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Thursday 3 August 2023

2940) "Flowers", United Kingdom (UK): A Presentation Pack set of ten 1st Class Stamps issued by the Royal Mail UK depicting - Sweet Pea, Iris, Lily, Sunflower, Fuchsia, Tulip, Peony, Nasturtium, Rose and Dahlia Flower varieties: Date/Year of Presentation Pack issue: 2023:

2940) "Flowers", United Kingdom (UK): A Presentation Pack set of ten 1st Class Stamps issued by the Royal Mail UK depicting - Sweet Pea, Iris, Lily, Sunflower, Fuchsia, Tulip, Peony, Nasturtium, Rose and Dahlia Flower varieties: Date/Year of Presentation Pack issue: 2023:

The Presentation Pack (PP) containing the ten stamps of the value of 1st Class issued in the set depicting - Sweet Pea, Iris, Lily, Sunflower, Fuchsia, Tulip, Peony, Nasturtium, Rose and Dahlia Flower varieties.

The Cover of the Presentation Pack is titled - "FLOWERS" and shows a collage of flowers represented in this Pack.

Personal Note: 

I was delighted to go through the following description of Flowers depicted in this pack. The English language given in this description reminded me of my college days at La Martiniere College, Lucknow, where our English Literature books used to come from Cambridge, UK. The chapters/stories and the descriptions were written in perfect English. Our English teachers would frown upon any deviations in pronunciation or in essay writing etc. 

The following description has been compiled by someone who reminded me of my English teachers.

An inner page of the Presentation Pack (PP) begins as follows:
                 
                          FLOWERS

"Britain is a nation of gardeners, and a love of flowers runs deep in our collective consciousness. Herbaceous borders and flower shows, mowing the lawn and pruning the roses, cultivating blooms and tending the plot: all these are imbued with a cultural significance, and - green fingers or not - a garden is something we can delight in together.

Certain flowers are classics of their kind, inspiring love and brightening neighbourhoods across the land. They might have a touch of wildness or be improved by breeding, but their fundamental qualities persist - fragrance and delicacy, brilliance and familiarity.

They are hopeful, cheerful and delightfully simple, providing a connection to nature that reassures us that all is right with the world and that, whatever else happens, the sun will still rise, and buds will still bloom.

An elaborate description about flowers found in the British Isles is continued on this inner page:

"Flowers are symbolic, comforting and familiar, a metaphor for hope and health, a flourishing bounty of beauty and simplicity in a complicated and uncertain world.

More than just offering pretty scenery, flowers are integral to social rituals and a vital component of talking about the weather. They are there in our poems and sonnets - pockets are full of posies, rough wings shake the buds of May and girls are courted with bicycles made for two.

They are essential to a sense of place and the passing of seasons. Captivated and willingly entranced, we bask among sweet, sun-kissed blooms and allow ourselves to be soothed by gently humming bees - not just smelling the roses, but greeting them like old friends, with whom we can measure a gentler pace of life.

As living spaces, gardens are dynamic. The simple, vigorous cycle of the seasons engages our interest and stimulates our senses.

We watch hungrily for the first snowdrops, a spark of light in the winter darkness and a promise of spring. We anticipate the joyful flurry of crocuses, narcissi, irises and tulips, which in turn is overwhelmed by the rising tide of summer - a froth of aquilegia, foxgloves, alliums and lilacs and a flood of roses, peonies and sweet peas.

In the golden days of high summer and early autumn, the garden develops a new flamboyance and richness of hue, with a parade of echinacea, rudbeckia, heleniums and dahlias, rubbing shoulders with smouldering red-hot pokers, striking agapanthus and the hot oranges od crocosmia.

The show continues into autumn with flaming leaves, bright rosehips and clusters of berries, but even as the days shorten and the temperatures dit, new textures and structures emerge.

For winter is not the end of the performance so much as a symphony in its own right, full of subtle detail and quiet but powerfully perfumed flowers.

Although they are steeped in the familiarity of long association, many of the United Kingdom's most identifiable flowers have arrived here from all over the world.

In addition to the native dog roses, a key ancestor of the garden favourite is the fragrant, multi-petalled French rose - "Rosa gallica".

It was prized by the Greeks and the Romans, and legend has it that new varieties arose when a cultivated form - Rosa gallica var. officinalis - was carried from Syria to France after the Crusades, where it became the - Rose of Provins.

