The low value definitve stamps issued during the reign of King George VI were all printed by Harrison & Sons in Photogravure from designs by E. Dulac. They were issued between 1937 and 1951 and had three separate issues during that time.

The first was a full set of 15 stamps ranging from 1/2d up to 1s. These stamps ran for about four years. The second set of 6 from 1/2d to 3d, was released in 1941 and were the same design but in lighter colours. It is believed, but not confirmed, that this involved a cheaper ink to reduce costs, but was also for calculating the circulation numbers of existing stamps. Figures could be calculated as stamp supplies ran out. This was a common practice as we are talking about an era without computers as stamp circulation was recorded by physical counting methods.

A further set of 6 from 1/2d to 4d was released in 1950 but this time the colours were changed to indicate price increases. All of the three issues were produced with the Royal Block watermark and inverted and sideways watermark varieties exist from booklet and coil issues.

There were two sets of high value stamps issued during the kings reign, the first issued in 1939 which ran through to 1951. A further set was issued in 1951 and was relatively short lived due to the death of the king the following year.

The first set depicted the Royal coat of arms with the kings head above, and was issued in 2s6d, 5s, 10s and £1 values. The original set of four featured 2s6d in brown, 5s red 10s dark blue and £1 brown. The stamps were designed by E. Dulac and Hon. George R. Bellow. Due to confusion with two stamps of the same colour, the 2s6d was later reissued in green. The brown continued to be used until stocks were depleted but was not reprinted, hence the brown issue commands a premium over the green.

The dark blue was also short lived due to problems with the plates, and new plates were produced. The colour was changed to a lighter shade of blue and featured on all subsequent printings. The dark blue was therefore comparatively rare. Mint examples today command a price of a few hundred pounds where as the other issues are valued between £20-£50.

The second high value set issued in 1951 featured pictorial images, not usually associated with high value stamps. They followed the successful colour scheme of the previous issue. The 2s6d green depicted HMS Victory, 5s red The White Cliffs Of Dover, 10s blue St George and the Dragon and the £1 brown the Royal coat of arms from the previous issue. The stamps were horizontal compared with the previous vertical stamps and were designed by Mary Adshead and Percy Metcalfe. These stamps were relatively short lived in stamp terms due to the death of the king,but the stamps continued to be used until the mind 1950’s. In modern times stamps would be withdrawn and destroyed but due to costs they were kept in circulation until stocks were used up. The next high value set was issued in 1955, so these stamps were used for a longer period of Queen Elizabeths II’s reign than they were under King George VI’s.

Mark Steele

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