Norvic Philatelics - GB New Stamps

150th Anniversary of Big Ben Commemorative Sheet: 18 September 2009

Royal Mail marks the 150th Anniversary of the Westminster clock tower known as "Big Ben".  It was actually the great bell that was named after the popular parliamentarian Sir Benjamin Hall, but the nickname quickly became associated with the tower.  The clock, great bell and four quarter bells first worked together in September 1859.  Read more on wikipedia.

Royal Mail have said that these commemorative sheets will be used "... to mark anniversaries that never quite made it into the stamp programme." They are A4 in size (210 x 297mm) similar to the Smilers Sheets sold at Stampex, and those commissioned by businesses. Whilst these were originally intended to be used by businesses they are now mainly produced for sale to sports fans, film fans, and collectors of general memorabilia. Being specially commissioned, 'Business Smilers' always have an intitial selling price well over face value, and often (but not always) command a considerable premium on resale.

The Royal Mail Commemorative Sheets consist of 10 x 1st class stamps, with commemorative labels and a commemorative border. Because these are sold by Royal Mail at a premium over the postage value, they will not be listed in most stamp catalogues, but we understand they will be listed in the Smilers Catalogue under the 'Commemorative Sheet' heading.  

Royal Mail Commemorative Sheet 150th Anniversary of Big Ben, London.

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Click on the image for a high resolution version
The labels on the sheet show (left to right):

- the clock mechanism;  - the Ayrton Light which shows if Parliament is sitting, after dark;
- a view from the tower; - Augustus Pugin;
- Turner's painting The Burning of the Houses of Parliament 1835;  - the clock face;
- building the tower - architects' drawing of the new Houses of Parliament;
- the bell; - the clock tower and fireworks.

Postmarks in use on the day of issue:
Postmark showing a large bell.
Ref L11484 above

Postmark showing clock face of Big Ben.
Ref L11483 above

Postmark showing clock tower known as Big Ben at Westminster.
Ref L11482 above


Technical details:

The sheet is designed by Creator, and printed by Cartor Security Printing. It is A4 size, 297 x 210mm. The Union Flag stamps self-adhesive with a single eliptical perforation on each side.


We do not stock this sheet and produced no FDCs for it.



This page updated 5 December 2010

2007 - 2008
2009 stamp issues
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January
13
Design Classics
22 Robert Burns
February
12
Charles Darwin
17 Machin Definitives with Security Features I
26 Dathlu Cymru - Celebrating Wales
March
2 Design Classics Concorde Smiler Sheet
10 Pioneers of the Industrial Revolution
10 Design Classics Retail Booklet - Phone & Bus
17 Northern Ireland Castles Smilers Sheet
31 Machin Definitives with Security Features II
31 New Rate Machin & Country Definitives

April
21
Kings & Queens II (Tudors)
21 Design Classics Retail Booklet - Mini-car
23 Castles of England Smilers Sheet
30 Smilers for Kids II

May
19
Endangered Plants & Kew Gardens MS
21 Flowers retail booklet

June
16
Mythical Creatures

July
21 40th ann of Moon Landing Commemorative Sheet
August
3 Thaipex Smilers Sheet
18 Wall Mounted Post Boxes MS & Smilers Sheet
18 Treasures of the Archive PSB
18 Design Classics Retail Booklet - Concorde
September
1 Fire Service
17 British Military Uniforms (III - Royal Navy)
17 Design Classics Retail Booklet - Mini-skirt/Quant
18 Commemorative Sheet - Big Ben 150th Anniversary
October
7 Commemorative Sheet - Cambridge University 800th anniversary
8 Eminent Britons (Europa)
21 Italia 2009 Smilers Sheet
22 Pre-Olympics 2012 Issue
November
3
Christmas
30 Castles of Scotland Smilers Sheet

December
4 MonacoPhil 2009 Expo Smilers Sheet


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Norvic Philatelics, PO Box 119, Dereham, NR20 3YN, GB. -- UK Phone: 08450 090939 -- Skype:ian.billings-norvic