| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | |||||
Union flag
which represents England, Scotland and Northern Ireland |
England
Cross of St. George |
Wales - Cymru
Welsh Dragon |
Scotland
Cross of St. Andrew (The Saltire) |
Northern Ireland
Tuaisceart Éireann Norlin Airlann Cross of St. Patrick |
Northern Ireland
Ulster banner Meirge Uladh (unofficially) |
| Please click on flags to learn more ... | |||||
New GB stamp issues
at the Post Office |
Latest news on GB stamps
from Norvic Philatelics |
Postmark bulletins
from Royal Mail |
GB Stamps 1840 to Date
from Ian Gill |
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The Four Countries of the UK
Royal Mail - Post Brenhinol
The regional Country Definitive and
country-related Special postage stamps |
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Until today Royal Mail has issued three series of Country definitive stamps (formerly know as »Regional Issues«)
to reflect the regional identity of the United Kingdom's Home Countries. |
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| For a detailed view of the various stamp images please refer to the corresponding country page. | ||
FDC cachet - Scotland - Definitive stamps 2019
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Scotland
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Stob Dearg peak of Buachaille Etive Mòr
 ,
Valley Glen Coe ,
Highlands
,
Scotland
ex Presentation Pack - Country definitives 2019 |
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Scottish Regional Wilding Definitive Postage Stamps
First introduced in 1958 and in use until 1971.
All stamps feature the photographic portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II taken in February 1952
by English society photographer Dorothy Wilding (* 1893, † 1976). |
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First issues on 18 August/29 September 1958
Chalk-surface paper; watermark »multiple crowns«; perf 15x14
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08/1958
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09/1958
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09/1958
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Watermark
Multiple Crowns |
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Additional issues in 1963 - 1967
Chalk-surface paper; watermark »multiple crowns«; phosphor bands; perf 15x14
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01/1963
2 bands - rare |
04/1965
right band |
04/1965
left band |
11/1967
centre band |
02/1966
no band |
02/1966
2 bands |
01/1963
2 bands |
03/1967
2 bands |
01/1963
2 bands |
03/1967
2 bands |
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Additional issues in 1967 - 1970
Chalk-surface paper; no watermark; phosphor bands; perf 15x14
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05/1968
centre band |
11/1967
2 bands |
09/1968
centre band |
02/1969
centre band |
09/1968
2 bands |
09/1970
2 bands |
12/1968
2 bands |
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Scottish Regional Definitives from Prestige Stamp Book (#DX43) or Miniature Sheet (#MSNI153)
50th Anniversary of the Regional Definitives issued on 29 September 2008 |
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Reprinted designs as 1958 issues, but with contemporary
NVI 1st class denomination, elliptical perforation 15x14 and two phosphor bands |
Special Postmark | ||||
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Description of the stamp images
Face values:
3/4/5d: Saltire environed of an open Crown at the bottom on the left, a Thistle with a 17th-century version of the Scottish Crown at the bottom on the right. 6/9d: Scottish Thistel shown in top left/right corner of the stamp. The Queen's portrait is flanked by strongly conventionalized thistels. 1s3d/1s6d: Crowned and collared Unicorns supporting flags showing a Lion Rampant on the left and the St. Andrew's Cross on the right side of the Queen's portrait. |
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Scottish Regional Machin Definitive Postage Stamps
The stamps with decimal denomination were first introduced in 1971 and in use until 1999.
The stamps feature as a prominent eye-catcher the portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II
after the plaster cast created by English sculptor Arnold Machin (* 1911, † 1999).
The heraldic icon of the »Rampant Lion« in the upper left corner of the stamps represents Scotland.
Moving the mouse-pointer over a stamp image displays the
SG catalogue number of the stamp and the characterization of its colour. |
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First Series 07/1971 - 07/1980
Printed in photogravure by Harrison on chalk-surfaced paper
phosphor bands (or phosphorised paper); P 15x14 |
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centre band
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2 bands
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2 bands
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2 bands
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| First set of stamps issued on 07 July 1971 | |||||
01/1974
centre band |
01/1974
2 bands & 11/1974 centre band |
01/1974
2 bands & 05/1975 centre band |
01/1978
centre band |
10/1976
2 bands & 07/1980 centre band |
10/1976
2 bands |
| Above/below - Selection of stamps out of 18 issues in 1974 - 1980 | |||||
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01/1978
2 bands |
07/1980 - printed on phosphorised paper (FCP) | ||||
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Second Series 04/1981 - 01/1986
Printed in lithography by Waddington
phosphorised paper (or with phosphor bands); P 14; Lion type I (or type II)
Redrawn design of the lion on litho printing.
