Royal Mail issue new miniature stamp sheet as Queen becomes Britain's longest reigning monarch

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09 September 2015
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imports_CCGB_newpurplemachindefinit_24352.png New purple Machin definitive stamp
Royal Mail have issued a miniature sheet of stamps to commemorate the historic landmark of Her Majesty The Queen becoming the longest reigning UK monarch. ...
Royal Mail have issued a miniature sheet of stamps to commemorate the historic landmark of Her Majesty The Queen becoming the longest reigning UK monarch. See the full mini sheet at the bottom of this page…

The mini-sheet comprises five stamps including a specially created purple coloured First Class Definitive (everyday stamp) which will replace the current red version for the next 12 months.



The full line-up of stamps is as follows:

1st class – William Wyon’s City Medal, featuring the head of Queen Victoria, commemorated her first visit to London. The image on the Penny Black (the world’s first postage stamp) was based on this portrait, which in turn was based on a sketch of Princess Victoria when she was 15 years old.

1st class – Dorothy Wilding’s three-quarter profile photograph of Her Majesty was one of a series taken in April 1952 and was printed on British postage stamps from 1952 until 1967.

1st class – The classic Machin definitive, featuring the iconic profile of Her Majesty by sculptor Arnold Machin has been in use on definitive stamps since 1967. The iridescent overprint on the stamp bears the text 'Long to Reign Over Us'. This new stamp is also available in stamp books.

£1.52 – The Badge of the House of Windsor, featuring a depiction of the Round Tower of Windsor Castle flying the Royal Standard, was approved by King George VI in Council at Buckingham Palace.

£1.52 – Created for use in Commonwealth countries, The Queen’s Personal Flag was designed at Her Majesty's request in 1960. This is a gold 'E' with a crown, surrounded by a garland of roses. It symbolises the Queen's role as Head of the Commonwealth. The device from the flag appears on the stamp.

Andrew Hammond, Director, Stamps and Collectibles, Royal Mail said: 'Royal Mail stamps mark the most significant anniversaries and landmark events in the life of our country. We are proud to commemorate Her Majesty becoming the longest-reigning monarch in UK history.'


Read much more about this story in the October 2015 issue of Stamp & Coin Mart magazine.

Royal Mail's 'Long to Reign Over Us' miniature sheet
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