HM Queen Elizabeth II Stamps & Ephemera

Postcard of the picture of Princess Elizabeth used on the 1932 Newfoundland stamp.  Taken by Marcus Adams in 1929

1938 Newfoundland Stamp Sheet.  Unusual to find a complete sheet.  Have spoken to another Stamp Collector who specialises in Newfoundland stamps as there was uncertainty as to how many stamps were on a full sheet.

The next picture is one of my favourite stamp sheets. It came from the 1963 stamped exhibition and is signed to Andrew Swanston by Pietro Annigoni. I have bought a number of Andrew Swanston items. Hoping others might have more info on him. He was an avid collector. He managed to even get the chimpanzee called Ham hand print. Ham went up into space

Pietro Annigoni Signed Stampex 1963 sheet to A. Swanston.  Very rare

This is an incredible article on the Coronation Stamps.  I have been very lucky and found from the E. Carr archive the proof of the airmail and the "Long Live the Queen" stamp.  E Carr attended the coronation stamp meetings on behalf of the supplies department of the GPO.

I have spent many years researching the artists. The next set of first day covers is unique as even the artists themselves did not know the covers existed. It took me 18 months to find 2 complete sets. I was then able to give each artist one of their covers and they kindly agreed to signed one for my collection. Unfortunately Pietro Annigoni is no longer with us to be able to get his stamp cover signed.

Great thread to start your TSF membership. Bravo! It's a lot to read, I'll have to save some for later...

Dorothy Wilding original photograph and original signature with the 2002 stamps





Another amazing Andrew Swanston original Dorothy Wilding signed photograph with Dorothy Wilding stamp and stamp mark 2002.

Dorothy Wilding died in the 1970s.  I believe he got it signed in the 1950s and then had the stamp mark and stamps added in 2002.



This is the signed Australian Royal Visit Stamp

Another great artist is Arnold Machin. However, I don't know how common knowledge it is on the sites about the Machin stamp and John Hedgecoe. John Hedgecoe was fundamental in the production of the Machin Stamp. He took the initial pictures and the pictures of the finished bust (both in the dressed and undressed form) In 2000 he sued the Royal Mail as they denied his involvement. I have the original photographs by John Hedgecoe of the dressed and undressed head. Again I am donating as part of the charity auction an original John Hedgecoe Print from the initial photograph session as well as a signed first day cover and a copy of a letter from John Hedgecoe to Tony Buckingham. I have been in discussions with Royal Worcester and Wedgwood about my discoveries. Again I can give so much info but dont want to overload you all. If anyone wants any more info on John Hedgecoe please ask. I have also spoken to one of his student (Rob Munday). In a ironic twist of fate. He also suffered the same issue with not being correctly acknowledged for work on another iconic stamp, 2004 Equanimity portrait. I will discuss this in another post. Rob Munday is an incredible holographer and so very talented. He produced the first holographic stamp of HM Queen from the 2004 photograph session. The stamp was not issued until the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Rob Munday - EQUANIMITY  JERSEY HERITAGE TRUST

The most amazing holographer and so talented. His pictures that he produces of flowers in 3D are incredible.

This rates as one of my favourite stamps and he is probably my favourite artist as well.  He designed the camera that produced this hologram as they couldn't use the normal laser.  It was a camera placed on a track and it took numerous pictures whilst the Queen had to stay perfectly still.  I have so much detail about Equanimity that I could probably fill another forum post!

The equipment was brought to Buckingham Palace as the shoot took place at Buckingham palace as it was impractical for the Queen to go to a studio!  

First stamp of Prince George.  First time 4 generations have been photographed in line to the thrown since Quuen Victoria.


Photograph was taken by Jason Bell.  He again didn't know this sheet existed. I was able to get a signed copy in exchange for donating a sheet to him for his collection.

He also signed a stamp



 

Gary Hogben signed Stamp prints.  These are being auctioned and the complete proceeds going to 3 mental health charities in the Royal Auction at Reeman Dansie in November 2020.  

June Mendoza Stamps

I have so much knowledge and so many items but don't want to bore people silly. I find it fascinating but I completely understand others will just find it bizarre. Do you think people will genuinely want to see more? I have so much more info on the different stamps.  I have literally every stamp from 1932 to the present day and have studied each artist of each of the stamps.  I have also done the same with coins and with actual proper painted portraits and busts. I have spoken to over 150 different artists to find the information.  I have given things to museums and art collections and been able to help with gaps in knowledge.  I love the information side and research sometimes more than the actual items!