List of British postage stamps


This is a list of British postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail postal service of the United Kingdom, normally referred to in philatelic circles as Great Britain. This list should be consistent with printed publications, and cite sources of any deviation.

Queen Victoria

Line engraved

Embossed

  • Sixpence [British British embossed postage stamps|embossed postage stamps|embossed], 1847–54
  • Ten Pence embossed, 1847–54
  • One Shilling embossed, 1847–54

Surface printed

King Edward VII

King George V

King Edward VIII

King George VI

Queen Elizabeth II (pre-decimalisation)

1952–1954

  • Low value definitives known as Wildings, 5 December 1952, 31 August 1953, 15 October 1954

1953

1955

1957

1958

  • [1958 British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth Games|Sixth British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Cardiff], 18 July

1959

  • Low value Wilding definitives with phosphor bands, 18 November

1960

1961

1962

Note: Issues between 1962 and 1966 inclusive are available in two varieties – with, and without, phosphor bands. These were introduced to help sorting machines distinguish between first and second class letters automatically and the early examples with phosphor bands are worth several times those without.
  • National Productivity Year, 14 November

1963

  • Freedom from Hunger, 21 March
  • Centenary of the Paris Postal Conference, 7 May
  • National Nature Week, 16 May
  • Ninth International Lifeboat Conference, Edinburgh, 31 May
  • Red Cross Centenary Congress, 15 August
  • Opening of COMPAC, 3 December

1964

Note: First commemorative set to feature in an illustrated Presentation Pack, including mint stamps, with descriptive notes and protective covering. Also first set for which there was an official Post Office issue illustrated First Day Cover envelope and first set to commemorate a person from history.

1965

1966

  • Burns Commemoration, 25 January
  • 900th Anniversary of Westminster Abbey, 28 February
  • Landscapes, 2 May
  • World Cup Football Championship, 1 June
  • British Birds, 8 August
  • [England Winners stamp|England's 2002 FIFA World Cup|World Cup Football Victory], 18 August
  • British Technology, 19 September
  • 900th Anniversary of Battle of Hastings, 14 October
  • Christmas 1966, 1 December

1967

Also this year, in two issues, the first Machin definitives ; the remaining values were issued later in 1967 and on two dates in 1968.

1968

  • British Bridges, 29 April
  • British Anniversaries, 29 May
  • British Paintings, 12 August
  • Christmas 1968, 25 November

1969

  • British Ships, 15 January
  • First Flight of Concorde, 3 March
  • Anniversaries, 2 April
  • British Architecture, 28 May
  • Investiture of The Prince of Wales, 1 July
  • Gandhi Centenary Year, 13 August
  • British Post Office Technology, 1 October
  • Christmas 1969, 26 November

1970

Queen Elizabeth II (decimal currency)

1971

  • Decimal Currency Machins: p, 1p, p, 2p, p, 3p, p, 4p, 5p, 6p, p, and 9p, 15 February
  • "Ulster '71" Paintings, 16 June
  • Literary Anniversaries, 28 July
  • Decimal Currency Machin: 10p small format, 8 August
  • British Anniversaries, 25 August
  • British Architecture: Modern University Buildings, 22 September
  • Christmas 1971, 13 October

1972

  • British Polar Explorers, 16 February
  • General Anniversaries, 26 April
  • British Architecture: Village Churches, 21 June
  • Broadcasting Anniversaries, 13 September
  • Christmas 1972, 18 October
  • Royal Silver Wedding, 20 November

1973

1974

  • British Trees, 27 February
  • Bicentenary of the Fire Prevention Act, 24 April
  • Centenary of Universal Postal Union, 12 June
  • Medieval Warriors, 10 July
  • Birth Centenary of Winston Churchill, 9 October
  • Christmas, 27 November

