On occasion of the 300th anniversary of completion of St Paul's Cathedral Royal Mail is issuing a set of 6 stamps and a miniature sheet.
The set of 6 show the interior of six of the UK's most beautiful cathedrals using specially commissioned new photography.Set of 6: Lichfield (1st class), Belfast (St Anne's), Gloucester, St David's (Wales), Westminster, St Magnus (Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland) Miniature sheet: se-tenant block of 4 showing the interior of St Paul's Cathedral, London.
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Set of 6 stamps:Top Row:1st class - Lichfield; 46p Belfast; 48p Gloucester Lower row:54p St David's; 69p Westminster; 78p St Magnus, Orkney. |
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Miniature sheet of 2 x 1st class stamps & 2 x 78p stamps showing the interior of St Pauls Cathedral with a picture of Sir Christopher Wren in the border. |
1st Class - Lichfield
The only medieval English cathedral with three spires, "the Ladies of the Vale". The
present Gothic cathedral, on the site of a wooden Saxon church holding the shrine of St Chad,
was begun in 1195: the beautiful carved stone angel found under the floor in 2005 may have
come from the original shrine.
48p - Belfast
After the foundation stone of St Anne's was laid in 1899, it was built around a parish
church which remained in use until the cathedral was complete - only a window now survives of
the old church. A 100 metre stainless steel spire was added in 2007.
50p - Gloucester
The foundations of the present building were laid by the 11th century Abbott Serio, but
most is much later Gothic. One 14th century stained glass window has the earliest known image of
golf - proving to the satisfaction of the proud citizens that the game is not a Scottish invention.
56p - St Davids -
Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi
St David's occupies the site of the saint's monastery at the most westerly point in the British
Isles, a shrine so important that in 1081 William the Conqueror himself came. The present
building was begun in 1181, damaged by structural failure and earthquake a century later, and
left so ruinous by the Civil War that restoration took centuries.
72p - Westminster
The cathedral, on the site of the old Tothill Fields prison, was designed by John Francis
Bentley after seeking inspiration in Romanesque cathedrals on the continent, including St Mark's
in Venice. Work began in 1895, its great striped campanile soon rose higher than the western
towers of the nearby Abbey. It opened in 1903, but work on the interior mosaics continues
to this day.
81p - St Magnus
... was begun in 1137 by Earl Rognvald Kolsson to enshrine the bones of the
murdered saint, his uncle - and to further his campaign to wrest control of the entire kingdom
of Orkney. It is unique in belonging, by royal decree, to the people of Kirkwall, not the diocese,
and still has many links with Scandinavia, including the Norwegian system of bell ringing.
Miniature sheet 2 x 1st Class 2 x 81p - St Paul's Cathedral
Background information by the Dean and Chapter House of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's is the Cathedral Church of the diocese of London, which it has served for over 1,400
years. One of the world's most beautiful and elegant buildings, it has become a potent symbol of
the life of the nation. Throughout its history, the Cathedral has remained a vibrant place of
worship, retreat and wonder.
Raised to the ground by the Great Fire of London in 1666, Old St Paul's made way for the current Cathedral: Sir Christopher Wren's Baroque masterpiece. Built in the Age of Enlightenment, the reconciliation of faith and science are symbolised by the Cathedral's elevating and awe-inspiring dome.
Since it's completion in 1710, the Cathedral has served as the nation's parish church on days of triumph and sorrow. From Lord Nelson's funeral, to the thanksgiving service for the end of World War II, many have looked to St Paul's in moments of crisis and celebration.
Today, the Cathedral remains the seat of the Bishop of London; a church at the heart of an active and diverse diocese. Majestic and atmospheric, it welcomes many thousands of visitors through its doors each year for services, concerts, debates, performing arts and sightseeing.
Technical Details: The stamps and miniature sheet are printed in litho by Joh Enschede Stamps. Stamps designed by Howard Brown using photographs © Peter Marlow/Magnum Photos. The Miniature Sheet has an anonymous 'Portrait of Sir Christopher Wren' from a PrivateCollection/The Bridgeman Art Library, Photograph by Peter Smith © Jarrold Publishing & St Paul's Cathedral The set of 6 are 37 x 27mm in sheets of 25/50, and the miniature sheet 89 x 115mm.
Also available:
Set of 6 stamps mint or fine used - £4.50
Miniature sheet mint or fine used - £3.35
Presentation Pack (contains all 10 stamps) - £7.50
Set of 6 on Royal Mail FDC - £5.75
Miniature sheet on Royal Mail FDC - £4.50
Set of 11 Stamp Cards unused - £5.50
Preliminary designs for Cotswold first day cover (showing York Minster) and Stuart first day cover
(showing Gloucester Cathedral) - either cover price £7.25 with the set or £6.00 with the MS, if ordered by 5 May.
Special Postmarks
Postmarks for these stamps are shown below - these may not be to scale.
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| Ref FD813 Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark |
Ref FD814 London Official Postmark |
Ref FD814NP London Official non-pictorial postmark |
Ref M10965 Cathedrals, Lichfield, Staffs |
Ref S10974 Cathedrals, Kirkwall, Orkney |
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| Ref L10953 St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4 |
Ref L10958 East Knoyle, Wiltshire |
Ref L10954 St Paul's Cathedral London EC1 |
Ref M10964 Gloucester Cathedral |
Ref W10975 Cathedrals St Davids, Pembrokeshire |
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| Ref L10957 300 Years of St Paul's Cathedral, London EC4 |
Ref L10956 Cathedrals, London |
Ref L10955 St Paul's Cathedral, 300th Anniversary |
Ref M10966 Cathedrals of the United Kingdom, Gloucester |
Ref M10967 Cathedrals, St Paul's Rd, Birmingham |
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| Ref L10952 Cathedrals Salisbury |
Ref L10959 Cathedral View, Guildford |
Ref N10969 Cathedrals York |
Ref N10970 Cathedrals, Hope Street, Liverpool |
Ref M4687 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Gloucester |
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| Ref E4659 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Guildford |
Ref E4664 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for London EC4 |
Ref W4679 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Truro |
Ref W4654 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Exeter |
Ref N4669 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Newcastle Upon Tyne |
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| Ref M4642 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Birmingham |
Ref L4646 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Canterbury |
Ref M4650 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Coventry |
Ref N4652 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Durham |
Ref S4653 Royal Mail Permanent Postmark for Edinburgh |
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This page updated 15 May 2008