PREDECIMAL MACHIN COVER PROOFS - many pictures to be added over the next few days
STAMP-BOOK COVERS GO PICTORIAL
On March 22, 1968 the Post Office issued a press release entitled 'Stamp Booklets Go Pictorial'.picture which stated that illustrated covers would be introduced as part of the Post Office's campaign to brighten up its literature. The stamp books were to illustrate various aspects of Britain - her history, fauna and flora, her skills and crafts, and outstanding explorers, artists and inventors. The issue would commence with the 10s value in cerise depicting David Livingstone from a wood block engraving by David Gentleman.
To illustrate the forthcoming program, the Post Office prepared publicity cover proofs which were on display at Stampex that week and these were also distributed to some members of the press. The proofs were prepared either on white card coloured to the colour of the intended issue, or on white glazed art paper which was more suitable for a black and white illustration. A very few 10/- proofs were produced on white card. They were cut to booklet size with the exception of 4/6 Cutty Sark, 6/- Barn Owl, Kingfisher and Peregrine Falcon which were issued on 4 inch square glazed art paper.
As these proofs were issued well in advance of some of the actual booklet issues, several notable differences arose between the proofs and the final booklet. These included:
All the coloured 10/- proofs were issued in purple, but from September 1968 the booklets were issued in green. Many of the 10/- values had the orginal contents description of '6 at 1d, 6 at 3d and 24 at 4d' but the actual booklets contained '4 at 1d, 14 and 4d at 12 at 5d'.
There were two basic value types:
Type 1 had a long shilling stroke extending below the value
Type 2 had a short stroke the same size as the value.
There were 3 proofs of designs that were never issued:
4/6 SWALLOW
5/- THE RED HOUSE
10/- DRAKE
In addition to these proofs there were a number of posters, essays and preliminary proofs which are all scarce.
Checklist of available cover proofs:
| 4/6 proofs | slate blue | glazed art | 5/- proofs | cinnamon | glazed art | |
| Cutty Sark | Type 1 | 4x4 Type 1 | Ightham Mote | Type 2 | Type 2 | |
| Golden Hind | Type 1 | Type 1 | Little Moreton Hall | Type 2 | Type 2 | |
| Discovery | Type 1 | Type 1 | ||||
| Queen Elizabeth II | Type 1 | Type 1 | The Red House (unissued) | x | Type 2 | |
| Queen Elizabeth 2 | Type 2 | x | ||||
| Sirius | Type 2 | x | ||||
| Dreadnought | Type 2 | x | ||||
| Victory | Type 2 | x | ||||
| Mauretania | Type 2 | x | ||||
| Swallow (unissued) | x | Type 2 |
| 6/- proofs | orange red | glazed art | 10/- proofs | bright purple | glazed art | white card | |
| Kingfisher | Type 1 & 2 | 4x4 Type 1 | Livingstone | Type 1 & 2 | Type 1 | x | |
| Peregrine Falcon | Type 1 & 2 | 4x4 Type 1 | Shackleton | Type 1 | Type 1 | Type 2 | |
| Pied Woodpecker | Type 1 & 2 | Type 1 | Scott | Type 1 & 2 | Type 1 | Type 2 | |
| Great Crested Grebe | Type 1 & 2 | Type 1 | Cook | Type 1 & 2 | Type 1 | Type 2 | |
| Barn Owl | Type 1 | 4x4 Type 1 | Drake (unissued) | Type 1 | Type 1 | Type 2 | |
| Jay | Type 1 & 2 | Type 1 | Kingsley | Type 2 | x | Type 2 | |
| Puffin | Type 2 | x | Frobisher | Type 2 | x | Type 2 | |
| blank card | blank |
Posters
poster proof PL(S) 331 on white art paper poster proof PHO/PB(S) 53 on grey A4 paper, Scott, Peregrine, Hinde press release PB69 poster proof with 10/- x2 ( Cook & Drake) & 6/- x2 (Curlew & Golden Eagle) - this has PO crown instead of GPO cypher
For further information see GB Journal vol 33 number 6 Nov/Dec 1995