The-Philatelist

Hugh Dowding commanded the British Fighter Command during the Battle or Britain. One might have expected a more splashy Spitfire fighter to go with that. Dowding’s strategy involved reserves, logistics, and replacements to extend the battle, a strategy he was later sacked for. The simple, sturdy Hurricane more fit his strategy. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

This is an issue on British Royal Air Force commanders and aircraft from their period. What struck me was that the post war commanders and their Vulcan bombers and Lightening fighters were ignored. A lot of money was spent on equipment never used. The proponents would say not using them shows success, but different equipment was required for modern warfare.

Todays stamp is issue A352, a 17 penny stamp issued by Great Britain on September 16th, 1986. It was a five stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 30 cents used.

Hugh Dowding began as a fighter pilot during the first world war and was given ever more responsibility in the interwar period. In 1936 he became commander of Fighter Command. He developed a very early integrated air defense system to prevent air attacks on the British Isles. He reached retirement age in early 1939 but was asked to stay in place. After France fell to Germany, he designed a Fabian strategy to constantly harass and inflict losses on the Luftwaffe. This might extend the battle and give time for the army to recover from the Dunkirk evacuation to better face invasion. The strategy worked and Germany switched tactics to punish British cities. This was the nighttime bombing Blitz.

The increased civilian deaths naturally caused much consternation. A rival strategy called big wing involving set piece air battles involving much larger British formations of fighters was proposed. Hugh Dowding was fired in November 1940 in favor of a proponent of that strategy. He warranted no stamp. Dowding was made a hereditary Lord to soften the blow but became much embittered. Surprisingly in his later years he became a vegetarian and animal rights activist.

The Hawker Hurricane fighter first flew in 1935 and was Christened Hurricane by King Edward VIII. It was designed by Sydney Camm and featured the Rolls Royce Merlin engine also used in the Spitfire and the American P51 Mustang. In the quick aeronautical progress of the 1930s the Hurricane was aging by 1940. It was tasked with going after slower bombers and shot down 55% of the attackers brought down air to air during the Battle of Britain. One huge advantage it had was it’s simplicity. It required one third less man hours to build than a Spitfire. It also was flown off aircraft carriers and as a fighter bomber. 14,487 were built by 1944 when production ended before the end of the war. In a strange twist it was built in Yugoslavia prewar. When their supply of Rolls Royce engines dried up, the Yugoslav Hurricanes were reengined with Daimler Benz engines from the Messerschmitt Me 109. This foreshadows Czech, Israeli, and Spanish post war Me 109s receiving Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

Well my drink is empty and I will have to stock up for there to be enough adult beverages to toast the veterans of the Battle of Britain. Come again soon for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

This is a great semi modern stamp. It gently and unthreateningly reminds how things once were. In doing so, it subtly reminds the 1987 Tory who he is, and maybe where a controversial Thatcher fits in. Pretty cool for a small piece of gummed paper that proves you paid the postage fee. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

There is a lot going on this stamp. Three scenes unrelated but brought together by being part of the Victoria Reign that had begun 150 years prior to this stamp. With four stamps in the set, I did another one here,https://the-philatelist.com/2019/03/22/great-britain1988-remembering-the-victorian-era-150-years-later/ , you get 12 views of Victorian Britain.

Todays stamp is issue A359, a 31 Penny stamp issued by Great Britain on September 8th, 1987. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 65 cents whether used or unused.

The first view, on the left, is of the Prince Consort Albert Memorial in London. Prince Albert was a large influence on Queen Victoria, preaching progress, a less political Monarchy, and more looking out for the common man. Prince Albert died young at age 42 of typhoid fever, and for the 40 years remaining in her Reign, Victoria wore black.

Victoria had the final say on what type of memorial should be. What was chosen was a bronze statue protected by a ciborium canopy as in a gothic church. It was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, a noted period gothic revival architect. The grounds near the Albert Hall had aligorical representations of the people, ideas and places important to Prince Albert. Showing the many aspects of Albert’s life, the Memorial gives a sense of his importance to the era.

