.

Next is this blatant piece of fraud.  I am sorry to say I cannot find the email that sent this, so I cannot credit the reader, but thank you all the same.  

We know that the Victorians had trouble with people using the clean parts of two previously used stamps to send another letter.  But they would not have matched a 1d black with a 1d red, which is virtually what has been done here - successfully!

Both halves self-adhesive, but one is pre-security!

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Machin definitives - get them before they go up in smoke!

Six weeks ago I alerted readers to the production of my list of Machins with X numbers, that is the first decimal stamps which had ordinary perforations.

I have added a price list of the gummed Machin definitives with ordinary perforations (Gibbons X-numbers) to Dropbox today. You can download it at the link below.

This list includes a number of specialist variants to catalogue listed stamps, including some of the shortened phosphor bands (which are illustrated).

Also included are many of the high-catalogue stamps from Prestige Stamp Books but at much lower prices than elsewhere.

We now have until July to use the stamps, but I shall continue to work on lists so that those readers who wish to add to their collections at bargain prices can do so, while the stamps are still available.  Some are only in very small quantities and when they are gone, they are gone (unless I find any more!). And if they don't go, then it's off to Royal Mail's incinerator. 

List 1 - Booklets: Window, folded, label, mixed content.  

This list contains Stanley Gibbons series prefixed F, G, H, MG1 and the PM series of mixed content self-adhesive booklets.  (More F & G books added; stitched booklets added 25 July)

List 2 - Prestige Stamp Booklets, DX series - no DY series (premium priced) available.

List 3 - Machin Regional Definitives - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.           

List 4 - Varieties on Machin Folded Booklets 

List 5 - Country Definitives, cylinder & date blocks - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

List 6 - Self-adhesive booklets - Pre-security, airmail, security, greetings.

List 7 - Machin gummed definitives with ordinary perforations - SG X-numbers. 

Machins with elliptical perforations, the SG Y-numbers: many are listed in our online shop.  We can combine orders from these lists and the shop, but please choose the 'Pay by cheque' option on the shop, do not pay by paypal or card or we will not be able to combine for accounting. 

Thank you to all the readers, especially new customers, who have been able to add to their collections by buying some of these and saving them from the incinerators.  As I am also liquidating my own Machin and country stamps many of these are one-offs, but there are still bargains to be had.

Due to domestic matters and dealing with orders, I have not been able to produce any more lists, nor to update the existing ones, which is I may not be able to supply everything you might want.

List 7 also includes the square high values (SG 829-831b) and the tall high values (SG 1026-28).  

Not included, although I have them are the NVIs and PIP NVIs as shown above.  

I'll be happy to have wants lists, by SG number, for this type of stamp, including self-adhesive and coils.

Please send lists by email - text or spreadsheet welcome.

UPDATE:  Thank you for lists sent since this was posted, especially for spreadsheet lists. These (or word docs in tables) are especially useful for large quantities.  I'm not working on these much at weekends, and there will be interruptions on some other days, so please be patient.  All will be acknowledged so that you know I've got them.

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Blog feed to website - YOU don't have to pay!

A number of people have been in touch to ask if they now have to pay for the blog.  No, you don't!

If you usually reach the blog through the old website you will be seeing this displayed, because the company that supplied the link has broken it while making changes to their system.

That message is addressed to me, not to readers.  I hope it will be fixed soon, meanwhile please use the blog URL in your bookmark and come direct.  Very little has happened on the website recently, and this is likely to continue to be the case.

The blog (hosted by Google) has taken over from the website for supplying up to date information.

 

UPDATE 22 March: The error has been fixed; if you still see the above please refresh your browser.

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Garden Flowers set of 10 stamps - 23 March 2023.

By now many people will have seen the next stamp issue in print, broadcast and online media, so I felt no compulsion to rush this as I was preparing a display for our local stamp club.

We all know, from the proliferation of garden centres - as distinct from nurseries - over the last few decades, that the British like their gardens.  How much they like - or dislike - gardening is a different matter, as senseless artificial/plastic grass spreads across the country like a plague destroying the environment that wildlife needs just so that no mowing is necessary.  

