There are few monarchs to have ruled for such a length of time as Queen Elizabeth II. As a result, the stamps issued during her long reign, both in Britain and further afield, changed dramatically over the years. For some, the first QEII issues are the most popular, showing similar design elements as the stamps produced during King George VI’s reign and harking back to a time when the Commonwealth was very much alive. Other collectors prefer the more modern-looking stamps of the 1960s, when pictorial designs showcased Britain, whilst some specialise in the colourful stamps of recent decades, with the many different subjects represented.
What’s your favourite QEII stamp? Back in 2012, we asked that very questions to the experts – our contributors and readers – and were surprised by the eclectic response. We shouldn’t have been. You can see the stamps chosen here, along with additional designs issued in more recent years. As these diverse designs demonstrate, Britain was, and continues to be, an exciting melting pot of culture, tradition and innovation. As we mourn the loss of our Queen and begin to look ahead to the release of new stamps featuring King Charles III, this eclectic selection reminds us why we should feel proud to be British and how the Queen provided a stoic, dedicated, and welcome presence whilst the world evolved over the seventy years of her reign.
JAMAICA, 1956-58:
£1 chocolate and violet, unissued
The £1 stamp issued in the reign of King George VI shows Tobacco Growing and Cigar Making. The first £1 stamp for Queen Elizabeth II were to have been in the same design and colours, but this was abandoned after they had been printed. Shown is the unissued stamp showing the portrait of the Queen, of which only seven examples exist. (The Crown Agents Collection).
David Beech, former curator at the British Library Philatelic Collections
GB, 1983: ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENTS, 16P
Designed by Michael Taylor with a superb illustration of the Humber Bridge, this is a classic QE2 stamp. I crossed the bridge on the day it opened on 24 June, 1981 and have driven across it countless times since. I never fail to admire the sheer beauty of the structure or to marvel at the feat of engineering. If you feel as I do about the bridge, consider putting together a collection of first day covers that include this stamp.
Richard Tarrant, contributor
GB, 2010: CHILDREN’S BOOKS, 1ST CLASS
My QEII favourite is the 1st class Europa ‘children’s books’ stamp of 2010, because it evokes memories of both my childhood and that of my children. In addition it fits well into my collection of stamps featuring books and their authors. The illustrator, EH Shepard will always be associated with AA Milne and Winnie-the-Pooh, and his design of the bear, Christopher Robin and Piglet dancing around in the grass is delightful.
Barbara McTaggart, reader
GB, 1969: RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, 5D
The stamp showed what was the very best in British engineering and the ship became, in her forty-year history,
