2017-02-07 Tue

A new postage stamp was issued by Great Britain’s Royal Mail to celebrate the sapphire jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II on 6th February.

The Queen came to power on 6th February 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI. She is the only monarch to reign for 65 years. A sapphire blue £5 definitive stamp featuring a portrait of the queen by Arnold Machin, with typography by Jeffery Matthews was released in panes of 10. An overprint reads “65th Anniversary of Accession”. Along with the new stamp, first-day covers, postmarks, and a presentation pack with the stamp and a history of Machin definitives, from the first design essays in 1965 are also offered.