Elizabeth: Queen & Icon
Elizabeth: Queen & Icon was compiled to celebrate the 80th birthday of Her Majesty The Queen in 2006.
From her childhood, and particularly as Queen, her face has been captured repeatedly on film and canvas. Many of these representations of The Queen have been the source of several stamps, and even more proposed stamp designs.
Definitive stamps are printed in their millions. They travel the world as miniature ambassadors for Britain. An image of our Head of State on a stamp creates a powerful national icon. Elizabeth: Queen & Icon takes a closer look at some of these philatelic portraits.
The Queen through the decades: 60th birthday stamps
Stamps featuring portraits from throughout The Queen's life.
The Queen through the decades: Golden Jubilee stamps
Stamps featuring an image from each decade of The Queen's reign.
The Dorothy Wilding portrait
All British definitive stamps bore Wilding's portrait of The Queen from 1952 until 1967.
Postal stationery: the Cecil Thomas portrait
The creation of a design for embossed stamps on envelopes.
Postal stationery: Letterpress designs
The engraved design for postal stationery prepared by De La Rue.
Off with her head!
In the 1960s there was a revolution in British stamp design, led by Tony Benn and David Gentleman.
Gillick head & Gentleman cameo
David Gentleman sought a way of simplifying the effigy of The Queen for his new stamp designs.
The Gentleman Album
Throughout 1965 David Gentleman produced an album of non-traditional stamp designs.
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Diamond Jubilee
A display marking the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
An insight into the making of the stamps released to mark the Diamond Jubilee - on display in our archives.
Gentleman on Stamps
A look at the work of Britain's most prolific stamp designer
David Gentleman has designed 103 stamps for Royal Mail, and has had a profound influence on British stamp design.
Regional Stamps
Lions, Leopards, Unicorns and Dragons - the first "regional" stamps
Produced to mark the 50th anniversary of the first issue of stamps for the countries and islands of the British isles.
