8 June 1999
Scottish Definitive Stamps
The history of the stamps of Scotland took a major step
forward with the issue of the four new definitive stamps. After
some months of discussion, public comment and consultation, four
stamps appeared showing images of Scotland which, while being
thought by some at home to be a bit on the "teatowel" side, are
certainly attractive, colourful, and take recognisable images of
our nation around the world.
The four stamps are;
"2nd" (19p, for inland second class) - the Saltire Flag
"1st" (26p, for inland first class) - the Lion Rampant
"E" (30p, for European letter rate) - the Thistle
64p (foreign postal rates) - Tartan
On the day of issue, we serviced a number of first day covers, some to be just a little bit different from the normal, others to be something very special.
Special Handstamps {a} to {g} All first day covers are on
Royal Mail illustrated envelopes, with set of four stamps, and
are unaddressed or with soft pencil address.
{a} Lochawe, Dalmally, special handstamp, showing Lion Rampant
£3.75
{b} Glencoe, Ballachulish, special handstamp, showing Thistle £3.75
{c} Glasgow special handstamp, showing flying Saltire Flag £3.75
{d} Balmoral, Ballater, special handstamp, showing piece of Tartan £3.75
{e} Edinburgh special handstamp, showing Thistles £3.75
{f} Edinburgh special handstamp, showing Celtic design £3.75
{g} Edinburgh special handstamp, showing small Thistle, along
with text THE PEOPLE OF THE
COUNTRY, THE STRENGTH OF
SCOTLAND £3.75
Registered ("Special Delivery") with Counter Datestamps {h} to
{k} All first day covers are on Royal Mail illustrated
envelopes, with two sets of stamps, plus appropriate extra odds
to make up the postage rate, are unaddressed, and have a special
cachet. Please see descriptions and background notes below.
{h} Saint Andrews (for the Saltire) £15.50
{i} Haddington (for the Saltire) £15.50
{j} Holyrood (for the Lion Rampant, and for the Parliament) £13.50
{k} Letham, Angus (for the Thistle) £18.50
Fifty covers were serviced at Haddington. These were taken to the village of Athelstaneford (where, unfortunately the sub post office had been temporarily closed), the scene of the battle.
The Lion Rampant The red
heraldic lion on a yellow background was introduced by King
William the Lyon (1143-1214, reigned from 1165) to his arms. It
henceforth became the symbol of the Kings of Scots. The flag,
although in popular general use, is strictly the Scottish royal
standard.
Fifty covers were taken to the site of the new Scottish
Parliament building at Holyrood, and to the Palace of
Holyroodhouse, the seat of the royal family when in Edinburgh
(and where the Lion Rampant flag is properly flown when they are
in residence), before being posted at Holyrood sub post office.
The Scottish Thistle There are
various versions of the story which led to the thistle being
adopted as the emblem of Scotland. They all have the basic
storyline of a group of warriors or an army being alerted to an
imminent attack. The attackers, barefoot so as to sneak up
unheard, stood on prickly thistles, and the ensuing expletives
gave the game away. An attack on Edinburgh Castle, the battle of
Nechtansmere, and the battle of Luncarty, are all often quoted
as contenders for the origin of the story. We go for
Nechtansmere, if nothing else because the Pictish King Angus mac
Feargus (already mentioned for his participation at
Athelstaneford) is said to have originally founded the Order of
the Thistle in 787AD, and Nechtansmere is the only serious
suggestion of the thistle tale to have happened before that
date. (In fact, James Mackay, in a 1999 article about thistles
in postmarks, specifically mentions Nechtansmere as "a strong
contender".)
At the battle of Nechtansmere, on 20 May 685AD, an important
battle was fought at Dunnichen, a little west of current Letham
in Angus. The Picts of southern Scotland had been coming under
the control of the Northumbrians, who had captured Edinburgh in
638AD. King Ecgfrith of Northumbria had advanced into largely
unoccupied Pictland, until he met the forces of the Pictish King
Brudei. The Picts pretended to run, lured the
Northumbrians into an area between a hill fort and a marshy
area, and there the Northumbrians were well and truly routed,
their king killed, the majority killed or captured. This battle
had a major influence in the formation of a united Scottish
nation.
Fifty covers were posted at Letham, having first been taken to
the scene of the battle at Dunnichen. None of these covers have
particularly good postmarks, but they are the best available due
to the lamentable condition of that office’s handstamp.
Page last updated Wednesday 24 July 2002. Copyright Robert Murray 1999 to 2017.
Click on the Penny Black to go
back to our home page. | Click
here to go to our site contents page. |
Send us an E-mail