Deputy Curator Georgina picks stamps in pink and red for Valentine's Day.

Stamps have been printed in hundreds of colours over the years. Here are just a few of the pinks and reds since 1840 to mark Valentine’s month. Which one is your favourite?

A pink stamp feature the profile of Queen Victoria and geometric patterns.

5 Shilling, Rose, Queen Victoria, 1884

An all pink stamp featuring the profile of Queen Victoria along with flowers and leaves.

6d, Purple/Rose red, Queen Victoria, 1887

Red stamp featuring the profile of King Edward VII with surrounding foliage.

1d, Scarlet, King Edward VII, 1902

Pink stamp featuring the profile of King Edward VII and geometric patterns.

5s, Bright Carmine, King Edward VII, 1902

Red stamp featuring the three-quarter profile of King George V and the lion.

1d, Carmine-Red, King George VI, 1911

Pink stamp featuring Britannia riding the waves with a profile of King George V.

5s, Rose-Carmine, Seahorse, King George V, 1913-1919

Red stamp featuring the profile of King Edward VIII and a crown in the top right corner.

1d, Scarlet, King Edward VIII, 1936.

Pink stamp featuring a profile of King George VI in a hexagon.

8d, Bright Carmine, King George VI, 1939

Red stamp featuring the profile of Queen Victoria and King George VI.

1d, Scarlet, Centenary of First Adhesive Postage Stamp, 1940

Red stamp featuring the three-quarter profile of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by crowns and sceptres.

2½d, Carmine-Red, Coronation, 1953

Pink stamp featuring a profile of Queen Elizabeth II and a small rampant lion in the top left corner.

2½p, Bright Magenta, Scottish Definitive, Queen Elizabeth II, 1971

I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine’s month and finds love in themselves, their families and their loved ones.

If you want to see more colours on stamps, have a read here.

– Georgina Tomlinson (Deputy Curator of Philately)


Sign up to our newsletter for stories of extraordinary communication and more.