Queen Elizabeth's Collection

Does anyone know what the Queen's collection considers important or interesting in the modern period? I'm assuming that it is more an archive of stamps as they are first printed and with no freaks or errors. I hope I'm wrong, but I've read that the staff is too busy with what they already have to take an active interest in finding 'variations.'

You'd think Bess would do a bit of flyspecking after Phil had finished his kebab and was dozing in front of the telly.

Hahahah!

There is - I believe - a "Royal Collection." There is no "Elizabeth Collection." She is not a philatelist and never has been.

Yes, it is commonly referred to as the Royal Collection. It is the personal property of the Queen, however. Your point about the Queen not being all that interested in stamps is why I pose the question. George V kept up with his collection and took an interest in rare stamps at least, if not oddities, and he paid good money to acquire them. I wonder now about the current practices. Newly issued stamps of Great Britain are sent to her and I imagine them just piling up. The question, I guess, is: Is there a discerning eye in charge to keep the collection relevant for future generations?

Have you read The Queen's Stamps: The Authorised (Authorized) History of the Royal Philatelic Collection by Nicholas Courtney and Duke Of York? I read the book not long after it came out, but I'm embarrassed to say that I can't remember what it said about newer issues. I do remember that the book was well worth a look.

1840, thank you for the reference!

The collection must be actvely managed. For example, the Kirkcudbright cover of a block of 1d blacks was purchased relatively recently, and its cost was defrayed by the sale of duplicated material from the collection.

Interesting, Geoff!

I too highly recommend Courtney's book. Great detail of George V's obsession and collection. His son and granddaughter had/have a passing interest but keep it up. The collection is no longer housed at Buckingham Palace, and I believe is now available for research purposes.
On a personal level, I always she should have bought the 1856 British Guiana and housed it in her collection. I thought it would have been a fitting home for it.

Do you mean when it was last auctioned? 9 million dollars seems a bit too much for even the Queen.

I'll have to read more about the Guiana stamp. I don't know how many times it's been offered for sale.

George V bid for the 1c magenta when it came up for sale after WWI, but missed out to a US purchaser.

The Queen collection came to Canada museum of civilization a few years back. A wonderful collection to say the least. (mostly the early pence from GB

Hi to all,

Stanley Gibbons who has the royal warrant constantly sell unwanted and excess items from the Royal Collection, and I would bet that Her Majesty's keeper of the Royal Collection, is given 1st refusal by Gibbons on any British errors or varieties that turn up at Gibbons.

KGB, yes I'm referring to the last auction. And, I don't know. She's one of the richest women in the world, I think she could have swung it.

From what I understand, the Queen's wealth is tied up in large herds of corgis. They aren't that easy to liquidate.