GB Definitives

Main page - first issues - stamp notes - web page notes - bottom - image credits - pre-decimal - decimal - collecting

This page was brought on by an article on Wildings in Stamp Magazine. The aim is to show every GB definitive. This should be do-able relatively easily up to decimalisation in 1971 but the forty years of Machins might be a struggle. I will aim to acquire all the inexpensive stamps to scan but the others will be from auction catalogues, the internet and so on. I will ignore the regionals, at least at first.

As with my other stamp pages and, indeed my own collection, what most interests me is stamp design: I am not concerned about differences that I cannot see and so changes of perforation, watermarks and sorting technology (phosphor bands and the like), security measures, adhesives, even shades will not be covered. I intend to organise the display by denomination and year and show each major change. I imagine that it will be best viewed on an iPad, but time will tell. When viewing on a normal screen, Ctrl- and Ctrl+ zoom out and in.

My initial source for a quick trawl through the subject was a 1993 copy of Collect British Stamps from Dartford Library, backed up by Commonwealth and Empire for detail on the early years. I bought a copy of Gibbons' GB Concise 2007 from sg on eBay for a bargain £2.99 and that will bring the page nearly up to date.

I will include links to good sites found in my search for information and images. The first is from Ross Taylor. Then, Machin Collectors Club - MachinMania - CollectGBStamps - GBMachins, which contains a terrific album, or four. Great Britain Stamps is excellent for images. Mentions also for Andrew Vaughan Philatelics - Mark Bloxham Stamps - Rowan S. Baker - STAMP Circuit - Paul Fraser Collectibles - Warwick and Warwick - The William H. Gross Collection - Wikicollecting - world class stamps - UK Stamps and Postcards.

Please email me here with any comments or corrections.

[18th Feb 2012] I have created separate pages of pre-decimal and decimal definitive issues to help those devices (such as my phone) which struggle to load the full page.

Concept and design ©Nick Blackburn 2011, 2012. For the sources of individual stamp images, see image credits.

