Royal expert reveals the value of last stamps to feature the Queen and the ones that will really make you money

Earlier this week, the Royal Mail released the final set of stamps to feature the late Queen’s silhouette just weeks after the official image of King Charles was revealed for future designs. The late monarch’s outline will appear on the set of special stamps to mark the 100th anniversary of steam locomotive the Flying Scotsman.

The commemorative set features 12 stamps depicting the National Railway Museum’s famous locomotive in various locations across the UK, including crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and at London Victoria Station.

As the release of the designs will be an important moment for stamp collectors up and down the country, how long would you have to have the item in your possession before you see some cash interest? And which historic stamps could you already sell for a healthy profit?

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The late Queen was the fifth royal to add to the world famous Royal Philatelic Collection, following on from its inauguration by Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Alfred in 1864. The prince sold his collection to his brother, the future King Edward VII, who in turn gave it to his son, King George V and it subsequently passed down to King George VI and finally to the Queen.

Royal expert and author Phil Dampier told MyLondon: “The Queen’s personal stamp collection is one of the best in the world and it will be interesting to see if the King keeps it up – I’m sure he will want to.

“As for the new stamps I doubt they will be valuable in the future as there will be so many and every collector will keep them. However they are of great historic importance to all as they are the last to feature this iconic monarch who reigned for a record breaking 70 years.”

Stamps first came into circulation on May 6, 1840 during the early reign of Queen Victoria when it cost only one penny to send a letter which weighed under half an ounce. Of all the royal custodians, King George V was very dedicated to maintaining and growing the collection.

When he was still the Duke of York, Prince George was made the honorary Vice President of what would go on to become the Royal Philatelic Society of London in 1893. He also received a book containing 1,500 stamps on the occasion of his wedding day to Princess Mary of Teck from his fellow society members.

King George V’s dedication to his hobby knew no bounds, and he even set the record for the highest price ever paid for a stamp. In 1904, a courtier asked the Prince if he had seen “that some damned fool had paid as much as £1,450 for a single stamp”.

George replied: “Yes, I am that damned fool.” The enjoyment of stamp collecting passed from grandfather to granddaughter. Queen Elizabeth – who called King George V ‘Grandpa England’- inherited his 328 albums of stamps.

The Queen added to the collection extensively. The most rare and expensive addition was a Mauritian stamp which is valued at £2 million. It was shown in a travelling exhibition to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

The stamp is one of the most prized in the world and was issued by the colonial Post Office of Mauritius in 1847. The Queen also spent £250,000 on a unique set of 10 Penny Blacks which are dated from the first day that they came into circulation, May 6, 1840.

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