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Introduction

The unexpected abdication of Edward VIII created  an urgent need to prepare designs for stamps to be ready for the coronation of the new King and Queen. Usually this process would take a great many months - in this case the Post Office had just over 4 months.

The initial idea was to prepare four low value definitives for the most highly used denominations and one or two higher value (9d, 10d or 1s) special coronation stamps.

This delay led to a decision in March that there would only be sufficient time to produce enough quantities of just one value for the special stamps. It was agreed that if the value of 1½d were issued, then this would decrease the printing demand being placed on Harrison and Sons for this 'rush job'. The hope was that the Coronation stamp would be available on 10 May along with the three new definitives.

By mid March, Eric Gill had prepared two designs using the unaccepted photographs of the King and Queen. He redesigned the stamp with a lower value and new photographs taken by Dorothy Wilding.

Edmund Dulac, Gill's co-designer on the definitive stamps, was asked to produce an alternative design. He produced drawings of the King and Queen based on the Wilding photographs.

The Postmaster General made a press  release on 5 May : 'The design is intended to convey a feeling of rejoicing, the intertwined white lines on the sides suggesting garlands and the device in the shape of Maltese crosses in the top corners suggesting Union Jacks. The artist has laid particular emphasis on the Crown.'

However, the design was criticised by many; '...with the best will in the world it is not possible to see in it any singleness of design. The crown and monogram divide, not join, the two heads. The patterns in the margins are meagre, and the whole too closely suggests the sort of thing a hospital issues for the charitable to stick on the backs of their letters.' - The Times

I find these comments surprising. I have always seen it as a quite striking design, and choice of colour. To me it creates an image that is highly representative of the time - but, is this because I am so familiar with it, that the time is now inextricably associated with the stamp?

The new 1½d definitive was issued on 30 July, however the Coronation stamp continued to be sold for some time until stocks ran out.

King George VI is shown wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, (see pictures in resources). Queen Elizabeth is dressed in a formal gown and tiara. On the left hand side is a lace pattern with the coronation orb representing the temporal power of the monarch. Within the lacing on the right hand side is the coronation ampulla which is used in the anointing ceremony. With representative crown and royal monogram in centre.

Printing and marks

Printed in sheets of 240 with central and outside margins. The sheets were divided into two panes of 120, (20 rows of 6) before being distributed to post offices.

All panes have the control number 'A37' [1] - a cylinder number appears below this. Cylinder numbers from right hand panes have a dot after the number.

There is a small cross [2] at the centre of the top and bottom margins. Large arrowheads [3] are in the centre of the side margins, (mainly used as a guide for post office clerks in dividing the sheets). There is a sheet number [4] and a printer's guide hole with placement bracket [5]. 

Perforation Type A. Encroached perforations can be found on cylinders 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 19, 20, 23 and 30, (dot and no dot).

Variations

Specimen  /  Cancelled twice

First Day Covers

The stamp was released early, despite strict instructions, at Cheadle Hulme on 10 May, High Wycombe and Nantwich on 11 May, and at a number of sub-offices on 12 May, (Coronation Day and a Bank Holiday).

Anglo-American Goodwill Flight and FDC

Overprints

'Morocco Agencies - 15 centimos' (Spanish Zone)

'Morocco Agencies - 15 centimes' (French Zone)

'Tangier'

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Contact : Malcolm Sanders :  kg6gb@hotmail.com