Anyway, I'll put the soap-box back in the potting shded and tell you about the stamps, which are the first to bear the likeness of King Charles III, being issued before the definitives.

This is a set of 10 x 1st class (95p) stamps showing flowers, rather than the plants. Unfortunately Royal Mail haven't provided any details of cultivars or name varieties but if you can find a keen gardener who can spend a few minutes looking at the stamps you may be enlightened.

Garden Flowers set of 10 x 1st class issued 23 March 2023

The stamp deisgns show Sweet Pea, Iris Lily, Sunflower, Fuchsia, Tulip, Peony, Nasturtium, Rose, and Dahlia. 

Technical details  

The 35 mm square stamps are printed in two sheets of 50 in 10 se-tenant strips of 5 by Cartor Security Printers in lithography with conventional gum.  Perforations are 14½.

Acknowledgements: Sweet pea © Jayar digital art/Getty Images; Iris © Mary Andrews/Alamy Stock Photo; Lily © Juan Carlos Juarez/Alamy Stock Photo; Sunflower © Brian Hagiwara/Getty Images; Fuchsia © scphoto/Alamy Stock Photo; Tulip © letty17/ Getty Images; Peony © Lezh/Getty Images; Nasturtium and Rose © Rosemary Calvert/Getty Images; Dahlia © John Martin/ Garden World Images Ltd.

Products

Set of 10 stamps, first day cover, presentation pack, stamp cards, framed set.

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List of other philatelic blogs.

If you look at this blog on a desktop machine, you will see a long panel on the right hand side, which starts with the introduction (a sort of 'About us'), followed by a small advert, which helps to pay for hosting, and a blog archive list.

There's also a Translate widget which is a standard feature and does quite a good job of translating, although there may be problems with the idomatic and casual use of our language!

Then there's a list of LINKS which includes links to our own sales lists, the Norvic, Post and Go, and Forgeries catalogues, and other useful pages.

After this is a list of other philatelic blogs, although if you view on a tablet or mobile phone you may never have gone to the bottom of this list, and if so you may have missed them.

Here's a quick summary:

Commonwealth Stamps Opinion - WhiteKnight's invaluable & incisive commentary on CW & GB stamps and non-stamps

Machin Mania - Ray (& Larry)'s longstanding blog with a wealth of Machin info.

Somerset Postal History - Leamphil's blog covers a wide range of periods, not just old!

UK Stamp Fair reviews and other philatelic matters Alastair Gunn: fairs & articles in SM 3/23

Norvic Philatelics: Modern British Postal History - Our occasional GB postal history notes and one on which I would like to be much more active.

31p purple: News for definitive collectors - Andrew Hill on Machins

Scandinavian Stamps - Peter's sporadic musings on Scandinavia (last updated 6/21)

Musings of a letter writer, stamp user & occasional Postcrosser - Mia's musings on letter writing, bringing us back to the purposes of stamps

Gulfmann ATM Collection - George WU's information on Post and Go / ATM stamps worldwide

cddstamps on stamps - Michael's showcase for his HipStamps sales

Luxembourgian Philately -  'Arsdorf' (last updated May 2022)

Lithuanian philately blog -  Prahandaki, last updated 6/18 sporadic

Trevor Pateman's Philately Blog - 'Russia' (in it's widest sense) specialist – some good older articles.

Great Britain Philately - Andrew Liptak (deceased) (philcovex) Last updated November 2012. Some very useful information and excellent images, espeically pre QE2 postal history.

Postal History Corner -  Andrew Liptak (deceased) Canadian – Last updated July 2014, Now managed by Postal History Society of Canada

DJCMH's Philatelic Blog 2.0 Last updated April 2018

Arnold Machin Stamps! -  Matt in NSW, some useful pictures & info Last updated April 2018

Only the top 10, ie the 10 most recently updated appear normally, although there is a switch to 'See all'. 

If you know of any other useful ones, especially GB, please let me know.

Also, let me know if you do or don't find the list useful.  I had thought of dropping off the older ones, but the British and Canadian ones of the late Andrew Liptak are too good to lose and while the exist, the will be included here.

( And if you write a blog, or have a website, what arrangements have you set in place for its continuation when yo are no longer able to? )

 

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