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With new stamps and a special postmark being issued for King Charles III #Coronation, we’re looking back at the other commemorative stamps in our philatelic collection. Did you know it’s only the third time in history that
@RoyalMail
has issued coronation stamps?
King Charles III coronation stamp. The coronation stamp depicts the moment when the St Edward’s crown is lowered on to the king’s head as he sits in the Coronation Chair holding the Sceptre with Dove, representing his spiritual role, and Sceptre with Cross, representing his temporal power and associated with good governance. The scene is set in front of Westminster Abbey, with fireworks above, and a gun salute in the background, while celebrating crowds attend a street party and watch the ceremony on a giant screen.
13 May 1937 Coronation Issue 1½d postage stamp depicting King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, designed by Edmund Dulac, then manufactured by Harrison and Sons Limited using a photogravure printing process.
3 June 1953 Coronation Issue 1/6 postage stamp bearing the Dorothy Wilding portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Edmund Dulac then manufactured by Harrison and Sons using a photogravure printing process.
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14 January 1559. It's the day before the #Coronation. The sound of trumpets and drums fill the air. Flags hang from buildings. People line the streets to glimpse their new monarch 🎺 At the heart of it all is Queen Elizabeth I in a golden litter, processing from
@TowerOfLondon
… Show more
A pencil drawing of rows upon rows of riders on horseback, parading.
A pencil drawing of riders upon horseback and a large litter carrying Elizabeth I, surrounded by bannerman.
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Who was the first King to be crowned at Westminster Abbey? 👑 Since the 11th century,
@Wabbey
has been the location of the #Coronation ceremony of English Kings & Queens – the first (that we know for certain) was William I (also known as the Conqueror) on Christmas Day, 1066:… Show more
An illumination from a manuscript showing William I crowned by two bishops at Westminster Abbey, in Wavrin's Chronicle: Royal MS 15 E IV/2. A border of leaves and flowers surrounds the text and illustration.
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This work was created over 20 years from 1278. There are a whopping 84 different groups of texts between its pages, including 55 main texts and 29 written in the margins, copied by Benjamin the Scribe. The illuminations were created by artists at three major Parisian workshops.
This illuminated manuscript shows a bird sitting on an egg in a circular frame. The bird has an orange head, wings and feet, a white beak and blue feathers. The egg is white. There is an inscription in Ashkenazi (French) square and semi-cursive script.
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What is this draconic creature I see before me? 🐉 This 1,494-page North French Miscellany is one of very few existing Hebrew illuminated manuscripts from 13th-century France. It contains French Gothic illuminations and writings about the bible, liturgy, law and history. 📜Add… Show more
This page of the illuminated manuscript shows a group of five men in a building with a monster on the roof. The creature has a horned head, bird-like feet, feathered wings and two tails. Four of the men are looking up at the roof and several are making gestures with their hands.
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All manner of animals, ranging from the noble unicorn 🦄 to the humble hedgehog 🦔 (this wasn’t just a text for the domestic animal, but also exotic beasts and those fantastical), inhabit the medieval bestiary, largely illuminated, and could be reconfigured in numerous ways.
An illustration of a unicorn from a bestiary, it is blue in colour and a large horn protrudes from its head. Harley 4751
An illustration of three hedgehogs, crawling and playing. Harley 4751
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Unlike our modern equivalents, however, which explain habitats, scientific classifications, and eating preferences, creatures in the bestiary were associated allegorical moral lessons, used as evidence of God’s divine plan for the world.
A page from a bestiary with text and an illustration of a dragon wrapped around and elephant. Harley MS 4751.
An illustration showing a ship full of men beached on top of a whale. Harley MS 4751
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In Disney’s The Lion King, little Simba grows up to become the ‘King of Beasts’ – but where did this idea come from? The answer lies in the medieval bestiary, along with a host of other wondrous and exciting discoveries 🦁
An illustration of a lion from a 12th-century bestiary. He proudly stands on all fours, and has green and blue highlights in his fur and mane. MS 11283
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Which fish are you today? 🐠 We’re feeling number 4 having just come back from lunch (we’ve also affectionately nicknamed him Chonky).
A grid of 9 illustrations of different fish, arranged in a square, with different features or characteristics. 1. A leopard patterned fish with an electric antennae 2. A striped black and white fish, with pouty lips 3. A blue fish with a long skinny whip like tongue 4. A rather round fish, protruding from under its mouth like a large chin 5. A yellow and green fish that looks gormless 6. A view of a fish from above, which is looking up in return, shocked and surprised 7. A brown fish with blue fins, and a toothy grin 8. A striped colourful fish that looks like it’s been built from metal strips 9. A green and blue fish that’s frowning and pulling an angry facial expression
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‘But the true nature of the human heart is as whimsical as spring weather. All signals may aim toward a fall of rain when suddenly the skies will clear’ — The Collected Autobiographies by Maya Angelou
A view of the British Library red brick building from the piazza. A bright blue sky is above, with a large white cloud. There is a large round puddle on the red and white bricked piazza, which reflects the Library and the blue sky.
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Due to planned industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, as part of a national dispute over pay, pension, jobs and redundancy terms, services at St Pancras will be significantly disrupted this Friday 28 April. We’ve amended our opening times and will… Show more
A view of the St Pancras site from above. The British Library building extends out like a ship onto the piazza, which is a terracotta grid. In the background can be seen the St Pancras hotel.
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This #EarthDay and as part of
@artfund
’s #TheWildEscape, we’re celebrating the weird and wonderful world of animals. Whether at home or joining us in person for our Family events, why not be inspired by the wildlife around you, and create your own drawing, painting, poem or… Show more
A colour illustration of two butterflies resting on a leafed branch. One is electric blue, the other brown with blue detailing.
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