1975

  • Health and Handicap Funds, 22 January
  • Birth Bicentenary of J. M. W. Turner, 19 February
  • European Architectural Heritage Year, 23 April
  • Sailing, 11 June
  • 150th Anniversary of Public Railways, 13 August
  • 62nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, 3 September
  • Birth Bicentenary of Jane Austen, 22 October
  • Christmas, 26 November

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

  • Charles Darwin, 10 February
  • Youth Organisations, 24 March
  • British Theatre, 28 April
  • ??? Pack number 135
  • Maritime Heritage, 16 June
  • British Textiles, 23 July
  • Information Technology, 8 September
  • British Motor Cars, 13 October
  • Christmas,17 November

1983

  • British River Fishes, 26 January
  • Commonwealth Day Monday 14 March, 9 March
  • British Engineering Achievements, 25 May
  • The British Army, 6 July
  • British Gardens, 24 August
  • British Fairs, 5 October
  • Christmas, 16 November

1984

  • Heraldry, 17 January
  • Cattle, 6 March
  • Urban Renewal, 10 April
  • Europa, CEPT 25th anniversary The Second European Election, 15 May
  • Greenwich 1884– Meridian −1984, 26 June
  • The Royal Mail, 31 July
  • The British Council 1934 – 1984, 25 September
  • Christmas, 20 November

1985

1986

1987

  • Flowers,, 6 January
  • Sir Isaac Newton,, 24 March
  • British Architects in Europe,, 12 May
  • St John Ambulance,, 16 June
  • Scottish Heraldry,, 21 June
  • Victorian Britain,, 8 September
  • Studio Pottery,, 13 October
  • Christmas,, 17 November

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

  • The Age of Steam - Railway Photographs by Colin Gifford, 18 January
  • Greeting Stamps - "Messages", 1 February
  • Postage due stamps, 15 February
  • 25th Anniversary of Investiture of The Prince of Wales - Paintings by The Prince of Wales, 1 March
  • Centenary of Picture Postcards, 12 April
  • Opening of Channel Tunnel, 3 May
  • 50th Anniversary of D-Day, 6 June
  • Scottish Golf Courses, 5 July
  • The Four Seasons - Summer time Events, 2 August
  • Europa - Medical Discoveries, 27 September
  • Christmas - Children's Nativity Plays, 1 November

1995

1996

1997

  • Greetings Stamps - 19th-century Flower Paintings, 6 January
  • 450th Death Anniversary of King Henry VIII, 21 January
  • Religious Anniversaries, 11 March
  • Europa - Tales and Legends - Horror Stories, 13 May
  • Architects of the Air - British Aircraft Designers, 10 June
  • "All The Queens Horses" - 50th Anniversary of the British Horse Society, 8 July
  • Sub-Post Offices, 12 August
  • Birth Centenary of Enid Blyton, 9 September
  • The Golden Wedding Anniversary 1947–1997, 7 October
  • Christmas - Christmas Crackers, 27 October

1998

1999

  • Millennium stamp Series - The Inventors' Tale, 12 January
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Travellers' Tale, 2 February
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Patients's Tale, 2 March
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Settlers' Tale, 6 April
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Workers' Tale, 4 May
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Entertainers' Tale, 1 June
  • Royal wedding, 15 June
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Citizens' Tale, 6 July
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Scientists' Tale, 3 August
  • Solar Eclipse, 11 August
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Farmers' Tale, Includes 1999 Europa issue, 7 September
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Soldiers' Tale, 5 October
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Christians' Tale, 2 November
  • Millennium stamp Series - The Artists' Tale, 7 December
  • Millennium stamp Series - 'Millennium Timekeeper', 14 December

2000

  • New Millennium stamp, 6 January
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Above and Beyond", 18 January
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Fire and Light", 1 February
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Water and Coast", 7 March
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Life and Earth", ECOS Ballymena, Web of Life Exhibition at London Zoo, 44p Earth Centre Doncaster, 64p Project SUZY Teesside. Printed by De La Rue Security Print, 4 April
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Art and Craft", 2 May
  • "Stamp Show 2000" International Stamp Exhibition, London, "Her Majesty's Stamps", 23 May
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "People and Places", 6 June
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Stone and Soil", 4 July
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Tree and Leaf", 1 August
  • Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's 100th Birthday, 4 August
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Mind and Matter", 5 September
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Body and Bone", 3 October
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Spirit and Faith", 7 November
  • Millennium stamp Projects - "Sound and Vision", 5 December

