Annigoni

I have always liked the Annigoni portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and have been collecting this illustration on stamps for many years.

This postcard bears an original -genuine- Annigoni signature and takes pride of place in my collection!

Nice Australian sheet which was only available to buyers of the 2006 year album. I didn't buy the album and I don't now know how I came by this!

There are hundreds of 'Annigoni stamps' in my collection, and I dare say the stamps crop up in collections of countries and themes of other collectors. I am not a serious collector of these stamps, I don't go deeply into perfs, watermarks etc. but I am happy with what I have. I also have bank notes and air letters showing the portrait and I even have a Ghana 500 sika 9 carat gold coin with part (head and shoulders) of the portrait printed on in colour! Whatever next??

Does anyone else share this collecting theme? I imagine not many do!

I don't have a specific collection but I have always admired the portrait. I associate it with stamps of Hong Kong, as this is where I think I have seen it most often.

Yes, the portrait is on HK stamps. The original is at Fishmongers Hall in London and was commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers in 1953 for the Coronation. I checked out the portrait and many years ago I contacted the Guild and was invited to see the original painting, which isn't on public display and is privately owned. I arranged a 'business trip' to London and, by appointment, I was shown the portrait. As I recall it was about life size and stood on the left hand side of a staircase. The other side hung a similar Annigoni portrait of (I think) Princess Margaret. My wife and I were seated and a collection of the Annigoni stamps was produced from the strong room and shown to us. I imagine that the portrait is copyright of the Fishmongers Guild and they allow the use of it on stamps and get some stamps for their permission. Whether or not they get a fee I don't know. The stamps were in a really shabby condition and I can only imagine that they were passed around the table on special dinner and drinks nights! Though my collection isn't 'specialised' I reckon that it is better than their's!! (certainly in a better condition).

Great story Ken, thanks for sharing it.

As a collector of Exhibition Cinderellas, I have always liked this item



Pietro Annigoni opened Stampex that year and signed some copies of the sheet. One sold last year on ebay for over £80 and I was outbid

It's the only one I've seen thus far.

Thanks again.

Londonbus1

LB, I also like the way this Exhibition card shows how the printer
Harrison combined the primary colours cyan, magenta, yellow in addition to black and an extra violet blue
to produce this beautiful photogravure stamp.

Have you the Seychelles Annigoni banknote
with "SEX" behind the Queens head?

just a little picture to illustrate what Rod is talking about

I must be blind because I don't see it.

and the full note




also another "interesting" note along the same line - if you look very closely under the rear fin of the turtle the word "scum" appears

you know what they say litho........