04 June 2010
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Football stamps: uncirculated World Cup 1970 stamp discovered
Back in 2010, the staff at The Postal Museum discovered the proposed designs for a 1970 World Cup stamp, which would have been issued had England retained the trophy.
In 2010, unused postage stamp designs from the 1970 World Cup were uncovered by archivists at The Postal Museum (then known as the British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA)). The designs, by one of the UK’s most prolific stamp designers, David Gentleman, were commissioned in the event that England should have a successive World Cup victory following its win in 1966.
It’s thought that David was briefed to prepare the 1970 designs after the more hasty production of the celebratory stamp for the World Cup four years previously.
Although the Royal Mail had produced a hugely popular set of stamps to mark England’s hosting of the World Cup in 1966, when the national team won, there was only time to modify the existing stamp with the words ‘ENGLAND WINNERS’ to celebrate the triumph.
Royal Mail was obviously determined to be more prepared in 1970, which is why it commissioned designer David Gentleman, although sadly England didn’t experience the same victory in 1970 and that the stamp designs were filed away and forgotten.
Jennifer Flippance, exhibition manager for the London 2010: Festival of Stamps said at the time:
“Royal Mail was obviously determined to be more prepared in 1970 which is why it commissioned designer David Gentleman. It’s only a shame that England didn’t experience the same victory in 1970 and that the stamp designs were filed away and forgotten”.
Image credit: ©Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010, courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
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