value	1840	1841	1847	1848	1854	1855	1856	1858	1862	1864	1865	1867	1869	1870	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878	1880	1881	1882	1883	1884	1887	1890	1891	1892	1900	1902 E7	1909	1910	1911 G5	1912	1913	1922	1929	1934	1935	1936 E8	1937 G6	1938	1939	1941	1942	1947	1948	1950	1951	1952 E2	1953	1954	1955	1957	1959	1967	1968	1969	1970	Decimal	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
½d																																									It would be interesting to know how stamps would have developed from this elegant beginning if E8 hadn't thrown in the towel.						1941 colours allegedly lightened to save ink as part of the war effort.					1951 colour changes to meet UPU standards.										½p														The half-penny was discontinued in currency at the end of 1984.
1d																								The July 1881 printing of the 1/- lilac has 14 dots in each corner, the December printing 16 dots.																																						1p																								Not much of a change, but large elliptical perforations were gradually introduced as a security measure.
1½d																																																														1½p
2d																																	The 1910 2d Tyranian Plum was printed but Edward 7th died before it was issued. A dozen copies remain and sell for around £75k.																													2p																			The 1988 2Ps list as deep green, myrtle-green, and bright green. Probably finer distinctions than would normally concern me.
2½d																																																														2½p
3d																								The 3d and 6d overprints were a security measure. Further details here.																																						3p
3½d																																																														3½p
4d																																																														4p
4½d																																																														4½p
5d																																																														5p
-																																																														5½p
6d																		The 1873 6d was also printed in deep buff, available only used @ £175,000.						The 1883 3d and 6d overprints were a security measure. Further details here.																																						6p
-																																																														6½p
7d																																																														7p
7½d																																																														7½p
8d																																																														8p
-																																																														8½p
9d																																																														9p
-																																																														9½p
10d																																																														10p
-																																																														10½p
11d																																																														11p
-																																																														11½p
1s																																																														12p
1s3d																																																														12½p
1s6d																																																														13p
1s9d																																																														13½p
2s																																																														14p
2s6d																																																														15p																					The 1990 150th anniversary is a commemoration, but, given the format, should be included.
5s																																																														15½p
10s																																																														16p
£1																																																														16½p
£5																																																														17p
value	1840	1841	1847	1848	1854	1855	1856	1858	1862	1864	1865	1867	1869	1870	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878	1880	1881	1882	1883	1884	1887	1890	1891	1892	1900	1902 E7	1909	1910	1911 G5	1912	1913	1922	1929	1934	1935	1936 E8	1937 G6	1938	1939	1941	1942	1947	1948	1950	1951	1952 E2	1953	1954	1955	1957	1959	1967	1968	1969	1970	Decimal	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
-																																																														17½p
-																																																														18p
-																																																														19p
-																																																														19½p
-																																																														20p																													Three Wildings designs, 20p, 26p and 37p, were issued in booklet DX20, .
-																																																														20½p
-																																																														22p
-																																																														23p
-																																																														24p
-																																																														25p
-																																																														26p
-																																																														27p
-																																																														28p
-																																																														29p
-																																																														30p
-																																																														31p
-																																																														32p
-																																																														33p
-																																																														34p
-																																																														35p
-																																																														36p
-																																																														37p
-																																																														38p
-																																																														39p
-																																																														40p
-																																																														41p
-																																																														42p
-																																																														43p
-																																																														44p
-																																																														45p
-																																																														46p
-																																																														47p
-																																																														48p
-																																																														49p
-																																																														50p
-																																																														54p
-																																																														56p
-																																																														60p
-																																																														62p
-																																																														63p
-																																																														64p
-																																																														65p
-																																																														67p
-																																																														68p
-																																																														72p
-																																																														75p
-																																																														76p
-																																																														78p
-																																																														81p
-																																																														88p
-																																																														90p
-																																																														97p
-																																																														£1
-																																																														£1.10
-																																																														£1.30
-																																																														£1.33
-																																																														£1.41
-																																																														£1.46
-																																																														£1.50
-																																																														£1.60
-																																																														£1.65
-																																																														£2
-																																																														£3
-																																																														£5
-																																																														£10
-																																																														1st																													The three stamps were issued in booklet DX22, Profile on Print, to illustrate printing methods.				The 1st and 2nd Wildings reissues appeared in booklet DX28, A Gracious Accession.		2006 saw the introduction of Pricing in Proportion, regular and large.					From 2009, holes have been punched in stamps as an additional security measure. A step too far, tantamount to defacing.			For the 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations, a new 1st class definitive colour, another Wilding and stamps showing the Queen as depicted on various banknotes and coins have been issued.
-																																																														2nd
-																																																														1st large
-																																																														2nd large
-																																																														E
-																																																														W																																			The 2003 stamp is for letters worldwide, 2004 for postcards worldwide.
-																																																														Recorded
-																																																														Special delivery
-																																																														spare
value	1840	1841	1847	1848	1854	1855	1856	1858	1862	1864	1865	1867	1869	1870	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878	1880	1881	1882	1883	1884	1887	1890	1891	1892	1900	1902 E7	1909	1910	1911 G5	1912	1913	1922	1929	1934	1935	1936 E8	1937 G6	1938	1939	1941	1942	1947	1948	1950	1951	1952 E2	1953	1954	1955	1957	1959	1967	1968	1969	1970	Decimal	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013

