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Philatelic collection

We care for a range of philatelic and postal history material including registration sheets, metal dies and plates, and modern stamp artwork.

Download our glossary of philatelic terms, compiled from a variety of sources.

Designing a Royal Stamp

From Queen Victoria to King Charles III we explore nearly 200 years of Royal stamp design.
The first ever stamp: the Penny Black

A short history of the first and most famous stamp in the world.
- blog
Freddie Mercury's Stamp Album

Senior Archivist Gavin explores Freddie Mercury's childhood passion - stamp collecting.
Read more
British stamps

Our collection comprises registration sheets, essays (trial stamps) and proofs of all stages of British stamp production from 1840 to the present day.
R M Phillips Collection

In 1965, Reginald M Phillips donated his award-winning collection of British Victorian stamps to the nation. It is now in our care.
British postal stationery

Our collections of postal stationery date from 1840 to the present day.
British postal markings

Datestamps, rate markings, indications of the origin, route and arrival of mail, and evidence of automatic cancelling and sorting.
Universal Postal Union stamps

The Postal Museum's collection comprises all the stamps sent out by the UPU from 1874 until now, together with some examples of imprinted postal stationery.
Stamp Histories

In-depth studies into the production of British stamps from George V to Elizabeth II.

Caring for stamps and postal history

Do you have a collection? Read advice for preserving a collection of stamps or postal history.

Research

You can search collection records in the online catalogue and study material from our archives by visiting the Archive at The Postal Museum.

Access and enquiries

Search our catalogue

Visit the Archive