Issued on 9 January, London Underground features ten stamps; six charting the history of the network, alongside a miniature sheet of four long-format stamps focusing on the design heritage of its iconic posters.
The issue date coincides with the precise anniversary in 1863 of the first part of what was to become London’s Underground: the steam-driven Metropolitan Railway running between Paddington Station and Farringdon Street via Kings Cross.
Fittingly it’s the Metropolitan Railway that features on the first of two 2nd class stamps, while the other shows railway workers, or Navvies as they were known commonly, excavating a tube tunnel.
Edwardian commuters travelling in from the suburbs are depicted on one of the 1st class pair of stamps, while the other features the Piccadilly Line’s Boston Manor, an example of many art deco stations built in the 1920s and 30s.
Classic rolling stock travelling on the tube’s ‘deep cut’ lines in 1938 and Sir Norman Foster’s Canary Wharf Station make up the £1.28p pair.
Each of the stamps features a timeline across the lower quarter of the stamps using different livery colours taken from London Underground lines.
2013
(January 9 2013)
Commemorative
Stamp
1863 - Metropolitan Railway Opens, 2nd
1898 - Tunnelling Below London Streets, 2nd
1911 - Commute to the Suburbs, 1st
1934 - Boston Manor Art Decor Station, 1st
1938 - Classic Rolling Stock, £1.28
1999 - Jubilee Line at Canary Wharf, £1.28
London Underground Posters - Golders Green, By Underground to fresh air and Summer sales, 1st
Lomdon Underground Posters - For the Zoo, Power and The seen, 77p
London Underground Posters - A train every 90 seconds, Thanks to the Underground and Cut travelling time, 87p
London Underground Posters - The London Transport Collection, London Zoo and the Tate Gallery by Tube, £1.28
The six stamp set, issued on 21 February 2013, commemorates the work of one of Britain’s most celebrated authors, and coincides with the 200th anniversary of the publication of her most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. 2013
(February 21 2013)
Commemorative
The stamp issue celebrates individuals across sport, journalism, music, politics and the arts whose anniversaries of birth or outstanding achievement fall in 2013. 2013
(April 16 2013)
Commemorative
The Scottish medical missionary and explorer David Livingstone (1813-1873) is considered to be one of the greatest heroes of the Victorian era. The sheet celebrates the bicentenary of his birth, Livingstone’s intrepid explorations of the African continent and his extensive writings. 2013
(May 1 2013)
The 11 1st Class stamps will feature individual footballers from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, all of whom were supremely gifted, talented players who stood out in their generation and beyond. The stamps have been illustrated by artist Andrew Kinsman, who took existing photography of all the players, then created a composite artwork, so when the 11 stamps are placed together, they form a traditional team shot.
The eleven players selected were chosen for their outstanding record on the pitch and representation of their home countries. All are in the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.
2013
(May 9 2013)
Commemorative
This issue celebrates Murray’s fantastic achievement in becoming the first Briton to win the Gentlemen’s Championship in 77 years. He beat number one seed Novak Djokovic in three straight sets. Fred Perry was the last Briton to win the Gentlemen’s Singles title, in 1936. 2013
(August 8 2013)
Commemorative
Stamp
Andy Murray Wimbledon Champion, 1st
Andy Murray Wimbledon Champion, 1st
Andy Murray Wimbledon Champion, 1st
Andy Murray Wimbledon Champion, 1st
First Day Cover
Andy Murray - Gentlemen's Singles Champion Wimbledon 2013
Miniature Sheet
Andy Murray - Gentlemen's Singles Champion Wimbledon 2013
Presentation Pack
Andy Murray - Gentlemen's Singles Champion Wimbledon 2013, Pack M21
Presentation Pack Inner
Andy Murray - Gentlemen's Singles Champion Wimbledon 2013
The Mackennal range shows the famous Seahorses stamp design, first issued by the Post Office on 30 June 1913. The design was seen as rather cutting-edge for introducing an image next to the monarchs head. The Mackennal profile also replaced the three-quarter-view head of George, created by court photographers W & D Downey. 2013
(September 19 2013)
To mark the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse, Royal Mail has issued a limited-edition stamp sheet available in selected Post Offices across the UK. Twenty First Class fireworks stamps feature alongside labels of intricate designs and iconic imagery relevant to the Lunar New Year. 2013
(December 10 2013)