Her Majesty The Queen visits The Royal Philatelic Society

Published

 

Today The Queen visited The Royal Philatelic Society in London to open a new building on its 150th Anniversary. Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. The society aims to promote the science and practice of the study of stamps, as well as maintain collections of stamps.

The Queen met young philatelists, architects of the new building, administration staff and supporters of the society. Her Majesty also saw displays of various different stamps and books.

Philatelic Society

The Royal Family has a long history associated with stamps and stamp collecting. These photographs taken by Dorothy Wilding, of Her Majesty in 1952, were used as the basis of The Queen’s image on postage stamps from 1953 until 1971.

Dorothy Wilding

In two sittings, photographer Wilding took 59 images of The Queen. Arnold Machin’s effigy of The Queen, which has featured on UK stamps since 1967, is widely considered to be one of the most reproduced and iconic images in the world.

Stamp Booklet

It has been reprinted an estimated 220 billion times, in more than 130 different colours.

In this archive image The Queen visited the Society 50 years ago and viewed its collection. King George V’s personal stamp collection forms the foundation of what is today The Royal Philately Collection.

Philatelic Society

The world’s first stamp, the Penny Black, featured an effigy of the head of Queen Victoria, as engraved by William Wyon (official chief engraver at the Royal Mint) to mark her coronation in 1838.

Penny Black Stamps

Related content

News

Commonwealth Day 2022

14 March 2022
News

Accession Day 2022

01 February 2022
News

Remembrance 2020

02 November 2020
News

World Sight Day 2020

14 October 2020
News

Maundy Thursday

01 April 2021
News

Commonwealth Day 2020

09 March 2020
News

The Queen visits MI5

25 February 2020