GB: Prestige booklet first day covers
May 23, 2017 1:25:16 GMT
Londonbus1, zipper, and 1 more like this
Post by Anping on May 23, 2017 1:25:16 GMT
I don't actually collect GB as such, but I do have a collection of Prestige booklets from when they were first introduced. The first was the 'Cooks' £1 booklet of 1969. Many would argue this wasn't a true 'prestige' booklet, as it contained IIRC a single pane of stamps with multiple pages of cooking recipes. But as this is generally included in dealer's stock lists, I thought I would mention it too.
The first Prestige booklet to use the format which has continued to this day, was issued in 1972. This was the £1 Wedgwood (Josiah; of china manufacturing fame) booklet. It was the 1980's which saw more regular releases of booklets covering a whole array of subject matter. These soon were issued as £5 booklets; then rising to a level which many collectors just couldn't/can't justify buying. The most recent issue is on sale by Royal Mail at around £15 (circa $20).
But the attraction to me is they are generally very well researched on (usually) interesting subjects, and offer a potted history in booklet form. Interspersed among the pages of illustrated facts, are four different panes of stamps which are perforated part way in, so that they can be detached and used postally.
Numerous booklet issues contain certain stamp denominations/designs which cannot be found in any other format. To date there have been over 60 different issues.
In addition to collecting the actual booklets, I had a standing order placed for Prestige booklet FDC's; but I had to complicate matters. Not content with the standard single 'major' pane cover that most collectors ordered, I had all four panes serviced. In addition, but unlike most collectors who were content with the standard pane being detached at the perforations and placed on cover, I insisted on the whole of each pane up to (and including in most cases) the selvedge being used. This undoubtedly was breaking some cardinal rule; but to me a pane is a full pane.
I actually discontinued the FDC standing order a few years ago because of the ever rising costs, the amount of storage these needed and the thought that I was throwing good money after bad. But I still have all those I ever bought.
In my opinion, British stamps have had a volatile history in terms of design. They have veered between the absolute sublime, to the most tedious, infantile and irrelevant offerings imaginable.
Thankfully Royal Mail has generally maintained a very high standard with the stamp designs chosen for their Prestige booklets. The commemorative (or Special Issue) postmarks that are used on FDC's are also worthy of the term 'prestige', as they are high quality designs in their own right.
Here are some examples of the top of the range (in my opinion) Prestige booklet issues, shown on FDC's:
The King's Stamps: London 2010 Festival of Stamps
The first Prestige booklet to use the format which has continued to this day, was issued in 1972. This was the £1 Wedgwood (Josiah; of china manufacturing fame) booklet. It was the 1980's which saw more regular releases of booklets covering a whole array of subject matter. These soon were issued as £5 booklets; then rising to a level which many collectors just couldn't/can't justify buying. The most recent issue is on sale by Royal Mail at around £15 (circa $20).
But the attraction to me is they are generally very well researched on (usually) interesting subjects, and offer a potted history in booklet form. Interspersed among the pages of illustrated facts, are four different panes of stamps which are perforated part way in, so that they can be detached and used postally.
Numerous booklet issues contain certain stamp denominations/designs which cannot be found in any other format. To date there have been over 60 different issues.
In addition to collecting the actual booklets, I had a standing order placed for Prestige booklet FDC's; but I had to complicate matters. Not content with the standard single 'major' pane cover that most collectors ordered, I had all four panes serviced. In addition, but unlike most collectors who were content with the standard pane being detached at the perforations and placed on cover, I insisted on the whole of each pane up to (and including in most cases) the selvedge being used. This undoubtedly was breaking some cardinal rule; but to me a pane is a full pane.
I actually discontinued the FDC standing order a few years ago because of the ever rising costs, the amount of storage these needed and the thought that I was throwing good money after bad. But I still have all those I ever bought.
In my opinion, British stamps have had a volatile history in terms of design. They have veered between the absolute sublime, to the most tedious, infantile and irrelevant offerings imaginable.
Thankfully Royal Mail has generally maintained a very high standard with the stamp designs chosen for their Prestige booklets. The commemorative (or Special Issue) postmarks that are used on FDC's are also worthy of the term 'prestige', as they are high quality designs in their own right.
Here are some examples of the top of the range (in my opinion) Prestige booklet issues, shown on FDC's:
The King's Stamps: London 2010 Festival of Stamps