Peonies too are a footloose breed. The tree peony is esteemed in the Orient as Hua Wang - The King of Flowers - and although 8th century Buddhist monks originally valued peonies for their medicinal properties, this has been overshadowed by the sheer magnificence of their blossoms.

Frequently held up as paragons of simplicity, lilies are more complex and culturally significant than most imagine. Cherished for millennia, the various species can be found in rocky Oriental gorges, flourishing in American meadows or baking in represented gods and purity, death and seduction, and have appeared in art for thousands of years.

Plants inspire passion, even madness, and the adventures of plant hunters are the stuff of legend.

From the 17th century onwards, botanists, other scientists and missionaries explored the world and collected plants as they went. Through empire-building and trade, there was money to be made.

Dahlias arrived in Spain from Central America, with the other spoils of the conquistadors, including potatoes. And although dahlias proved less tasty, they inspired Europeans with their flamboyance and infinite variety. Like 17th-century "tulip mania", dahlia-fancying soon became an expensive hobby.

By the 19th century, dahlia tubers could fetch as much as 100 Pounds - then several years' wages for many people. 

It seems that even Britain's best-loved traditional blooms are wanderers. Sweet peas hail from Sicily, while fuchsias, nasturtiums and sunflowers are from the Americas.

In many ways, however, geography and provenance are irrelevant to the glorious melting pot that is a garden. 

Tales of trade and discovery may be thrilling or torrid, and flowers can appear as historic emblems of power and faith. But this is not what moves us most.

A border of brilliant blooms is uplifting and can be appreciated and cherished by all. Flowers mark our celebrations, our joys and our sorrows and above all, they unify us through a pleasure that we can all understand.

The specifications of the Stamps issued in the set are:

Number of Stamps issued: Ten.

Design: Charlie Smith Design.

Printer: Cartor Security Printers.

Process: lithography.

Format: square.

Size: 35.00 mm x 35.00 mm.

Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5

Number per Sheet: 25/50.

Phosphor: bars as appropriate.

Gum: PVA.

Stamp Designs: Royal Mail Group Ltd.

Pack No: 630.









(The above stamp set is from the collection of Jayant Biswas. Post researched and compiled by Rajeev Prasad)



Links on other Railway Posts on this blog:

1) Celebrating 150 Years of serving the Indian Nation by the Railways in 2002-2003

2) 150th Anniversary of Railways in Japan (1872-2022): The Japan Mint has issued a 1,000 Yen Silver Coin to commemorate the milestone: Date/Year of Coin issue: 04.10.2022

Steam Power - Australian Rail Heritage Coin Series:







Other Links:





A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022):

i) A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) featuring "The Royal Cipher", British Antarctic Territory (BAT), "Proclamation", South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SG & SSI), "Double Portrait", Falkland Islands: Pobjoy Mint, UK has brought out a limited edition 3-Coin 50 Pence Set with Pearl Black Finish and Privy Mark: Year of Coin issue: 2022:

ii) Charles III, United Kingdom: Effigy unveiled on memorial 5 Pound Crowns and 50 Pence Coins

iii) Late Queen Elizabeth II and Ascension of King Charles III: A Combo of i) Four Postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail Tallents House, Edinburgh and a ii) Memorial 50 Pence Coin Cover issued by the Royal Mint, UK

iv) The Coronation of King Charles III, United Kingdom: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Royal Mint (UK) celebrate the event: Date/Year of Coins issue: 06.05.2023

v) Queen Elizabeth II's 90th Birthday: A Souvenir Sheet issued by the Royal Mail, UK featuring four generations of Windsors on 21.04.16 

vi) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK



1) 200 Years of the Discovery of Antarctica, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated the the Bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarcticca by Admiral Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen on board the "Vostok": Coin issue date: 01/2020

2) Solomon Islands: 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's first Pacific "Voyage of Discovery" and charting of New Zealand and Australia's East Coast: Date of Coin issue: 2020















Links: Postage Stamps from the British Isles:

























37) Sherlock Holmes, United Kingdom: A set of six stamps issued by Royal Mail, UK featuring the characters of the modern version of a TV Serial "Sherlock" started in 2010 by the BBC, together with Cupro-nickel & Silver Medals minted by the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Stamp Set issue: 18.08.2020














53) Gibraltar Cryptocurrency Stamp: Stamp value 4 Pounds: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2021: (Pre-ordered accepted from 19.04.2021)