The other two scenes are related showing a ballot box and long time but off and on Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. As more people had a say on their political representatives, Disraeli sought to imbue his party with a common set of principles so they would no longer just be vessels used by an individual politician. For the Tories he advocated a one nation conservatism that combined preservation of the institutions, with a program to uplift the common man. On this Disraeli and Victoria were simpatico.

Interestingly the one nation also had an aspect of including outsiders in the one nation. This perhaps comes from Disraeli’s Jewish heritage although his father had converted the family to Anglican when he was 12. As Prime Minister, There was much British involvement in trying to role back the declining Ottoman Empire. Disraeli would probably point to the Suez Canal as a benefit of the policy. It is not hard to see the British, Anglican power being used to move along the idea of a modern Jewish nation state in the then Ottoman territory of Palestine. Well when you include outsiders their goals become your goals. Indeed the current Tory manifesto expands the idea of one nation conservatism to a one world one. Are you sure about that one guys?

Well my drink is empty and this stamp allows for three additional toasts. To Victoria, to Albert, and Mr. Disraeli. Come again soon for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2022.

When one thinks of education in Britain, one thinks of the 10 or so ancient public schools that train the aristocracy. This is instead about spreading the opportunity to the masses. More teachers certified to a low standard, less religion, more state control and resources. Something for every lowly brick in Pink Floyd’s wall. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

How strange this stamp is. Showing fireworks and a graduation cap. The first in a lower background family to graduate perhaps. Brought to you by your government who has decreed what you will be taught, how your progress is evaluated, who teaches you, and requires your attendance. This can be for the good but it was a big change in the 19th century. Perhaps we should hold off on the fireworks.

Todays stamp is issue A1252, 1 19 penny stamp issued by Great Britain on April 11th 1989. The stamp honours the 150th anniversary of public education that the stamp times to the Whig educational reform of 1839. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents used.

Education was around in England long before 1839. The public schools were selective, expensive, single sex, and mainly boarding. They were known for loneliness, bullying, and rampant homosexuality. They were also known for a classical education that was beyond any where else in the world taught by teachers that were experts in their fields. The contacts made by the students helped them to network their way to success in later life as part of a community of their classmates, in both senses of the world.

In the 19th century came the industrial revolution. Fewer people were needed on farms but had to be prepared for life as a factory worker. A basic knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic was helpful. Also though the ability to stay indoors all day and take instruction from strangers put in a position above. Most importantly perhaps was to get them in the habit of showing up when the reward of wages may be days or even weeks away.

This need was not adequately filled by the education system of the time that was mainly through the church. Liberal politicians had gotten a big increase in government education spending to provide workers for the new economy. It was also important to them that liberals be in charge of the system so that they could control what was taught and by whom.

To the liberals disappointment this is not how it was going. The educational grants given by government required local matching funds. Although non religious schools were free to apply, The Anglican church took the vast bulk of the government money as they were able to raise the matching funds through their school’s local parish.

This was not what the liberals had in mind and a change in the system was put through. As of the 1839 Whig reform bill. The three pillars of the reform were onsite school inspections, the end of local matching funds, and certification of teachers. One can see how this is really a takeover of the system. The reform had a great deal of success. The illiteracy rate in Britain dropped from about 40 percent in 1850 to about 5 percent in 1900. That perhaps calls for some fireworks. Literacy over time was measured then by the percentage of adults that were capable of signing their marriage certificates with more than an x. Curiously the system might have thought to be a bigger help to females, but they had a persistent advantage in literacy in Britain back to 1500.

Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast this years graduates. I have great confidence that you will be able to proudly sign you marriage certificates, if you ever bother to marry. Come again tomorrow, public schools having taught you the mistake of skipping, for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2018.