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July 2006

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This month's new Royal Mail stamp issue, released on 18 July 2006, is the National Portrait Gallery. To mark this new release we have found a great selection of portrait stamps from the archive.

British Film Year portraits, 1985

The following series was released in October 1985 as the British Film Year stamp issue.

The stamps are portraits of some of the most legendary figures from the British film industry. From the comedic genius of Peter Sellers, the blundering Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movies, to the unquestionable beauty of Vivien Leigh, best known for her role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind.

Alfred Hitchcock is also featured in this series. Although directors tend to be strictly 'behind the scenes', Hitchcock was well known for having cameo roles in the films he directed... the fun was in trying to spot him!

The noted photographers responsible for these images include Bill Brandt (Peter Sellers), Cornel Lucas (David Niven), Lord Snowdon (Charlie Chaplin), Angus McBean (Vivien Leigh) and Howard Coster (Alfred Hitchcock).


17p stamp of Peter Sellers from the British Film Year stamp issue from October 1985


22p stamp of David Niven from the British Film Year stamp issue from October 1985


29p stamp of Charlie Chaplin from the British Film Year stamp issue from October 1985


31p stamp of Vivien Leigh from the British Film Year stamp issue from October 1985


34p stamp of Alfred Hitchcock from the British Film Year stamp issue from October 1985

Reynolds and Raeburn portraits

A more traditional set of portraits is illustrated in the stamps below. Issued back in July 1973, they were released in commemoration of British Paintings. 250th Birth Anniversary of Sir Joshua Reynolds And 150th Death Anniversary of Sir Henry Raeburn.

The series shows some wonderful examples of British fine art, including a self-portrait by both of the artists.


3p stamp from the stamp issue British Paintings, 250th Anniv of Sir Joshua Reynolds And 150th Death Anniv of Sir Henry Raeburn from July 1973

5p stamp from the stamp issue British Paintings, 250th Anniv of Sir Joshua Reynolds And 150th Death Anniv of Sir Henry Raeburn from July 1973

7 1/2p stamp from the stamp issue British Paintings, 250th Anniv of Sir Joshua Reynolds And 150th Death Anniv of Sir Henry Raeburn from July 1973

9p stamp from the stamp issue British Paintings, 250th Anniv of Sir Joshua Reynolds And 150th Death Anniv of Sir Henry Raeburn from July 1973

Why not visit our current Stamp of the Month exhibition for 2007?