The Opening of the Scottish Parliament Building Miniature Sheet - 5 October 2004

Pàrlamaid na h-Alba

The Scottish Parliament will meet in its new building from September 2004. The building was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen on Saturday 9 October and the event is commemorated by Royal Mail by the issue of a miniature sheet of Scotland Definitive stamps on 5 October.

The miniature sheet contains of a row of Scotland country stamps - 'E' rate, 1st class, 2nd class, 1st class, & 'E' rate, on a background which shows a view of the building.

This is not regarded as a new issue by Royal Mail as the stamps have all been issued previously, but a commemorative envelope and two special postmarks will be available.

The image of the Debating Chamber on the Norvic FDC is Copyright the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2004.
All other images except FDCs are from The Philatelic Bulletin and Postmark Bulletin and are copyright 2004, Royal Mail.

Special Postmarks available on the day of this issue (not available after 5 October):

Ref FD421 - Bureau postmark, Quote from 'Scotland Act 1998 '	Ref FD422 - Edinburgh EH99 postmark depciting the logo of the Scottish Parliament	Ref S9239 - New Scottish Parliament Building Edinburgh (thistle)	Ref S9240 - The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh (piper)
Ref M9267 - Scotland Street, Birmingham	Ref S9296 - Holyrood, Edinburgh (Heraldic Lion)	Ref S9297 - Holyrood, Edinburgh (Parliament Building)	Ref S9298 - Holyrood, Edinburgh (Scottish thistle)
Ref S9309 - City of Edinburgh (locomotive nameplate)	Ref S9274 - The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh (Scottish Lion with briefcase marked MSP - Member of the Scottish Parliament)	Ref S4653 - St Giles' Cathedral Edinburgh, Royal Mail permanent handstamp