2001

2002

  • Centenary of Publication of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, 15 January
  • Golden Jubilee, 6 February
  • Wilding Definitive of 1952–54, 6 February
  • Greetings Stamps "Occasions", 5 March
  • British Coastlines, 19 March
  • Europa - Circus, 10 April
  • Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Commemoration, 25 April
  • 50th Anniversary of Passenger Jet Aviation, 2 May
  • World Cup Football Championship, Japan and Korea, 21 May
  • 17th Commonwealth Games, Manchester, 16 July
  • 150th Anniversary of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, 20 August
  • Bridges of London, 10 September
  • Astronomy Sheet, 24 September
  • 150th Anniversary of the First Pillar Box, 8 October
  • Christmas 2002, 5 November
  • 50th Anniversary of Wilding Definitives sheet, 5 December

2003

  • Birds of Prey, 14 January
  • Greetings Stamps "Occasions", 4 February
  • 50th Anniversary of Discovery of DNA, 25 February
  • Fruit and Vegetables, 25 March
  • Overseas Booklet Stamps, 27 March
  • Extreme Endeavours, 29 April
  • 50th Anniversary of Coronation, 2 June
  • 21st Birthday of Prince William of Wales, 17 June
  • A British Journey, Scotland, 15 July
  • Europa, British Pub Signs, 12 August
  • Classic Transport Toys, 18 September
  • 250th Anniversary of the British Museum, 7 October
  • Christmas 2003, 4 November
  • England's Victory in Rugby World Cup sheet, 19 December

2004

2005

2006

2007

  • The Beatles, 9 January
  • Sea Life, 1 FebruaryThe Sky at Night, 13 February
  • World of Invention, 1 March
  • Abolition of the Slave Trade, 22 March
  • Celebrating England, 23 April
  • Beside the Seaside, 15 May
  • 40th Anniversary of the Machin, 5 June
  • Grand Prix, 3 July
  • 10th Anniversary of the First Harry Potter Book, 17 July
  • Scouts, 26 July
  • British Army Uniforms, 20 September
  • Endangered Species – Birds, 4 September
  • The Queen's 60th Wedding Anniversary, 16 October
  • Christmas, 6 November
  • Lest We Forget, 8 November

2008

  • James Bond Centenary of Birth of Ian Fleming, 8 January
  • LOVE, 15 January
  • Working Dogs Centenary 5 February
  • Kings & Queens, 28 February
  • Greetings Booklet, 28 February
  • Celebrating Northern Ireland and Glorious N.Ireland, 11 March
  • Mayday – Rescue at Sea, 13 March
  • New Machin definitives & Country stamps for new postage rates, 1 April
  • Territorial Army Centenary, 1 April
  • Insects "Action for Species" 2, 15 April
  • Cathedrals 300th anniversary of completion of St Paul's Cathedral:, 13 May
  • Retail booklet – Summer holidays, 13 May
  • Classic Films "Carry on" and "Hammer" Films anniversaries, 10 June
  • London 1908 Olympics, 23 June
  • Airshows, 17 July
  • Beijing Expo August
  • Olympics Handover – 2008 Beijing Olympics, 22 August
  • Olympics Handover – 2008 Beijing Olympics +, 22 August 2008
  • British RAF Uniforms – 18 September
  • British RAF Uniforms –, 18 September
  • Country Definitives – 50th anniversary,, 29 September
  • Glorious UK, 29 September
  • Women of Distinction, 14 October
  • Christmas – Pantomime, 4 November
  • Lest We Forget – 90th anniversary of end of the First World War, 6 November

