Norvic Philatelics - GB New Stamps and Special Postmarks

British Cathedrals - 13 May 2008

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.

Set of 6 Royal Mail stamps showing 
the interior of 6 of Britain's cathedrals.
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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.

Royal Mail Miniature sheet of 1st class & 78p stamps showing the interior of St Paul's Cathedral with a picture 
of Sir Christopher Wren in the border.

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.

The stamps and cathedrals in detail

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.


Royal Mail first day cover for Cathedrals stamps and miniature sheet issued
13 May 2008. Products issued:
Set of 6 stamps mint 
Miniature sheet mint
Presentation Pack (contains all 10 stamps) -0
Set of 6 on Royal Mail FDC
Miniature sheet on Royal Mail FDC£4.50
Set of 11 Stamp Cards unused 


Special Postmarks
Postmarks for these stamps are shown below - these may not be to scale.

official bureau first day postmark for Cathedrals stamps and miniature 
	sheet. official St Pauls first day postmark for Cathedrals stamps and miniature 
	sheet. Non-illustrated Liverpool first day postmark. Postmark showing floor tile pattern. Postmark showing floor tiles.
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
Postmark showing Sir Christopher Wren. Postmark showing carved angel decoration. Postmark showing dome of St Paul's Cathedral. Postmark showing carved cross. Postmark showing decoration.
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
Postmark showing architect's tools. Postmark showing unnamed cathedral. Postmark showing dome of St Paul's Cathedral. Postmark showing carved cross. Postmark showing dome of St Paul's Cathedral.
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
Postmark showing floor plan.
Postmark showing cathedral window.
Postmark showing illuminated letter C. Postmark showing Liverpool's Cathedrals. Postmark showing Guildford Cathedral.
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
Postmark showing Guildford Cathedral. Postmark showing St Paul's Cathedral. Postmark showing Truro Cathedral. Postmark showing Exeter Cathedral. Postmark showing Newcastle Upon Tyne Cathedral.
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
Postmark showing Guildford Cathedral. Postmark showing St Paul's Cathedral. Postmark showing Truro Cathedral. Postmark showing Exeter Cathedral. Postmark showing Newcastle Upon Tyne Cathedral.
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

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