54) The Calf Of Man Nature Reserve", Isle of Man, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): 75th Anniversary" Celebrations (1946-2021): A set of ten Stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post (IOMP) commemorating the milestone of this Biosphere Island: (Also includes the EUROPA Stamp on "Endangered National Wildlife" theme designated by PostEurop for 2021): Date of Stamps issue: 12.04.2021

55) "The Who", United Kingdom: The iconic Rock Group features on the latest "British Music Legends" Collector Coin Series issues from the Royal Mint UK: Date of Coin Release: 24.05.2021

56) "Sark - Dark Sky Island", Guernsey, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): This "GuernseyTogether" Series of stamps by Guernsey Post features drawings made by Sark school-children: Date of stamp set issue: 19.08.2020

57) Surfing in Jersey, a British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set if six stamps issued by Jersey Post featuring contemporary photographs taken by Jersey photographers: Date of Stamp Set issie: 18.05.2021

58) Dennis and Gnasher, United Kingdom: 70th Anniversary (1951-2021): A set of sis Stamps issued by Royal Mail, UK, featuring the popular comic strip: Date of Stamp Set issue: 01.07.2021

59) The Palace of Westminster, United Kingdom: 10th Anniversary molestone (1870-2020): Royal Mail UK has issued a set of Ten Stamps featuring the iconic Palace: Date/Year of Coin issue: 30.07.2020

60) Industrial Revolutions, United Kingdom: Royal Mail, UK has brought out a set of stamps featuring the Industrial Revolutions: Date of Stamp Set issue: 12.08.2021

61) Frances Hodgson Burnett and "The Secret Garden", Alderney, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post on behalf of Aldernay Islands: Date of Stamp set issue: 01.09.2021

62) "75th Anniversary of MENSA" (1946-2021", Isle of Man, A British  Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post (IOMP): Date of Stamp Set issue: 01.10.2021

63) Non-Value Indicator (NVI) Definitive Stamps, United Kingdom (UK): Date of Stamps issue: 01.02.2022

64) "Heart of the Forest", Guernsey , A British Crown Dependency (BCD): Guernsey Post has brought out the first part of a Stamp quartet which takes inspiration from the "Love Paper" Global Campaign: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 09.02.2022

65) Harvest of the Sea, Jersey, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): Jersey Post has issued a set of six stamps depicting six different sea foods: Date/Year of Stamp set issue: 17.02.2022





















Innovations in Science 50 Pence Coin Series:

Music Legends Coin Series:

1) "The Who", United Kingdom: The iconic Rock Group features on the latest "British Music Legends" Collector Coin Series issues from the Royal Mint UK: Date of Coin Release: 24.05.2021 

2) Music Giants III, QUEEN, UK: A comprehensive Coin and Stamps Combo issued by the Royal Mail UK in collaboration with the Queen Band and the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Coin & Stamp combo issue: 09.06.2020

3) "Rolling Stones", United Kingdom: "Music Legends Coin Series": Fifth Coin in the Series: Gold, Silver and Cupro-nickel Coins feature the timeless Rock Band: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022

4) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: Two Commemorative Stamp sets (Presentation Sets) brought out by the Royal Mail, UK on 07.07.2016: 1) 50 Years of Pink Floyd: A set of six stamps issued, their most popular studio albums 2) Legendary Live Performances: A set of four stamps issued depicting four of their memorable tours

5) "Yellow Submarine", A song sung by the English Rock Band - "The Beatles" in 1966, Gibraltar: A 5 Pounds Silver Coin minted by the crown Mint features the iconic song sung by the legendary Rock Group: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022

6) Iron Maiden (a Heavy Metal English Band), United Kingdom (UK): A set of eight stamps issued on the legendary Band by Royal Mail UK: Date of Stamp set issue: 12.01.2023

7) "Shirley Bassey", United Kingdom: "Music Legends Coin Series": Sixth Coin in the Series minted in Cupro-nickel, Gold and Silver features the timeless Diva who gave the title songs in three James Bond movies - "Diamonds ae Forever", "Moonraker" and Goldfinger": Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023

Links to "Great Engravers Coin Series":

1) "William Wyon", United Kingdom (UK): "Great Engravers Coin Series": First Coin in the Series features Wyon's Gothic Crown in Gold and Silver: Date/Year of Coin issue: 06.12.2021

2) "William Wyon", United Kingdom (UK): "Great Engravers Coin Series": Second Coin in the Series featuring the Obverse of Wyon's Gothic Crown in Gold and Silver: Date/Year of Coin issue: 02/2022 (with Date of issue marked as 2021)

