On 16 April, Royal Mail celebrated 100 years since the United Kingdom issued its first commemorative stamp on 23 April 1924. Also known as special stamps, these releases have helped to celebrate and mark some of the most significant events in the United Kingdom’s history and national life.
The world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, came into general use on 6 May 1840. From the outset, stamps were works of art in miniature, but this was to take on a whole new meaning in 1924, when the United Kingdom issued its first commemorative stamp.
In 1924, Britain was keen to project a positive image of an empire that was beginning to be globally questioned. The British Empire Exhibition was planned to challenge the domination of new world powers, and stamps were proposed to commemorate this exhibition, which was to be held at Wembley Park in London. King George V was a keen stamp collector, but he was
