Brunel (British postage stamps)

This set of six stamps was issued by the Royal Mail on February 23,2006. It was the third set of British commemorative stamps issued in 2006. A major issue, a variety of formats were launched- as well as the usual products of mint stamps, presentation packs, stamps cards and first day cover, the stamps were available as a miniature sheet, prestige stamp book and limited edition coin cover.

Reason for issue

The Brunel stamps were issued to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Widely recognised as one of the greats of the Industrial age, the stamps celebrate Brunel's achievements in the spheres of bridge building, tunnels, Paddington Station and ship building.

tamp Details

These stamps were issued in a special 'long' landscape format. This format was first issued with the 2002 Commonwealth Games issue, and there has been one set of stamps issued in this format every year since.

The scenes the stamps depict:
* 1st class - Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar at Saltash
* 40p - Box Tunnel, almost two miles long and still in use today
* 42p - Paddington Station, London terminus of the Great Western Railway
* 47p - PSS Great Eastern, at the time the largest ship in history
* 60p - Clifton Suspension Bridge, Brunel's first major commission at the age of 24
* 68p - Maidenhead Railway Bridge, still carries the main line over the River Thames in Maidenhead, Berkshire

The face value of the set was £2.87.

* Designed by hat-trick design
* Stamp Size 60mm x 21mm (Long landscape)
* Printed by Jon Enschedé Security Print
* Print Process Lithography
* Number per sheet 24/48
* Perforations 14.5 x 14.5
* Gum PVA

Other items

The miniature sheet measures 190mm x 67mm and featured a metallic grey border with a Victorian wrought iron motif.

The presentation pack features an in-depth look at three of Brunel's bridges, as well as Paddington Station and SS Great Eastern. It was written by design and architectural historian Jeremy Myerson. The first day cover was designed by hat-trick design and written by Jeremy Myerson.

The cover of the 20-page prestige stamp book is in silver-grey to emulate cast iron. Words were by journalist and writer Eugene Byrne. There are four stamp panes, the first features the Royal Albert Bridge, Paddington Station and the Maidenhead Bridge stamps, on a backgrounf of the Thames Tunnel. The second contains the Box Tunnel, Clifton Suspension Bridge and PSS Great Eastern stamps, on a background of the Treviddo Viaduct. The third pane features the PSS Great Eastern from the Brunel issue and two of the PSS Great Western from the 2004 Ocean Liners issue (issued to commemorate the launch of the Queen Mary 2), on a background of the construction of the SS Great Eastern. The fourth pane consists of eight mixed Machins which surround a commemorative label featuring a relief bust of Brunel, on a background of the Royal Albert bridge. The machin values are 4 x 1st class NVI, 2 x 35p and 2 x 40p.

The coin cover was produced in conjunction with the Royal Mint, and features a full set of stamps together with two brilliant, uncirculated £2 coins.