United Kingdom

1955

The second set of the Wilding definitives.

On February 6, 1952, King George VI died, and Princess Elizabeth ascended the throne as Queen Elizabeth II. A large number of photographs of the 25 year old Queen were taken during a sitting on February 26, 1952.  These photographs, taken by the photographer Dorothy Wilding (1893-1976), became the basis for the designs of the new definitive postage stamps, now referred to as the Wilding Issues.

The second group of Wilding design definitive postage stamps were issued in 1955. This is the set available here. These stamps are all printed on paper with the “St. Edward's Crown and E 2 R" multiple watermark.

N.b. the 2d colour variant light red-brown (SG 543b, S53) is sold separately when available, 

and

the 6d colour variant light red-brown (SG 548a, S105) is sold separately when available.

Catalogue numbers:

Stanley Gibbons GB 540-556 

(Specialised: S2, S14, S26, S37, S38, S52, S68, S82, S100, S105, S115, S120, S125, S130, S135, S137, S142, S151)

Michel GB 282xX-298xX
Scott GB 317-333
Yvert et Tellier GB 287-301
AFA number GB 275-292
Unificato GB 287-301