There's always been something peculiarly British about a traditional seaside holiday - which is just as well, because we invented them. So in honour of the great British holiday, we have six classic seaside images to get you ready for summer.
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Set of 6 stamps: 54p - beach huts; |
Old habits die hard on the beaches of Britain.
What precious memories we've all got of hours spent hunting for shrimps
in rock pools while
our parents topped up their tans, grandparents left dozing in
deckchairs entombed in tons of
sand - can it get any better? But when did seaside holidays become a
reality for the masses?
Thanks to our position at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution,
the development of railways
brought the British coastline within easy reach of our towns and
cities. And more than a century
on, despite decades of cheap air travel and the lure of year round
sunshine, our coastal towns
have responded with luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and exciting new
attractions.
It appears to be working, as around 25 million Britons currently spend over £4 million enjoying a holiday at home.
After all, who needs Benidorm when you've got good old Blighty? So slop on the sun cream and place a folded newspaper on your head - it's time to enjoy that well deserved break... no passport required... down by the seaside.
Designed by Phelan Barker Design Consultants, the stamps are printed
in gravure by De La Rue Security Prints. The stamps are 35mm square and
are in sheets of 25/50. All images except Norvic FDCs are by kind
permission of Royal Mail, Copyright 2007. Norvic FDCs, and this website
are copyright Norvic Philatelics 2007.
Photography credits: 1st - Ice Cream Cone: © Martin Parr/Magnum
Photos; 46p - Sand Castle: © Rolph Gobits;
48p - Merry-go-round: © Ian Britton/FreeFoto; 54p - Beach Huts:
© Sam Morgan Moore/Beachfeature;
69p - Deckchairs: © Peter Williams/English Heritage.NMR; 78p
-Donkeys: © Billy Stock/Photolibrary Wales.
Our exclusive FDC for this issue shows some beach art from
Sheringham on the North Norfolk Coast.
The stamps are cancelled at 'Cromer Road Sheringham' thus mentioning
the two great Norfolk rivals - price £10.95 each.
The cover above is our standard cover for this issue but for
collectors who prefer pictorial handstamps a variation is available
with a choice of two postmarks N10505 Scarborough or N10507 Blackpool
and is priced at £8.95 each.
Products issued:
Mint set
Presentation Pack
Royal Mail FDCs
Set of 6 Stamp Cards unused
Special Postmarks
Postmarks available for the day of issue are shown here these may
not be to scale. These postmarks cannot be obtained after the date
of issue.
Ref FD723 Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark |
Ref FD724 Blackpool Official Postmark |
Ref FD724NP Blackpool Official non-pictorial Postmark |
Ref N10505 Scarborough |
Ref L10489 Brighton, E Sussex |
Ref M10501 Sandy Way, Birmimgham |
Ref N10507 Blackpool |
Ref N10508 Blackpool Sandcastle Water Park |
Ref L10492 Shell Road, London SE13 |
Ref L10493 Margate |
Ref N10506 Blackpool, Lancashire |
Ref W10511 Weymouth, Dorset |
Ref L4677 Southend-on-Sea (rolling-date postmark) |
Ref L4643 Brighton (rolling-date postmark) |
If you have any questions about these stamps or FDCs please email us. NB: all emails will be acknowledged in 1-2 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement please email us from a different address (eg hotmail, gmail).
This page updated 23 May 2007
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January 9 The Beatles 16 Definitive LOVE booklet |
February 1 Sealife of the British Coast 13 The Sky at Night |
March 1 World of Invention 1 Glorious Wales Smiler Sheet 22 Abolition of the Slave Trade 27 Definitive & Country stamps |
April 23 Celebrating England miniature sheet and Glorious England Smilers Sheet |
May 15 Beside the Seaside 17 Wembley Stadium MS and Smilers |
June 5 Machins 40th Anniversary miniature sheet, PSB & Smilers |
July 3 Motor racing Grand Prix 17 Harry Potter books 26 Centenary of Scouting (Europa) |
August |
September 4 Endangered Species - birds 20 British Military Uniforms (I) |
October 16 60th Wedding Anniversary of HM the Queen |
November 6 Christmas 8 Lest We Forget 30 Glorious Scotland Smilers |
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