The High Value Definitive stamps
Recess-printed by Harrisons, on paper with the block GviR & crown watermark, the 2/6d, 5/- and £1 were printed in two panes of 40 (5 rows of 8 stamps) and then guillotined. The 10/- value was printed in single sheets of 40 stamps. Edmund Dulac designed the 2/6d and the 5/-. The Hon. George Bellew, M.V.O. designed the 10/- and the £1. None of these designs contained the word REVENUE. They were issued at intervals from 21.9.1939 to 1.10.1948.The 2/6 brown was issued 4.9.1939, the 2/6d green 9.3.1942, 5/- red 21.8.1939, the dark blue 10/- was issued on 30.9.1939, and the ultramarine 10/- issued 30.10.1942. Finally, the £1 brown 1.10.1948
1951 - the 'Festival' High Values
These so-called 'Festival' high value stamps were issued 3rd May 1951 as part of the pre-Festival of Britain publicity, and were very 'British' in design content, as they showed Nelson's ship Victory ; the white cliffs of Dover; our national Saint - George - with the mythical dragon, and the Royal Coat of Arms. They were issued in sheets of 40 (10 rows x 4) but printed in two panes of 40 which were then guillotined. There were no plate markings but the watermark was GviR as illustrated.
Quantities sold :-
2/6d 40,723,192
5/- 22,141,445
10/- 10,122,720
£1 2,383,720
Introduction
definitive stamps
Definitive stamps inverted watermarks
High Value stamps
Coil stamps and leaders
Sheet markings
Stamps in booklets
Forces Mail Airletters
Commemorative issues
Overprints
Wartime slogans
