SC 267	SG 493	2½d	Bright Ultramarine	15 x 14
SC 268	SG 494	£1	Deep Chalky Blue	14 x 15

Designed by G. T. Knipe and Joan Hassall based  from photographs by Dorothy Wilding.

Very lightly hinged as the marks are almost invisible.

Royal Wedding

The Duke of York (the future King George VI) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon were married in Westminster Abbey on 26 April 1923.

Since there had been criticism at the failure of the Post Office to issue stamps for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth in 1947, the Royal Silver Wedding of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1948 was marked by the release of two stamps, a 2½d low value denomination, and a £1 stamp aimed primarily at collectors.

Stamp Design

Original essays for the wedding issue were based on stamp designs which had been developed for the Coronation of King Edward VIII showing famous landmarks with the portraits of the King and Queen as used on their Coronation stamps. Essays were produced on these lines but did not find favour with the King, who referred to a simple portrait approach used by Belgium in 1935.

New designs were developed, the Post Office still preferring landmarks as these might appeal more to the public. The King still favouring portraits, selected designs by Harrisons’ staff artist G. T. Knipe for the 2½d, and by Joan Hassall for the £1. The stamps were issued on the anniversary, April 26, 1948.