2009

  • Design Classics, 13 January
  • 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, 22 January
  • 200th Anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, 12 February
  • Celebrating Wales, 26 February
  • Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution, 17 March
  • New Machin Definitives and Country Stamps for new postage rates April
  • Kings & Queens Part 2, 21 April
  • Endangered Plants & 250th Anniversary of Kew Gardens, 19 May
  • Treasure of the Archive May
  • Mythical Creatures, 16 June
  • Olympic Disciplines July
  • Postboxes, 18 August
  • Fire Brigade, 1 September
  • Royal Navy Uniforms, 17 September
  • Eminent Britons, 8 October
  • Olympic & Paralympic Games, 22 October
  • Christmas – The Nativity Story as depicted on church stained glass, 3 November

2010

  • Classic Album Covers, 7 January
  • Girl Guiding, 2 February
  • The Royal Society, 25 February
  • Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, 11 March
  • Kings and Queens – The Stewarts, 23 March
  • Mammals, 13 April
  • King George V sheet, 6 May
  • Festival of Stamps sheet, 8 May
  • London 2010 sheet, 8 May
  • Britain Alone, 13 May
  • The Stuarts, 15 June
  • Olympic Games, 27 July
  • Great British Railways, 19 August
  • Winnie the Pooh, 12 October
  • Wallace and Gromit X-mas, MS, Generic Smiler 2 November

2011

  • Classic Children's Television, the Genius of Gerry Anderson – set of 6 & lenticular miniature sheet and Thunderbirds Retail Booklet, 11 January
  • Pictorial Faststamps, Birds II – Garden Birds 2, 24 January
  • Classic Locomotives of England, Minisheet, 1 Feb
  • Indipex Stamp Exhibition Generic Smilers Sheet – 20 x Union flag, 10x labels incl 1969 Gandhi stamp, 12 Feb
  • West End Stage Musicals set of 6, 24 Feb
  • Retail Booklet: British Heart Foundation 50th Anniv: has Medical Breakthroughs Beta-Blockers 1st stamp, 24 Feb
  • Magical Realms – including Discworld, Narnia, Harry Potter, King Arthur: set of 8, 8 March
  • 50th Anniv World Wide Fund for Nature – set of 10, MS & Prestige Booklet, 22 March
  • Commemorative Sheet 50th anniversary of Jaguar E-type, 30 March
  • Royal Shakespeare Company 50th Anniversary set of 6 + Minisheet, 12 April
  • Royal Wedding – miniature sheet of 4 stamps, 21 April
  • William Morris & Co 150th Anniversary set of 6 + Prestige Booklet, 5 May
  • Pictorial Faststamps, Water Birds 3 – Mallard, Mute Swan, Kingfisher, Moorhen, Greylag Goose and Great Crested Grebe, 19 May
  • Rev Wilbert Awdry Birth Cent. Set of 6, Minisheet and booklet, 14 June
  • The Duke of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday Commemorative Sheet, 14 June
  • Olympics/Paralympics series III – 10x1st class stamps, a Commemorative Sheet and a Composite Sheet/30 stamps, 27 July
  • Phila'nippon 11, Japan, Exhibition Generic Smilers Sheet, 28 July
  • The Crown Jewels set of 8, 23 August
  • Classic Locomotives of England retail booklet, 23 August
  • World's First Scheduled Airmail, Windsor – Minisheet and Prestige stamp book, 9 September
  • Arnold Machin Birth Centenary miniature sheet, 14 September
  • Kings & Queens, House of Hanover, set of 6 + Minisheet, 15 September
  • Olympics/Paralympics retail booklet 6, 15 September
  • 350th Anniv of the Postmark – Generic Smilers Sheet, 15 September
  • Pictorial Faststamps, Birds 4 – Sea birds, 16 September
  • A-Z of the United Kingdom, 13 October
  • Retail booklets: 6 x 1st with 2012 Stamp Calendar on inside cover. 12 x 2nd, 12 x 1st, 4 x 2nd Large, 4 x 1st *Large all with Forest Stewardship Council logo, 25 October
  • Christmas 400th Anniv. of the King James Version of the Bible – set of 7, MS, Smilers Sheet, Stamp booklets, 8 Nov

