In November, our own member Tamsin Dungey (pictured above) gave a display on Queen Elizabeth II Wildings presented in their chronological order using plate blocks, blocks and sheets. The Wildings were a series of definitive postage stamps featuring the Dorothy Wilding photographic portrait of QEII that were in use between 1952 and 1971. The Wildings were the first and only British stamps to feature graphite lines on the back, and the first to feature phosphor bands on the face - both aids to automation. The stamps were also the first British pictorial high value stamps and the first to include regional emblems.
The QEII Wildings can be a confusing and complicated set of issues but Tamsin gave a fascinating display, which she managed to put over in a simple and orderly way. She explained the changes of watermarks in the paper on the different issues, especially the experimental 't' watermark.
Tamsin explained why paper was chalk coated and how it produces finer prints, and went on to explain some of the problems associated with printing and how this can help the modern collector identify issues of stamps. She continued her theme of technology in sorting a series of stamps and the importance of knowing why they had varieties.
Tamsin gave a wonderful and informative display/talk which everybody found intriguing. She remarked 'the idea of the display was designed to help every one with their collecting.'