Notes on the stamps

I was expecting to add notes on specific stamps here, but so far (5th April) I have used adjacent frames in the table.
Having completed the first draft of the full page, I'll delve into a little research, firstly on the definition of definitives, derived from my most admired reference works.
- R.J. Sutton's The STAMP Collector's Encyclopedia (1959) describes them as '[o]fficial and regular stamp issues, as opposed to provisional, o/p temporary issues, and stamps of a parent or preceding stamp-issuing authority in use as a temporary expedient; or commemorative or charity sets with a prescribed life and usage. Stamps that are definitely designed, entitled, and related to the country or state concerned; or "ordinaries", the U.S.P.O. definition.'
- Kenneth Wood's This is Philately (1982) dwells on the subject for more than a page, but begins 'The definitive, or regular, stamp is the workhorse of the stamp world. Usually issued in an extended range of denominations and used over a fairly long period, sometimes many years, it performs the basic job of franking everyday mail. Though they are often small in size and can be drab in appearance, definitive stamps often embody much philatelic iterest. This is because their extended use requires periodic reprinting which may be reflected in shade varieties, perforation differences, variations of watermark and gum, plus differences in design caused by the use of several printing plates or by the touching up of worn plates.' It continues entertainingly and engagingly, but the reader must be encouraged to buy their own copy.
- James Mackay's Guinness Book of Stamps, (1988). 'The workhorses of the postal system are these stamps, known variously as permanent or definitive stamps, which remain in use for relatively long periods - as opposed to commemorative and thematic sets which are generally on sale for a limited time.'
- More James Mackay in Philatelic Terms Illustrated (2003), 'A stamp issued for ordinary postal purposes and placed on sale for an unlimited period. The term "permanent series" is often used by postal administrations, as opposed to commemorative, charity and other special issues.'
On that basis, the selection seems largely appropriate, though the Seahorses and Castles will need some discussion, the 1990 double heads can only be justified by size, and the celebratory Wildings are an affectation.
three

Notes on the web page

[15Mar11] The number of Machins threatens to swamp a one-page approach, but I'll try that first because I'll never manage to combine the two halves retrospectively, while splitting should be relatively easy. I have logged the entries up to 2000 and the numbers are manageable after that judging from the CollectGBStamps data. I'll aim to add all the columns (years) tonight, adjust the first to become headings, then add the first few rows and incorporate some images to try the concept.
If it proves unmanageable, I'll just split pre- and post-decimal.
If it works, this will probably be the most interesting and/or pleasing and perhaps æsthetic philatelic page on the web, so long as there is not too much empty space: it is difficult to judge from the spreadsheet which currently contains the data. As noted above, it will probably best be viewed with a touchscreen device (with sufficient resources to download the source).
[16Mar11] Image sources are recorded here. All the images are shown at 100 pixels wide, with the larger version the size at source. I might standardise the enlarged images eventually.
[17Mar11] All the rows have been created for the pre-decimal issues. I will aim to enter the stamp IDs for those tonight then concentrate on filling up most of the images before adding the extra decimal (i.e. Machin) rows.
[18Mar11] Alternating between rows an columns, the images are no complete up to 1864 and 2½d (later Machins excepted). Most of the images are coming from eBay, some will need replacing (too small, used or imperfect stamps) and in some cases I have used variants, for example sg90 green rather than sg89 deep green. The sg Concise 2007 has arrived: an excellent volume.
[20Mar11] Victoria to Ed8 (1936) complete.
[22Mar11] Pre-decimal (to 1970) complete.
[25Mar11] Slogging through the Machins with a lot of help from Great Britain Stamps for the 'x' Machins. The page, now 770k, is too large to load into my ipod and so my intention is to complete the page in full and then provide split versions of pre- and post-decimalisation, plus, perhaps regionals. Complete to 1986: the three years after that are rather busy and will have to wait until we return from a camping trip.
[30Mar11] Data collection complete up to 2006 (where Concise 2007 ends). Tomorrow back to image sourcing.
[4Apr11] It is proving difficult to find decent images for some of the later issues. For now I'll go with what I can get and then gradually improve on the smaller images.
[5Apr11] 71 images gathered which I hope to add tonight … complete up to 2006 (as far as my books go) except for NVIs.
[8Apr11] NVIs completed until 2006. Research for the remaining issues will be based on the CollectGBStamps pages … that's now done: the first draft of the page is complete. I will now email the sites I have used images from and seek retrospective permission; invite interested parties to check the contents; seek larger replacements for the poorer images; and generally tidy up the page.
[8Feb12] separate pages of pre-decimal and decimal definitives also available.

In April 2011 my web host moved me to a new server which caused several days of chaos and some ongoing problems - any missing images or dead links are probably attributable to that and will gradually be corrected. I would appreciate any feedback on items in need of repair. Please email me here and let me know the page(s) and element(s) affected.

Main page - first issues - image credits - pre-decimal - decimal - stamp notes - web page notes - top .

page started 13th March 2011