The 60th Anniversary of the Queens Coronation

For immediate release   21 May 2013

Guernsey Post is delighted to announce the release on 29 May of a commemorative stamp issue in celebration of the Queen's Coronation, which took place 60 years ago on 2 June 1953.

Guernsey Post's issue features six Alderney stamps, which have been chosen especially to tell the story of events that occurred on Her Majesty's Coronation Day.

The 40 pence stamp shows Her Majesty smiling at the crowds from a Royal carriage following her Coronation ceremony.  She is wearing the solid gold Imperial State Crown which was made in 1661.

Captured in 1953 prior to the Coronation is an image showing Coronets and Tiaras which were manufactured in the workshops of The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company Limited, based in London (53p).

The 55 pence stamp depicts Her Majesty leaving Buckingham Palace for her Coronation.  She is wearing the George IV State Diadem which incorporates national symbols: roses, shamrocks and thistles and features 1,333 diamonds and 169 pearls.

The Queen's exquisite Coronation dress, made of white satin embroidered with the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, is depicted in a further image (63p). Another image shows the Coronation ceremony which took place at Westminster Abbey in London, presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher (71p).

Completing the set is the 79p stamp which depicts Her Majesty seated for the formal state photograph following the ceremony.  She is holding the Orb in her left hand, the septre in her right hand and is wearing the Imperial State Crown.

Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post said: - "We wanted to portray the story of this extraordinary day through our set of stamps.  The images selected depict the pomp and ceremony of this special occasion."

The stamps are available to order at www.guernseystamps.com or by contacting customer services on +44 (01481) 716486.

-End release-

Press enquiries to:
Sarah Amies, pr consultant, 01484 687040/07811 133973
Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic, Guernsey Post   01481 733524

Specification
Date of Issue: 29 May 2013
Designer: The Potting Shed
Printer: BDT International
Values: 40p,  53p, 55p, 63p, 71p, 79p
Process: Offset Lithography
Stamp size: 44.45mm deep x 27.94mm wide
Paper: 110gsm unwatermarked / PVA adhesive
Perforation: 13.75
Cylinder A