The only issue for 1962 can on the 14th November, and the stamps were issued to commemorate the National Productivity Year. The were issued in 2 ¹/₂d, 3d and 1s3d. All printed in 3 colours by Harrison & Sons.

These stamps were interesting, because they were printed “on the web”, and this involved the paper having to be re-reeled during separate stages to complete the design. This was deemed too time consuming and expensive, so the stamps were printed in a reverse direction and the result was that the watermark appeared inverted. This problem was corrected as technology developed.

During the previous years the Wilding Definitive issues had been released with experimental phosphor bands, designed for automating the sorting of letters passing through special machines. These trials were deemed a great success, and thus the National Productivity year stamps became the first to be issued with phosphor bands. The ordinary stamps were primarily used and the phosphor issues were gradually phased in. For most issues of this period, both types were issued, although the phosphor stamps always command a higher price than the normal.

Interestingly, during the first printings of these stamps, both green cylinders were damaged , and many of the later stamps contain errors and flaws, where repairs were hastily made!

These stamps were used extensively across the country and were the only stamp release for 1962. The next issue was on 21st March 1963 and were designed to draw attention to the Freedom from Hunger campaign, which was a worldwide co-operative effort to focus attention on the problem of hunger and malnutrition. They were issued in a 2 1/2d value and a 1s 3d.

On the 7th May a single 6d stamp was issued for the Paris Postal Conference Centenary, marking the first national meeting of postal authorities held in 1863. This was a green and mauve stamp, and like similar issues was available with or without phosphor bands. As a rough example of the difference, 18.5 million ordinary stamps were issued compared with 1.5 million phosphor stamps.

May 16th brought the National Nature Week issue. The council for nature organised the event to run from 18th-25th May in order to draw attention to the natural history movement and the importance of wild life conservation. They were available in 3d and 4 1/2d. The latter value was the first British stamp to be printed in 5 colours!

The next issue on 31st May, was for the Ninth International Lifeboat Conference, held in Edinburgh. The conference was held every four years. On the 15th August a further set was issued for the Red Cross Centenary Conference, which opened in Geneva on 2nd September.

Both of these sets were printed in numerous colours, and built up the values required for most postage needs. The phosphor issues for these values were for some reason issued in lower numbers than normal. These phosphor stamps command a high price today.

The last issue for 1963 3was issued on 3rd December and was to commemorate the opening of COMPAC. This was a trans-pacific telephone cable laid across the Pacific Ocean. It links Canada with Australia and New Zealand via Hawaii and Fiji. The stamp had a 1s6d value, and the phosphor version also commands a high premium.

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