Page 6 - F L Walton GB QEII Registered Covers

Section 2: Postage and Revenue Dies

The bulk of registered postal stationery envelopes
produced were for use as inland mail. In all cases,
the value of the indicium covered the minimum
compensation fee and the minimum inland letter rate.

Indicium 8½d

The minimum inland postage letter rate of 2½d
for the first 2 oz was unchanged from 1 May
1940 to 31 Dec 1956 and the registration fee
of 6d for a minimum cover of £5 was constant
from 1 May 1952 until 31 May 1956. This
stability meant that the current George VI 8½d
envelope met the operational requirement and
there was no immediate pressure to replace it.
The 8½d denomination was used to develop a
satisfactory die and colour scheme, with design
work continuing during 1953 and 1954. The
new Queen Elizabeth II design was first issued
in Nov 1954.

Text on embossed design reads: “Registration
Sixpence Postage Two Pence Halfpenny / 8½”.

Registration dates of issued envelopes:
Size F 22 Nov 1954
Size G 21 Apr 1955 Size H. Die recorded: 21
Size H 16 Dec 1954
Size K 21 Apr 1955 .

Size F. Dies recorded: 3, 4, 10 & 11 Size G. Dies recorded: 10 & 29