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Type I
The eye
and jaw
appear larger, the tounge
thinner and there is no line across the bridge
of the nose.
View
more
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Type II redrawn
The tounge
is thick at the point of entry to the mouth and the eye
and nose
is linked to the background by a solid line.
View
more
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| The mix of the lion's types has occurred when Waddington had the contract (1981 - 1986) and the design of the lion icon was redrawn in 1983. The House of Questa printings (from 1986 onwards) are all Type II. | |||||
04/1981
left band |
02/1982
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04/1983
Type II |
04/1983
Type II |
04/1983
Type II |
10/1984
Type I - left band & 01/1985 Type II & 04/1987 Type II short left band |
| Above/below - Selection of stamps out of 20 issues in 1981 - 1986 | |||||
10/1984
& 01/1985 Type I - Type II |
10/1984
& 01/1986 Type I - Type II |
10/1984
Type I & 11/1985 Type II (trade price £135 !) |
01/1986
left band Type II |
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Third Series 04/1986 - 08/1993
Printed in lithography by House of Questa
phosphorised paper (or with phosphor bands); P 15x14 (or P 14); Lion type II |
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04/1986
left band |
11/1986
left band |
01/1987
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11/1988
centre band & 03/1989 from PSB
View
more
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11/1988
& 03/1989 from PSB |
11/1989
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| Above/below - Selection of stamps out of 35 issues in 1986 - 1993 | |||||
03/1989
left band top or bottom short |
03/1989
2 bands |
03/1989
2 bands |
12/1990
centre band |
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Stamps only come from booklet SG# DX10
View
more
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12/1991
& 09/1992 centre band P 15x14 -
P 14
P 14
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12/1991
& 10/1992 P 15x14 -
P 14
P 14
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12/1991
& 02/1993 P 15x14 -
P 14
P 14
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12/1991
& 11/1992 P 15x14 -
P 14
P 14
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08/1993
left band |
08/1993
2 bands |
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P 14 was caused by the use of a reverse perforating machine
for a very few printings (trade price £6 - 10 !). |
Stamps only come from booklet
SG# DX15
View
more
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Fourth Series 12/1993 - 07/1996
Printed in lithography by House of Questa on chalk-surfaced paper;
P 15x14 (with one elliptical hole in each vertical side); blue (or yellow) phosphor bands |
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12/1993
centre band 
& 11/1995 centre band 
& 04/1995 right band
only from PSB |
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07/1993
2 bands
& 09/1995 2 bands
& 04/1995 2 bands
from PSB & 09/1996 2 bands
from PSB |
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View
PSB
more
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12/1993
2 bands
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12/1993
2 bands
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07/1996
centre band
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07/1996
2 bands
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07/1996
2 bands
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07/1996
2 bands
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Final Series 07/1997 - 10/1998; 02/2000
Printed in EME/photogravure
by Walsall (or Harrison); phosphor bands;
P 15x14 (or P 14) (both with one elliptical hole in each vertical side) |
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07/1997
P 15x14 centre band
& 10/1998
P 14
-
right band
P 14
only from PSB
View
more
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07/1997
P 15x14 2 bands
& 10/1998
P 14
- 2 bands
P 14
only from PSB
View
more
& 09/1997
printed by Harrison (ex PSB)
View
more
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07/1997
2 Bands
& 09/1997
printed by Harrison (ex PSB)
View
more
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07/1997
2 Bands |
02/2000
P 14 - 2 bands only from PSB
View
more
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Scottish Thistle
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Pictorial Scottish Country Definitive Postage Stamps
First introduced in 1999 and in use to the present today.
The stamps appeared in a completly new design, comprising national icons as a predominant feature
and a small silver-coloured contour of the head of HM Queen Elizabeth II in the upper right corner.
