The Post Office Department has released a set of five new stamps to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The five new stamps depict commemorative items and packaging released during the reigns of Victoria (65 cents), Edward VII (70 cents), George V (80 cents), George VI ($1.00) and Elizabeth II ($2.00), all based on images supplied by Robert Opie.
Mr. Opie is known worldwide as a collector of Advertising Memorabilia and the curator of Opie’s Museum of Memories, which contains tens of thousands of examples of advertising and packaging material.
Explaining his interest in Royal Memorabilia, Mr. Opie said, “The historic occasion of a royal coronation, of course, attracts a deluge of souvenirs from the traditional ceramic mug to a set of commemorative stamps. Instinctively, we all want to keep a souvenir of such an event – a decorated tin, a jigsaw puzzle or just a royal picture postcard.
“In years to come such mementos become a touchstone to remind us of that time and the memorable moment. Hidden away in millions of homes is that royal keepsake, waiting to be found to rejuvenate those memories once again.”
The five stamps are produced in sheetlets of eight stamps with a label and decorative border, also showing a number of contemporary examples taken from the Robert Opie Collection.
In addition, there is a souvenir sheet containing a single $3 stamp bearing a formal portrait of the then recently crowned Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953 and is recognised as sovereign in The Bahamas, although she is not involved in the day-to-day business of The Bahamas’ Government, she continues to play important ceremonial and symbolic roles.
The Queen speaks and acts as Queen of The Bahamas, and not as Queen of the United Kingdom, so her title in The Bahamas is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth.
Although she made five official visits to The Bahamas, in 2012, as part of the Accession Celebrations, she sent her grandson, Prince Harry to The Bahamas to represent her and this visit was commemorated by the release of a very attractive set of four stamps.
