GEORGE AND THE DRAGON...AKA GB £1 PUC
......and so it was that George slayed the dragon.The local boy had come good and he became the pride of his village. As he gored the vile beast with his spear he screamed loudly with great acclaim and said, "One day brethren, I will be on a British Stamp, but I will be a Saint, so it shall be as a Saint that I will appear. It will be a high value no less, for I am the great one. The ugly and hated dragon will appear on the stamp too, but it will be in a state of death and also partly obliterated by a huge sign that says '£1'.
And the whole country will rejoice in my being, except for Scotland,Ireland and Wales who will get their own Saints, albeit lesser ones than myself "
Upon finishing his speech in great haste, he drove his weapon once more into the dying Dragon. Small fountains of Blood sprayed his helmet and chin. The dragon was dead !
It was April 23rd and hereafter this day was always celebrated as St.George's Day and the whole of the country celebrated with Flags and fete's, except Scotland,Ireland and Wales which celebrated their own Saint's days, albeit lesser ones.
The UPU £1 stamp remains the most sought after of all GB stamps. But have you ever wondered what lay underneath that large '£1' sign ?
What do think is hidden beneath ? Maybe droplets of Dragon's blood ? Or a pair of tweezers? Or maybe a crystal ball looking into the Philatelic future...........
GEORGE AND THE DRAGON: PART 2.
And verily it came to pass - the greatest ever political cover up !
St George slayed the dragon and everyone cheered - but the dragon was red, yes a Welsh dragon.
The population thought that St George had rid the country of the Welsh - but no - sadly only the dragon - pity that !
In 1929 it was decided by Ye Olde Post Office to commemorate this historical event by producing a £1 stamp which was way out of reach of all stamp collectors, as it was valued at one weeks pay.
In order to produce this prestigious gummed piece of paper it was decided to use the original wood cutting, hurriedly carved at the time.
All was well until it came to light that the dragon was in fact holding a Welsh flag in one clawed foot and a leek in the other. This presented a dilemma as it was considered politically incorrect - so the £1 symbol was place in such a way as to obscure this fact.
This closely guarded secret has been passed down from father to son - for who should ever disclose the secret behind the £1 symbol will forever suffer the fate of receiving a Welsh Choir CD for the festive season - GASP ! - HORROR ! - NOT THAT !
TRULY A FATE WORST THAN DEATH !
Now I have told the secret, I shall forever be hearing the dreaded ghostly choir at midnight on Christmas Eve - may God have mercy on my soul.
THE END.
The sheet depicts the 1929 £1 PUC stamp but without 'Postage one pound'. Printed by De La Rue in Recess.
Sold for £1 at the British Philatelic Exhibition, 14-17 November 1979 at the Wembley Conference Centre, London.
It commemorates the Golden Jubilee of the Postal Union Congress.
Story courtesy of a thread long gone........
Londonbus1...
Posted 01/09/2012 3:26 pm
That's a nice sheet - showing phoenix and dragon together: female and male. You beat me to the Philippines sheet, mine is still on its way from 