3) "The Petition Crown", United Kingdom: "Master Engravers Coin Series": Thomas Simon's Crown Coin designed as a direct response to the newly restored King Charles II to consider his own work for use on English coinage: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023

The World of David Walliams Coin Series:





 Posts on the UK Coins and Stamps:

"Tales of the Earth Coin Series": The Second Dinosaurs Collector Coin Series:

i) Prehistoric Temnodontosaurus, United Kingdom: "Tales of the earth Coin Series": First coin in the "Second Dinosaurs Collector Coin Series" features on Gold, Silver & Cupro-nickel 50 Pence Coin Variants: Date/Year of Coin issue: 25.02.2021 Variants

Myths & Legends Coin Series:

1) "ROBIN HOOD", United Kingdom: "Myths and Legends Coin Series": First Coin in the Series: Silver 2 UKP (2 Pounds) and Gold 100 UKP(100 Pounds) Bullion Coins issued by the Royal Mint UK featuring the famed/legendary Outlaw: Year of Coin issue: 2021

2) The Legend of Robin Hood, United Kingdom: Royal Mail, UK has issued a set of ten postage stamps depicting the legend of Robin Hood: Date of Stamp Set issue: 13.04.2023

3) "MERLIN", United Kingdom: "Myths and Legends Coin Series": Second Bullion Coin in the Series: Silver 2 UK Pounds & 5 UK Pounds and Gold 25 and 100 UK Pounds Bullion Coins and 5 Pounds Cupro-nickel issued by the Royal Mint UK featuring the legendary wizard: Year of Coin issue: 2023

A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022):

i) A Tribute to the Life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) featuring "The Royal Cipher", British Antarctic Territory (BAT), "Proclamation", South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SG & SSI), "Double Portrait", Falkland Islands: Pobjoy Mint, UK has brought out a limited edition 3-Coin 50 Pence Set with Pearl Black Finish and Privy Mark: Year of Coin issue: 2022:

"The Queen's Beasts" Coin Series, UK issues:



"Tales of the Earth - Dinosauria" Coin Series, UK issues:

Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories/Dependencies:

Central Bank of Ireland issues:



3) Irish Myths & Legends: 1) The Children of Lir;2) Cu Chulain; 3) The Omniscient Salmon of Knowledge; 4) Werewolves of Ossory; 5) The Brown Bull of Cooley and Deirdre of the Sorrows: An Annual Mint Set from the Central Bank of Ireland, recreates/celebrates Irish Folk Tales (Issue date: 30.04.2018)




Bank of Ireland issues:


Northern Ireland Bank issues:

1) Northern Ireland Polymer Bank Issues: Danske Bank (10 Pounds Polymer Banknotes), Bank of Ireland (5 & 10 Pound Polymer Banknotes) to go into circulation in 2020/21






Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

  
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote
Banknotes from Royal Bank of Scotland:


British Crown Dependencies/Overseas Territories:



3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey











22) "Medusa The Gorgon": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Fourth Coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint UK on behalf of BIOT in 09/2018




27) Concorde, a Stamp set from Gibraltar, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): 50th Anniversary of the first Supersonic Passenger Carrying Airplane, jointly built by France and Great Britain: Stamp set issue date:  20.04.2019



30) Manannan, the First King of Isle of Man or Mann: A Silver 5 Pounds Coin brought out by the Isle of Man in collaboration with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich

‎31) 200th Anniversary of John Keats' "Odes to a ....", Alderney Island: A set of six Postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post which brings out stamps on behalf of Alderney Island - 1) Ode on a Grecian Urn,(48p) 2) Ode on Indolence (65p), 3) Ode on Melancholy (66p), 4) Ode to a Nightingale (80p), 5) Ode to Psyche (90p), 6) Ode to Autumn (98 p) : Stamp Set issue date: 24.07.2019‎32) Isle of Mann: Celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of the Birth of Herman Melville, the author of the classic Moby Dick: A six Stamp Set issued on 22.07.2019
































Gold Sovereign Coins:
  



Silver Sovereign Coins:


British India Coinage:



3) Edward VII: King & Emperor  Coinage





5) The British Empire: A Case of Numismatic "Segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)



 British Coinage:


2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin
4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone





 Commemorative British Coinage:



3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)

5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his " Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK 

The Brixton Pound:

2 comments:

  1. Santosh Khanna has commented:
    "A VERY interesting and informative article on flowers. Thanks for sharing."

    ReplyDelete