Month: April 2025
Stamps: the Hidden Back Story
Most people think stamp collecting is all about the front – the portraits, the postmarks, the perforations. But turn them over, and there’s a hidden world waiting.
In an early bid to fight forgery – much like today’s banknotes – postal authorities introduced watermarks. They’ve been quietly tucked into stamp paper from the start, and spotting them can be half the fun.
Take the four Edwardian 6d Nigerian stamps shown here: a crisp crown and monogram watermark sits clearly behind King Edward’s portrait. On the 1910 South African 2½d stamp, the watermark is more elusive – look just right of centre and you might glimpse a faint rose. And the Indian issues? They feature a star outline, but it takes a keen eye (and good light) to catch it.
Early South African stamps even used the head of a springbok – a fitting nod to their local wildlife – in watermark form. And that’s just scratching the surface. Hundreds of historic watermarks are out there, quietly revealing another layer of the story.
The Penny That Made an Impression
Struck in 1797 and weighing a full ounce, the Cartwheel Penny is one of the most physically impressive coins in British history. It’s more medallion than money.
Commissioned under George III and produced by Matthew Boulton’s pioneering Soho Mint in Birmingham, it was the first coin struck using steam power. This made it a landmark in industrial coinage. Each penny was minted to exacting standards: 36mm wide and 28.3 grams of copper, matching its face value in metal at the time.
But why the bulk? Two reasons. First, to discourage counterfeiting, which was rampant in the late 18th century. And second, to showcase Britain’s new minting capabilities. The sheer size and weight gave it instant authority, although the general public found them impractical to carry. Pockets sagged and purses strained. The public nickname ‘cartwheel’ was not affectionate.
On the obverse, you’ll find a laureate portrait of George III. The reverse features Britannia with trident, shield, and olive branch, along with a tiny engraving of Boulton’s initials near the ship in the background. It’s a proud display of sovereignty and industry, pressed into copper.
Only issued in 1797, Cartwheel Pennies and their 2d counterparts were short-lived but unforgettable. Worn examples still turn up in coin shops and market stalls, their detail softened by circulation but their weight still unmistakable in the hand.
Riding the Waves of Empire
Among British stamps, few carry the weight (literally and figuratively) of the King George V Seahorses. Issued between 1913 and 1939, these high-value definitives were anything but ordinary. Their bold, allegorical design features Britannia riding the waves with her trident, shield, and a pair of spirited seahorses, while King George V looks on in dignified profile.
Designed by Bertram Mackennal and engraved by J.A.C. Harrison, they’re widely considered some of the finest British stamps ever issued. But their real appeal lies in the subtle variations. Different printers (Waterlow, De La Rue, and Bradbury Wilkinson) created slight changes in paper, colour, and watermark, all of which keep collectors on their toes.
Denominations ranged from half a crown (2/6) to the mighty £1 green – a serious sum in 1913, when it first appeared. To put it in context, £1 then could buy you about 120 pints of beer. And for many, the £1 Seahorse remains the crown jewel of early 20th-century British philately.
These stamps weren’t just decorative. They were used on heavy parcels and foreign mail, often emerging from the post battered but still majestic. A well-used Seahorse tells its own story. Whether you’re hunting printer variants or just admiring the artistry, these stamps are pure class on paper.
Born With a Silver Spoon
These silver christening spoons and boxed sets might seem a little out of step with today’s slick, modern baby gifts – but there’s a timeless charm to them that collectors still adore.
Once a go-to christening gift, the classic sets with egg cups or curved feeding spoons and food pushers now feel like relics from another age. But that’s precisely their appeal. Plain antique spoons make for elegant regifting, but for serious collectors, it’s all about the personal touches.
Top of the wish list? Spoons engraved with the baby’s name, birth weight, time, and date. One standout example in this collection features a beautifully detailed stork cradling the baby in its wings, while the bowl holds a miniature clock with moving hands to mark the birth time, a tiny AM/PM mount, and clock weights that double as birth weight markers. Even the reverse is richly worked, showing the back of the stork perched on a chimney pot.
It’s detail like this that lifts a simple spoon into something truly special – a tiny silver time capsule.
