Great Britain Stamps
Home of the world’s first adhesive postage stamp
Rowland Hill’s postal reform of 1840 revolutionised the postal system of Great Britain and had a huge influence on countries around the world. His proposal called for several changes that are still in use today: a uniform postage rate that was irrespective of distance and most notably, all mail being prepaid by the sender.
The unique design of GB stamps is another reason they are so sought after by collectors. Surprisingly, Britain is the only country that does not feature its name on its stamps, simply relying on a portrait of the current monarch to signify its place of origin. This original design was based on an engraved head of Queen Victoria, as this was deemed the most difficult image to successfully forge.
Stanley Gibbons have a large collection of popular stamps from Great Britain, including the Penny Black, the Penny Red and the King George V Seahorses to name but a few. Browse by monarch below.
Queen Victoria
King Edward VII
King George V
King Edward VIII
King George VI