PSBs comprising Scottish pictorial Country Definitives at a glance
Please
click
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First series 06/1999 - 2002
Full bleed printing in photogravure by Walsall or
House of Questa (HoQ) or De La Rue (DLR),
phosphor bands (centre band [2nd], 2 bands others), P 15x14 (with one elliptical hole in each vertical side) |
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FDI Special Postmark
Edinburgh 8 6 1999 |
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Scottish Flag
(Saltire)
06/1999
centre band printed by Walsall & 06/2002 printed by DLR
& 08/2000
printed by HoQ (from PSB) |
Lion Rampant
06/1999
2 bands printed by Walsall & 06/2002 printed by DLR
& 10/2001
printed by HoQ (from PSB) & 09/2002 printed by HoQ (from PSB) |
Thistle
06/1999
2 bands E(uropean airmail rate, 30p)
& 10/2001
printed by HoQ (from PSB) |
Tartan
06/1999
2 bands |
Tartan
04/2000
2 bands printed by Walsall
& 08/2000
printed by HoQ (from PSB) |
Tartan
07/2002
2 bands printed by DLR |
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View
PSB
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View
PSB
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View
PSB
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Second series 10/2003 - 2010
Printed in photogravure with white border by
De La Rue (DLR) or Walsall,
phosphor bands (centre band [2nd], 2 bands others), P 15x14 (with one elliptical hole in each vertical side) |
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10/2003
Centre band
& 03/2004
& 03/2007 (both from PSB printed by DLR) |
10/2003
2 bands |
10/2003
2 bands E(uropean airmail rate, 30p) |
05/2004
2 bands |
04/2005
2 bands printed by Walsall & 05/2005 printed by DLR |
10/2003
2 bands |
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View
PSBs
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... and other denominations | ||||||||
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Third series 09/2007 - 2017
Printed in lithography by Cartor or
Enschedé or De La Rue (DLR),
phosphor bands (centre band [2nd], 2 bands others), P 15x14 (with one elliptical hole in each vertical side) |
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mm/yyyy
centre band Queen's head silver printed by xxxxx |
06/2012
centre band Queen's head grey printed by Cartor |
09/2007
2 bands Queen's head silver printed by Enschedé (from PSB) & 09/2008 printed by DLR (from PSB) |
06/2012
2 bands Queen's head grey printed by Cartor
& 07/2014
printed by Enschedé (from PSB) & 04/2016 printed by Cartor (from PSB) |
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View
PSBs
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03/2011
[S] |
03/2013
[W] |
03/2016
[SW] |
05/2011
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Flag of Scotland
St. Andrew's Flag
05/2013
2 bands elliptical P 14½x14 (only from PSBs) |
Stamps from PSBs
05/2013
printed by Cartor & 02/2014 printed by Enschedé & 06/2016 printed by Cartor |
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[S] - Until 2011 Queen's head and face value silver-coloured.
[W] - In 2013 the colour of Queen's head and face value changed to white for better visibility/legibility. [SW] - In 2016 the colour of Queen's head changed to grey, but the face value remained white. |
View
PSBs
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| ... and other denominations | |||||||||
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Fourth series - New Font 03/2017 to the present day
The new typeface now used for all Country definitives is the same as on the Machin definitives,
and brings the lower values in line with the airmail values. 
Old font »Unica« (image left) - New font »Chevin« (image right)
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03/2018
centre band |
03/2018
2 bands |
03/2017
2 bands |
03/2017
2 bands |
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| ... and other denominations | |||||||||
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Fifth series - Barcode - 08/2022 to the present day
On 11 August 2022 Royal Mail introduced the pictorial Country definitives with a barcode added.
Each stamp includes a unique »2D-barcode« , also known as »Data Matrix« or »QR Code« [Quick Response], printed in matching colour alongside the main body of the stamp with a simulated perforation line. The self-adhesive stamps are printed in lithography by Cartor Security Printers (CSP). Stamp size 39mm x 30mm, elliptical perforation 15 x 14.5, phosphor bars as appropriate. |
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Each barcoded stamp will have a digital twin and the two will be connected by the Royal Mail
App.
The unique barcodes will facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for the Royal Mail's customers. The new barcode is an integral part of the stamp and must remain intact for the stamp to be valid. The new barcoded stamps enable you to watch and share an exclusive
»Shaun the Sheep«
video via the »Data Matrix Code«
Animated cartoon film
Poster Please 
click ...
itself using the Royal Mail App. You or the recipient can watch the video just by scanning the stamp barcode using our App.
More videos will be added over the coming months.
