Norvic Philatelics - GB New Stamps and Special Postmarks

Trooping the Colour - Royal Ceremonial - 7 June 2005

The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th. Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his own regiment. In London, the Foot Guards used to do this from 1755 onwards as part of their daily Guard Mounting on Horse Guards and the ceremonial of the present parade is along similar lines. In 1805 the parade was for the first time carried out to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday.

This impressive display of pageantry is now held on the occasion of the Queen's Official Birthday. It takes place in June each year to celebrate the official Birthday of the Sovereign and is carried out by her personal troops, the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with the Queen herself attending and taking the salute.
With thanks to Trooping the Colour website.

Ensign of the Scots Guards HM The Queen taking the salute as Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards Trumpeter of the Household Cavalry
2nd class Ensign of the Scots Guards 2002 1st class The Queen taking the salute as Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards 1983 42p Trumpeter of the Household Cavalry 2004
Welsh Guardsman HM The Queen on horseback HM The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh in an open carriage
60p Welsh Guardsman, 1990s 68p The Queen on horseback, 1972 £1.12 The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh in an open carriage, 2004 Miniature Sheet of 6 stamps.
Although apparently imperforate, this is an early illustration of the design. The stamps in the sheet will be perforated.


Technical details:
The stamps are 35mm square and the miniature sheet is 115x105mm. All are printed in litho by Walsall Security Printers, perf 14.5, with PVA gum. Design is by Why Not Associates. All images except FDCs are from Royal Mail's Philatelic Bulletin and Postmark Bulletin, and are Copyright 2005 by Royal Mail.

All enquiries - please email us.


Norvic Exclusive First Day Cover

Our exclusive FDC for this issue shows a Guardsman with his drill rifle, backed up by a marching display of similar guards.
For the Miniature Sheet, we have just the lone guardsman.
The covers are priced at £8.95 each. Both covers will be produced with postmarks L9590 and L9590 - covers with any others must be requested by 5 June.

Norvic FDC for Trooping the Colour stamp set issued 7 June 2005
Norvic FDC for Trooping the Colour miniature sheet issued 7 June 2005

Also available, mint and used stamps and miniature sheet, PO FDCs, etc.
Mint set of 6 OR miniature sheet - £4.25
PO FDCs with any postmark - £5.00 


Special Postmarks
Postmarks available for the day of issue are shown below - these may not be to scale

text text Queen on horseback Gun salute marching drummer
Ref FD513
Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark
Ref FD514
London SW1 Official Postmark
Ref L9589
Horse Guards Avenue London
Ref M9602
Royal Salute, Queens Rd, Birmingham
Ref L9588
The Parade, London SW11
guardsman guardsman guardsman guardsman guardsman
Ref L9593
Birdcage Walk, London SW1
Ref L9594
Tower Hill, London EC3
Ref L9595
Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1
Ref L9596
St James St, London SW1
Ref L9597
Whitehall, London SW1
trumpets text soldier 'dipping' the flag soldier 'dipping' the flag mounted guards
Ref L9590
Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London
Ref L9591
The Mall, London SW1
Ref L9592
Horse Guards Parade, London SW1
Ref L9581
Coldstream Gdns, London SW18
Ref L9598
Horse Guards Avenue, London SW1
marching troops outside Buckingham Palace perspiring guardsman Royal Cypher - and snail Three lions on shield text and symbol
Ref L9584
Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1
Ref L9586
Whitehall, London SW1
Ref L9587
Whitehall, London SW1
Ref N9605
The Royal & The Parade Hotel, Bridlington
Ref L9599
Bletchley Park Post Office, Milton Keynes
badge of the Irish Guards <<<<<
Ref F9608 British Forces PS 2857 Irish Guards
In use 11 June only
Queen on horseback <<<<<
Ref L9704 Trooping the Colour Bicentenary London
This postmark was announced on 5 August - please order by 17 August if FDC or single-stamp covers are wanted
The stamps will be issued on the Tuesday before the actual ceremony which takes places on Saturday 11th.

This page updated 9 August 2005

2004
2005 stamp issues
Visit our online shop!
January
11
Farm Animals
February
8
British Journey - South West England
24 Jane Eyre & Brontes prestige book
March
15
Magic Circle Centenary
22 Wilding Castles Miniature Sheet
April
5
New definitives
8 Royal Wedding
21 World Heritage Sites
26 Definitive reprints provisional date
May
10
Definitive reprints provisional date
June
7
Trooping the Colour
21
Smilers sheet - Flag stamp, White Ensign
21 Definitive reprints provisional date
July
5
End of World War II
19 British Motorcycles
August
5
London 2012 Olympics
23
Europa - Gastronomy
September
22
Independent Television 50th Anniversary
October
4
Small greetings definitives & Smilers
18 Battle of Trafalgar
November
1
Christmas
Christmas Robins Smilers Sheet
2006 programme

HOME