| Issue Date | 18.07.2006 |
| ID | Michel: 2420-2429 Scott: 2393a Stanley Gibbons: 2640-2649 Yvert: UPU: GB063.06 Category: Dw |
| Author | Peter Willberg |
| Stamps in set | 10 |
| Value | 1st Class - Portrait of Winston Churchill
by Walter Richard Sickert,
Estate of Walter R Sickert 2006 all Rights Reserved, DACS/National
Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Sir Joshua Reynolds by Sir Joshua Reynolds, National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Thomas Stearns Eliot by Patrick Heron, - Estate of Patrick Heron 2006 All Rights Reserved, DACS/National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Emmeline Pankhurst by Georgina Brakenbury, National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Virginia Woolf by George Charles Beresford, National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Walter Scott by Sir Francis Chantry, National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Mary Seacole by Albert Charles Challen, courtesy of Helen Rappaport/National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - William Shakespeare attributed to John Taylor, National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Dame Cicely Saunders by Catherine Goodman, National Portrait Gallery, London 1st Class - Charles Darwin by John Collier, National Portrait Gallery, London |
| Size (width x height) | 27x37mm |
| Layout | Sheets of 30 and sheets of 60 stamps |
| Products | FDC x1 PP x1 |
| Paper | Gum: VPA, Phosphor: Bars as appropriate |
| Perforation | 14x14 |
| Print Technique | Gravure |
| Printed by | De La Rue Security Print |
| Quantity | |
| Issuing Authority | Royal Mail of Great Britain |
The National Portrait Gallery houses an immense collection of portraits featuring some of Britain's most significant subjects. With 9,000 portraits of famous men and women and boasting a phenomenal archive, library and technology gallery the NPG acts as a pictorial "Who is Who" of British history. The images selected for the stamps are drawn from a full historical time span, and show a balance of people from different areas of life including a politician, a writer and an artist. The stamps also show the wide variety of different media that are exhibited in the gallery such as portraits in sculpture, watercolour, oil painting and photography. Royal Mail's design team worked closely with the NPG to establish a final shortlist which was passed on to designer Peter Willberg, who has previously worked on the 2005 Jane Eyre issue featuring Paula Rego-s haunting lithographs. Included in the stamp issue is the most famous image of William Shakespeare, which has a special significance as it was the first portrait the Gallery acquired. Also featured are less well known images, such as the charming portrait of Marry Anne Seacole and the rare oil painting of Emmeline Pankhurst. To keep the labelling as simple and uncluttered as possible, the stamp features the name of the subject and the name of the gallery.
1st Class -
Charles Robert Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882), naturalist,
geologist and originator of the theory of evolution.
Sitter in 30 portraits.This portrait of Charles Darwin, the great scientist and author of On the Origin of Species, is a copy by the artist of a portrait undertaken by John Collier for the Linnaean Society. Collier was himself the son-in-law of another prominent late Victorian scientist, Thomas Henry Huxley. The portrait was presented to the Gallery by Darwin's eldest son, William Erasmus Darwin, who wrote to Lionel Cust in 1896: 'The picture is a replica of the one in the rooms in the Linnaean Society and was made by Collier after the original. I took some trouble about it and as a likeness it is an improvement on the original.' It shows Darwin as an old man in the year before his death. According to Darwin's third son, Francis, 'The portrait represents him standing facing the observer in the loose cloak so familiar to those who knew him and with his slouch hat in his hand. Many of those who knew his face most intimately, think that Mr Collier's picture is the best of the portraits and in this judgement the sitter himself was inclined to agree.' |
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 1st
Class - Sir Winston ChurchillWithout doubt one of the most significant figures of the 20th century, this portrait of Sir Winston Churchill perfectly captures his grim determination. Secker-s painting of the great Prime Minister wreathed in smoke was apparently not liked by the man himself, although perhaps this was because it was too close to the truth, as the portrait was well known for its similarity to the sitter. |
 1st
Class - Sir Joshua ReynoldsIt is most fitting that this portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds be included as he was the first President of the Royal Academy, and his annual -Discourses- to the students remain an important component in the teaching of artistic history. Reynolds was more responsible than any other for raising the status of artists in Britain. |
 1st
Class - TS Eliot Heron's semi-Cubist portrait of Eliot
is both stylistically innovative and intellectually demanding, much
like the author himself. Elliot is known for classic works such as The
Waste Land, The Cocktail Party and Old Possum-s book of Practical Cats,
a book of light verse, which was the basis of the Musical show Cats. |
 1st
Class - Emmeline PankhurstFounder of the Women-s Social and Political Union with her daughter Christabel, Emmeline Pankhurst was the leader of the militant movement for women-s suffrage. She was imprisoned for her beliefs and actions on several occasions, as was the portrait-s painter, Georgina Agnes Brackenbury, who was also involved in militant suffrage activity. |
 1st
Class - Virginia Woolf The only photograph in the set,
this was taken in 1902, just as she was embarking on her career. It is
unusual as she was normally averse to sitting for portraits and being
pictured. The photo shows her looking pale and contemplative. |
 1st
Class - Sir Walter Scott This bust of Sir Walter Scott
was the result of several sittings by the renowned novelist and poet
for the sculptor, Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey. The sittings were
appropriately social occasions which always included breakfast, and
when it was finished Chantrey presented Scott with the marble as a
token of his respect and friendship. |
 1st
Class - Mary SeacoleThis is the only known painted portrait of Seacole in existence, and had been used to back another portrait until it was discovered by an observant dealer. |
 1st
Class - William Shakespeare Probably the most famous and
significant playwright this country has ever seen, this is the only
portrait of him that has a real claim to have been painted from life.
