Great Britain

Great Britain is an island located west of Europe and mainly surrounded by the Channel, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales, while the United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland.

The following islands are also part of the United Kingdom: Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey and Man. Nevertheless these islands obtained their postal autonomy (see the stamps corresponding at these names).

It should be noted that many other smaller islands issued stamps in the years 1960-1970 (eg Staffa, Bernera or Eynhallow), often for tourist reasons. Some stamps may have been used for local mail but these programs are not recognized and do not appear on this site.

Following the independence of Southern Ireland in 1924, it issued its own stamps from that date (see the corresponding stamps in Ireland).

Rowland Hill proposed the adoption of the stamp to improve the functioning of the postal services (the port was previously paid by the recipient) and the first stamp was issued on May 6, 1940. It represents the Queen's effigy and was dubbed "Black Penny (Stamp of black color and worth a penny). Like all British stamps, this stamp did not have a name but only the effigy of the queen (or the king for other stamps).

The first souvenir sheet from Great Britain was issued in 1978 at the London International Philatelic Exhibition (London 1980). It represents various palaces and castles of the country.