Stamps & Philately
This section gives an overview (and not an exhaustive account) of the philatelic and postal history material in our collections. These are managed by the BPMA as part of The Royal Mail Archive.
Most of the stamp and postal stationery collections are public records. This includes the R M Phillips collection and the collection of world stamps. The postal history items (with postal markings) have generally been acquired to illustrate the history of the posts. They are not public record.
Please note that the images in this section are not to scale.
In our collection
Great British Stamps
This collection includes all things to do with British
stamps from 1840 to the present day. It also includes stamps produced under the
auspices of the British Post Office.
Universal Postal Union
We hold a collection of world stamps from the Universal
Postal Union from 1874 until the present day.
Great British Postal Stationery
Like our British stamps, our collections of postal
stationery dates from 1840 to the present day.
British Postal Markings
Our postal markings collections includes postal markings on
letters and envelopes from 1661 to the present day. Famous collections include
those of Frank Staff.
Access
The best way to see all our philatelic and postal history collections is by appointment with the Curator of Philately, Douglas Muir. To make an appointment, please call 020 7239 2570 or email info@postalheritage.org.uk.
From the blog
The BPMA blog contains a number of posts relating to Stamps and Philately. To view these please click here, or follow these direct links:
- 5th Festival of Stamps postcard now available, 2 September 2010
- Upcoming stamp shows in Amersham and Croydon, 1 September 2010
- The Notting Hill Carnival on stamps, 27 August 2010
- The National Philatelic Society Library at the BPMA, 23 August 2010
- Great British Railways, 19 August 2010
- 80 years of the airmail etiquette, 17 August 2010
- The
'Rescue Man' and the 'Danger Squad': Frederick G. Gurr and the GPO
Rescue and Salvage Squad, 16 August 2010
- The Post Office at War at Bletchley Park, 13 August 2010
- Artistamps 2010: An International Mail Art show organised by the Shopping Trolley Gallery, 11 August 2010
- King
George V Registration Sheets, 9 August 2010
- De-installation
of the Empire Mail exhibition, 4 August 2010
- Ronald
Maddox on illustrating Britain, 30 July 2010
- Olympics Stamps 2010, 27 July 2010
- Silverstone Innovation Centre design challenge, 21 July 2010