2012

2013

  • 9 January – 150th anniversary of the London Underground
  • 21 February – Jane Austen
  • 22 February – Post and Go – Freshwater Life 1 : Ponds Stamp Set
  • 26 March – Classic TV – 50 years of Dr Who
  • 16 March – Great Britons
  • 9 May – Football Heroes
  • 30 May – Royal Portraits – Her Majesty the Queen
  • 18 June – Classic Locomotives of Northern Ireland
  • 11 July – Butterflies
  • 8 August – Andy Murray
  • 13 August – British Auto Legends
  • 19 September – Merchant Navy
  • 20 September – Post & Go – Freshwater Life 3 : River Life Set
  • 10 October – Dinosaurs
  • 5 November – Christmas

2014

  • 7 January – Classic Children's TV
  • 4 February – Working Horses
  • 20 February – Classic Locomotives of Wales
  • 21 February – Post & Go – British Flora 1 : Spring Blooms
  • 25 March – Remarkable Lives
  • 15 April – Buckingham Palace
  • 13 May – Great British Film
  • 5 June – Sustainable Fish
  • 17 July – Glasgow 2014
  • 28 July – The Great War 1914
  • 18 September – Seaside Architecture
  • 19 September – Post & Go – British Flora 2 : Symbolic Flowers
  • 14 October – Prime Ministers
  • 4 November – Christmas
  • 13 November – Post & Go – British Flora 3 : Winter Greenery

2015

2016

  • 7 January – Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition
  • 28 January – Duke of Edinburgh Awards: 60th anniversary
  • 17 February – Royal Mail 500 – Post & Go: Royal Mail Heritage
  • 18 February – Penny Red Generic Sheet – Royal Mail Heritage PSB
  • 15 March – British Humanitarians
  • 5 April – William Shakespeare
  • 21 April – HM The Queen's 90th Birthday
  • 25 April – First World War: ANZAC
  • 17 May – Animail
  • 28 May – New York 2016 FIP Exhibition
  • 21 June – First World War: 1916
  • 7 July – Music Giants: Pink Floyd
  • 28 July – Beatrix Potter
  • 16 August – Landscape Gardens
  • 2 September – Great Fire of London
  • 14 September – Post & Go: Ladybirds
  • 15 September – Agatha Christie
  • 14 October – Battle of Hastings: 950th anniversary
  • 20 October – Mr Men and Little Misses
  • 8 November – Christmas 2016
  • 14 November – Post & Go: Hibernating Animals

2017

  • 17 January – Ancient Britain
  • 6 February – 65th Anniversary of the Accession
  • 15 February – Windsor Castle
  • 15 February – Post and Go Postal Heritage: Mail by Rail
  • 14 March – Music Giants II – David Bowie
  • 21 March – New Machin and Country Definitives
  • 6 April – Racehorse Legends
  • 4 May – Songbirds
  • 24 May – Exhibition Generic Sheet: Finlandia 2017
  • 5 June – Machin Definitive 50th anniversary
  • 5 June – Machin Anniversary Post and Go
  • 13 June – HRH The Princess Royal
  • 20 June – Windmills and Watermills
  • 30 June – Celebrating Canada
  • 13 July – Landmark Buildings
  • 31 July – World War I
  • 22 August – Classic Toys
  • 13 September – Post and Go Postal Heritage: Mail by Air
  • 13 September – Opening of The Postal Museum
  • 14 September – Ladybird Books
  • 12 October – Star Wars
  • 7 November – Christmas
  • 20 November – The Royal Wedding: Platinum Anniversary

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

The following issues continue to bear the silouette of HM Queen Elizabeth II, who died on 8th September 2022

2023

King Charles III

2023

2024

2025