2017-03-04 Sat

A plaster portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that was used to create the most reproduced stamp image will be offered by Cavendish Auctions in England on 15th and 16th March. Artist Arnold Machin created the profile portrait in April 1966 based on a British decimal coin design that he had produced two years before that. Machin was officially appointed to create the queen’s portrait for a new stamp series in 1966. His design has been featured on British definitive stamps since the first was issued in 1967. Queen’s personally likes the design so much that it is very unlikely that it will be changed during her reign.

Another cast of this model is now at the National Postal Museum in London. Two such casts were auctioned before for which the Royal Mail paid £18,500 in 2008 and £21,000 in 2009. The second one is at the Royal Philatelic Society London. The item has an estimated value of £12,000.