Queen's Head Stamp

Hear this page read aloud

To enable the content of this page to be read aloud, download and install the latest Flash Player from Adobe's web site

Download - Help with audio

Photograph of the first issued 4d Machin stamp signed by the artist

Queen's Head StampThe Queen's Head Stamp designed by Arnold Machin has been nominated as one of England's greatest icons - and not surprisingly with approximately 180 billion stamps printed to date.

Arnold Machin's name may not be known in every household, but his sculpted image of The Queen certainly is. In 1965 five artists were comissioned to come up with a new profile portrait of The Queen for use on definitive stamps, and Machin's design was selected.

The design was launched to the public in June of 1967 - and almost 40 years on, it is still going strong.

Look at the BPMA's Elizabeth: Queen & Icon online exhibition for more about philatelic portraits of Her Majesty The Queen, and the Machin design.

Return to main icons page.