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United Kingdom commemorative stamps 1970–1979 facts for kids

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The United Kingdom, often called "Great Britain" by stamp collectors, released many special stamps in the 1970s. These stamps are called commemorative stamps. They are issued to celebrate or remember important places, events, or people.

History of UK Commemorative Stamps

The very first sticky postage stamp, known as the Penny Black, was introduced in the UK on May 6, 1840. For a long time, until 1924, all British stamps only showed a picture of the king or queen. One exception was the "Sea Horses" design from 1913.

The first special commemorative stamp was released in 1924. It celebrated the British Empire Exhibition. Since the mid-1960s, the UK has released about six to nine sets of these special stamps every year. Also, since the mid-1970s, postcard-sized copies of these stamps, called PHQ cards, have been made available.

Special Stamps from 1970 to 1979

Here is a list of the special commemorative stamps that were released in the United Kingdom during the 1970s. Each entry shows when the stamps were issued, what they celebrated, how many stamps were in the set, and who designed them.

British commemorative stamps issued between 1970 and 1979
Issue date Issue details Stamps in set Designer(s)
1970
11 February 1970 British Rural Architecture Four David Gentleman
1 April 1970 Anniversaries Five
3 June 1970 Literary anniversaries Five Rosalind Dease
15 July 1970 Ninth British Commonwealth Games Three
18 September 1970 "Philympia 70" Stamp Exhibition Three David Gentleman
25 November 1970 Christmas Three
1971
16 June 1971 "Ulster 1971" Paintings (first decimal commemoratives) Three Stuart Rose
28 July 1971 Literary Anniversaries Three
25 August 1971 British Anniversaries Three
22 September 1971 British Architecture Four
13 October 1971 Christmas Three
1972
16 February 1972 British Polar Explorers Four P.B. Powell
26 April 1972 General Anniversaries Three
21 June 1972 British Architecture, Village Churches Five
13 September 1972 Broadcasting Anniversaries Four David Gentleman
18 October 1972 Christmas Three
20 November 1972 Royal Silver Wedding Two
1973
3 January 1973 Britain's entry into the European Communities Three
28 February 1973 Plant A Tree Year One
18 April 1973 British Explorers Five
16 May 1973 County Cricket 1873–1973 Three Edward M Ripley
4 July 1973 British Paintings Four
15 August 1973 400th Anniversary of the Birth of Inigo Jones Four
12 September 1973 Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference Two
14 November 1973 Royal Wedding Two
28 November 1973 Christmas Six David Gentleman
1974
27 February 1974 British Trees One David Gentleman
24 April 1974 Bicentenary of Fire Prevention Act Four David Gentleman
12 June 1974 Centenary of Universal Postal Union Four Rosalind Dease
10 July 1974 Medieval Warriors Four
9 October 1974 Birth Centenary of Sir Winston Churchill Four
27 November 1974 Christmas Four
1975
22 January 1975 Health & Handicap Funds One Philip Sharland
19 February 1975 Birth Bicentenary of J. M. W. Turner Four
23 April 1975 European Architectural Heritage Year Five
11 June 1975 Sailing Four
13 August 1975 150th Anniversary of the first Steam Train Four
3 September 1975 62nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference One
22 October 1975 Birth Bicentenary of Jane Austen Four
26 November 1975 Christmas Four
1976
10 March 1976 Telephone Centenary Four (8+1⁄2p,10p,11p,13p)
28 April 1976 Social Reformers Four (8+1⁄2p,10p,11p,13p) David Gentleman
2 June 1976 Bicentennial of American Independence 1776–1976 One (11p) Philip Sharland
30 June 1976 Centenary of National Rose Society Four (8+1⁄2p,10p,11p,13p)
4 August 1976 British Cultural Traditions Four (8+1⁄2p,10p,11p,13p)
29 September 1976 500th Anniversary of British Printing Four (8+1⁄2p,10p,11p,13p)
24 November 1976 Christmas Four (6+1⁄2p, 8+1⁄2p, 11p,13p)
1977
12 January 1977 Racket Sports Four (8+1⁄2p,10p,11p,13p)
2 March 1977 Royal Institute of Chemistry Centenary Four (8+1⁄2p,10p,11p,13p)
11 May 1977 Silver Jubilee (8+1⁄2p-10p-11p-13p values) Four {full set = 5}
8 June 1977 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, London One (13p) Peter Murdoch
15 June 1977 Silver Jubilee (9p value) One {full set = 5}
5 October 1977 British Wildlife Five (5 x 9p)
23 November 1977 Christmas Six (5 x 7p, 9p) David Gentleman
1978
25 January 1978 Energy Resources Four (9p, 10p, 11p, 13p)
1 March 1978 British Architecture Four + Miniature sheet
(9p, 10p, 11p, 13p)		 Stamps: Ronald Maddox;

Mini-sheet: Jeffery Matthews
31 May 1978 25th Anniversary of the Coronation Four
5 July 1978 Horses Four Patrick Oxenham
2 August 1978 Centenaries of Cyclists' Touring Club
and British Cycling Federation		 Four Fritz Wegner
22 November 1978 Christmas Four Faith Jacques
1979
7 February 1979 Dogs Four
21 March 1979 Spring Wild Flowers Four Peter Newcombe
9 May 1979 First direct elections to European Assembly Four
6 June 1979 Horse Racing paintings Four
11 July 1979 International Year of the Child Four
22 August 1979 Death Centenary of Sir Roland Hill Four
26 September 1979 150th Anniversary of Metropolitan Police Four
24 October 1979 Death Centenary of Sir Roland Hill Miniature sheet
21 November 1979 Christmas Five Fritz Wegner

Other Decades of UK Commemorative Stamps

Acknowledgments

  • Stanley Gibbons
  • Concise Stamp Catalogue
  • Gibbons Stamp Monthly
  • Royal Mail Stamp Guide
  • Royal Mail British Philatelic Bulletin

See also

  • Stanley Gibbons
  • Stamp Collecting
  • List of people on stamps
  • Philately
  • stamps
  • PHQ Cards
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