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FDI Special Postmark
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FDI Special Postmark
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SG# MSS152 // 05 October 2004 // Miniature Sheet
Opening of New Scottish Parliament Building, Edinburgh
Horizonzal strip of five se-tenant pictorial Scottisch country definitives
2 x (40) Thistle, 2 x (1st) Lion Rampant, 1 x (2nd) Scottish Flag
Printed in photogravure by De La Rue, P 15x14 with elliptical holes,
one centre phosphorband (2nd), 2 phoshor bands others |
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| Combination of Scottish Country Definitive and Special Postage Stamps |
FDI Special Postmark
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FDI Special Postmark
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SG# MSS153 // 30 November 2006 // Miniature Sheet
Celebrating Scotland
(1st) Lion Rampant -
(81) St. Andrew, Patron Saint of Scotland
(81) Edinburg Castle -
(1st) Scottish Flag (Saltire)
Printed in photogravure by De La Rue, 2 phoshor bands,
P 15x14 with elliptical holes (1st), P 14½x14 (72) |
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FDI Special Postmark
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FDI Special Postmark
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SG# MSS157 // 22 January 2009 // Miniature Sheet
250th Birth Anniversary of Scottish poet Robert Burns (* 1759, † 1796)
Special Stamps
(1st, left) Inscription »A Man's a Man for a' that« and Burns ploughing (details from a drawing by draughtsman and engraver James Sargent Storer (*1771, † 1853)
(1st, right) Portrait of Burns painted in 1787 by Alexander Nasmyth
(*1758, † 1840)
Definitive Stamps
Se-tenant block of four pictorial Scottish Country Definitives (2nd) Scottish Flag (SG #S109) - (1st) Lion Rampant (SG #S110) (50) Thistle (SG #S116) - (81) Tartan (SG #S122)
Printed in photogravure by Enschedé,
one centre phosphor band (2nd), 2 phoshor bands others, P 15x14 with elliptical holes Country Definitives, P 14½x14½ Special Stamps |
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GLORIOUS SCOTLAND
Illustrated Post Office Label Sheet composed of 2x10 NVI 1st Class Scottish Country Definitives
»Lion Rampant« with attached labels featuring country sceneries. |
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Eilean Donan Castle
Loch Duich, Dornie, NW Highlands
Please
click
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Isle of Skye [An t-Eilean Sgitheanach]
Inner Hebrides
Please
click
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Forth Rail Bridge
Firth of Forth [Linne Foirthe] Edinburgh, Inchgarvie and Fife
Please
click
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Bagpipes
Amazing
Graze
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Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian
Please
click
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Edinburgh Castle, [Caisteal Dhùn Èideann]
Please
click
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The Old Course, St. Andrews, Fife
Please
click
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Skara Brae
West coast of Mainland, Orkneys
Please
click
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Highland Games
Please
click
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Commando Memorial
Spean Bridge [Drochaid Aonachain], Kilmonivaig, Lochhaber, Great Glen
Please
click
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SG# LS44 // 30 November 2007 // Label Sheet
GLORIOUS SCOTLAND
Printed in lithography by Cartor,
P 15x14 (without elliptical holes), self-adhesive |
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GLORIOUS UNITED KINGDOM
Illustrated Post Office Label Sheet composed of 20 NVI 1st Class Country Definitives,
five stamps for each of the four countries, with attached labels featuring country sceneries. |
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Scottish Exhibition Center
Finnieston, Glasgow
Please
click
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Declaration of Arbroath
[Tiomnadh Bhruis] Statue at entrance to Arbroath, Angus
Please
click
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Dugald Stewart Monument
Calton Hill, Edinburgh
Please
click
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Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct, West Highland Line
Please
click
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Italian Chapel
Lamb Holm Island, Orkneys
Please
click
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SG# LS49 // 29 September 2008 // Label Sheet
GLORIOUS UNITED KINGDOM - SCOTLAND
Printed in lithography by Cartor,
P 15x14 (with elliptical hole in each vertical side), self-adhesive |
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CASTLES of SCOTLAND
Illustrated Post Office Label Sheet composed of 2x10 NVI 1st Cass Scottish Country Definitives
»St. Andrew's Flag (Saltire)« with attached labels featuring Scottish castles. |
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Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh, Capital of Scotland
Please
click
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Balmoral Castle
Crathie, Aberdeenshire
Please
click
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Culzean Castle
Firth of Clyde, South Ayrshire coast
Please
click
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Castle Stalker
Loch Laich, Port Appin, Argyll
Please
click
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Stirling Castle - Stirling
Please
click
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Caerlaverock Castle - Dumfries
Please
click
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Eilean Donan Castle
Loch Duich, Dornie, NW Highlands
Please
click
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Kilchurn Castle
Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute
Please
click
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Blair Castle
Blair Atholl, Perthshire
Please
click
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Cawdor Castle - Nairnshire
Please
click
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SG# LS68 // 30 November 2009 // Label Sheet
CASTLES of SCOTLAND
Printed in lithography by Cartor,
self-adhesive, P 15x14 (with one elliptical hole in each vertical side) |
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| // Elmar R. Göller // All rights reserved // Contact // Publishing Information |
| modified |
