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14/10/2021 Sandafayre

The Seahorse High Value Stamps

The Seahorse High Value Stamps

Many collectors will place the Seahorse stamps of Great Britain amongst their top ten stamp designs. Britannia being pulled through the waves by a powerful team of horses harks back to those confident pre First World War days when Britain really did rule the waves, amongst much of the world's dry land as well! A fascinating field for collectors these iconic stamps were employed as Britain's high values for the 26 years between 1913 and 1939 when they were eventually superseded by the King George VI "Square Values" of 1939-48. Three different printers were involved with Waterlow printing the first issue in 1913 and the last issue, re-engraved in 1934. With a little experience the different printings are reasonably easy to identify and the range of wonderful shades can keep the philatelist hunting for years! The stamp featured above is lot 8452 in our 23 November sale, a never hinged mint example of a 10s deep blue printed by De La Rue (Stanley Gibbons number 411)