Attributed to John Taylor, it is often known as the Chandos portrait
after its original owner. |
 1st
Class - Dame Cicely Mary Strode SaundersThe most recent painting in the set, Dame Cicely sat for this portrait over 22 times, many of which were during her struggle with cancer. As founder of the hospice movement her contribution is without doubt, and she is a modern addition to this collection of our country-s most significant faces. |
Official post marks.
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| Royal Mail will produce special postmarks for the
issue date. Tallents House, Edinburgh Postmark A pictorial postmark from Royal Mail Tallents House, 21 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9PB will be used for the issue. The reference number for the Tallents House, Edinburgh pictorial postmark is as follows: First day of issue: Tallents House, Edinburgh Ref No FD 06 25 |
As an alternative to the Tallents House, Edinburgh
postmark, pictorial and non-pictorial (plain design) LONDON, WC2
postmarks will also be available for this issue. National Portrait Gallery is the full title of the 18 July 2006 issue and LONDON, WC2 chosen as the postmark because it is the location of the gallery. |
All first-day-of-issue postmarking offices will be
supplied with the alternative pictorial first-day-of-issue postmark.
This will mean that all first day covers posted at the Post Office-
counter will be cancelled with the same pictorial postmark regardless
of where they are posted. LONDON WC2 Pictorial Ref No FD 06 26 LONDON WC2 Non - Pictorial Ref No FD 10 26NP |
| Ref FD625 Official Philatelic Bureau FDI postmark |
Ref FD626 Official London WC2 FDI postmark |
Ref FD625N Official London WC2 FDI non-pictorial postmark |
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| Ref L10136 The Great Britons, British St, London EC3 |
Ref L10154 International Churchill Society, Churchill, Oxford |
Ref L10129 From Paint to Pixel, Bletchley Park Post Office Milton Keynes |
Ref L10116 National Portrait Gallery Celebrates 150 Years, London WC2 |
Ref L10117 The Royal Society of Portrait Painters, London SW1 |
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| Ref L10120 150th Anniversary NPG, Southwark, London SE1, showing Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
Ref L10121 150th Anniversary NPG, Walmer, Deal, showing Walmer Castle |
Ref L10122 150th Anniversary NPG, Trafalgar Square, London WC2, showing the Gallery |
Ref W10129 150th Anniversary NPG, Plympton, Plymouth showing Sir Joshua Reynolds |
Ref M10126 Rowland's Road, Birmingham |
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| Ref L10123 Great Britons on Canvas, St Martin's Place, London |
Ref L10124 National Portrait Galery, St Martin's Place, London WC2 |
Ref L10125 National Portrait Galery, 1856-2006, London WC2 |
Ref L10128 Portraits on Pub Signs, London WC2 |
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Official and some
personalized FDC
The First Day Cover Envelope was designed by
Andrew Ross and printed by Smurfit Print UK. The filler card was also
designed by Andrew Ross with photography by Nick Turpin and written by
John Cooper. It is printed by Fulmar Colour Printing Company Ltd. |
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| Presentation Pack The fully illustrated Presentation Pack comprises
a full set of the ten National Portrait Gallery stamps. The pack was
designed by Andrew Ross with typically enigmatic photography by Nick
Turpin and written by John Cooper. The Pack is printed by Walsall
Security Printers. |
Numismatic Cover Limited in number these unique Medal Covers are
designed with the collector in mind. This pack features a specially
commissioned and distinctively designed medal approved by the National
Portrait Gallery, to mark its 150th anniversary. The medal itself
features a portrait of Shakespeare on one side and an edited version of
the Carlyle quotation on the other. |
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References: Norvic Philatelics Natural History Museum Royal Mail of Great Britain Presentation Pack
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Latest update 25.12.2017
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