Guest Author - Karyn Johnson

All the world seems to love commemorative stamps, and England is no exception. Many of the stamps commemorate events that take place in the royal family. Recently, stamps have been issued honoring Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday. These stamps feature eight informal portraits of Her Majesty throughout the years. Last year, stamps were issued to honor the wedding of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Stamps have been issued to honor royal weddings for many years. The Queen Mother was honored with a stamp in 2002 shortly after her death. Two years earlier, a series of stamps were issued with portraits of the queen, Prince William, Prince Charles, and the Queen Mother, all in honor of the Queen Mum's 99th birthday. In 2003, stamps were issued to honor Prince William's 21st birthday. Princess Diana was remembered with several stamps after her death in 1997. Stamps have also been issued for royal wedding anniversaries (Queen Elizabeth's and Prince Philip's golden anniversary in 1997) and to commemorate the 40th and 50th anniversaries of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne.

But the royals are not the only subject for commemorative stamps in the UK. Sports are also popular. 2003 saw the introduction of stamps to commemorate England's Rugby World Cup victory. In 2005, cricket stamps were issued to celebrate England's win in the Ashes tournament against Australia. Last year, London celebrated its winning bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games through the issue of commemorative stamps. This year, in honor of the FIFA World Cup in Germany (soccer), England is unveiling stamps that honor all the winning nations since England last took the World Cup trophy in 1966. The stamps represent England, France, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, and Germany, and were revealed this week (June 5, 2006) in Scotland.

England also has a love for all things literary, and the stamps to prove it. For the 150th anniversary of Charlotte Brontë's death last year, Royal Mail issued special Jane Eyre stamps in her honor. In 1975, stamps were issued in honor of Jane Austen's 200th birthday. In 1964, Shakespeare stamps were issued; his 400th birthday was that year. Stamps commemorating the opening of the Globe Theatre in London in 1995 were also issued. Stamps were issued in the 1980's to honor female novelists Charlotte and Emily Brontë, George Eliot, and Elizabeth Gaskell. Throughout the years, stamps have also honored John Keats, Thomas Gray, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, J.R.R. Tolkien, Edward Lear, Thomas Hardy, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alfred Lord Tennyson, H.G. Wells, Charles Dickens, and more.

This year, the United States Postal Service, jointly with Royal Mail, issued stamps commemorating favorite children's book animals. While there are eight stamps in all, there are the only two being shared by the US and the UK: Maisy, and the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Royal Mail is also allowing the US Postal Service to use their cancellation stamp on any envelope in which these two stamps are used. UK stamps have also honored children's book authors Beatrix Potter, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, and James M. Barrie.

These stamps, of course, are not the extent of the commemorative stamps issued in England. Royal Mail has only been issuing commemorative stamps since 1924, but there have been plenty for philatelists to collect and enjoy for over 80 years. Outside of England, there are also stamps that feature British royals and other notables. Even if you're not a stamp collector, you can pretty much find a stamp that covers any subject you fancy.