Royal Mail Great Achievements in British Design

THE ROYAL MAIL on 13 January 2009 issued a splendid set of 10 stamps celebrating the greatest achievements of British design. Designers HGV sourced examples of each of the objects, which were then photographed by Jason Tozer. Finally captions, values and Machin heads were added. The 35mm square stamps were printed by Cartor Security Printers of France in lithography, perf 14½, in sheets of 30/60. Three were 22 special postmarks for the day of issue, after which they were not available.

The stamps included:

1st Class – Supermarine Spitfire

The superlative Battle of Britain fighter with its distinctive elliptical wings was designed by R J Mitchell who sadly died before the plane went into production.

1st Class Large – Mini Skirt

Mary Quant rewrote the fashion rules for women forever with her daring design.

1st Class – The Mini

Sir Alec Issigonis made use of every available space in the small car that was as much a fashion statement as a means of transport.

1st Class – Anglepoise Lamp

George Carwardine’s flexible design brought light wherever it was needed.

1st Class – Concorde

Aerospatiale and BAC’s supersonic jet was capable of twice the speed of sound and beautiful to look at too.

1st Class – K2 Telephone Kiosk

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s design bright-red phone box always stood out on the streets of the UK.

1st Class – Polypropylene Chair

Found in public buildings throughout the world, almost everyone will have sat on a Robin Day chair at some time.

1st Class – Penguin Books

Edward Young’s book jacket design was instantly recognisable as a Penguin edition.

1st Class – London Underground Map

Harry Beck’s easy to understand design was based on an electrical wiring diagram.

1st Class – Routemaster Bus

Once a symbol of London to visitors from all over the world now only a few of Douglas Scott and Colin Curtis’s remain on London’s streets.