6 May 2023 - Succession and Coronation of King Charles III - 1 miniature sheet containing 4 different stamps. Details awaited. This is a fascinating issue where the new king makes a fleeting appearance on one stamp but only in silhouette with the crown hovering over his head and in small cameos on the other three.
The issue is full of symbolism - not of majesty but of the presently fashionable themes of ‘diversity and community’, ‘sustainability and biodiversity’ and of ‘The Commonwealth’ which this Blog should indeed celebrate but one wonders about the subtlety of the messaging here - after all, King Charles is the Head of the international Commonwealth of Nations but we also recall that one of his ancestors, Charles I, was overthrown and ultimately executed by a collection of revolutionaries which, after his death called itself, ‘The Commonwealth’.
The stamps feature themes loved by the King - instead of being called Defender of The Faith (a title related to his role as Head of the Church of England) he suggested he might be titled, Defender of Faiths and the 1st stamp depicts not only people of various races but also religious buildings of various religions and faiths. One almost feels that he himself suggested the subjects to be featured on the stamps.
These stamps are stamps for our age and perhaps in approving the designs the King is showing that he is a king for this time and that he is in tune with the themes, if not the obsessions, of the first part of the twenty first century.
Rating:- *****.
New issue programmes 2023 -
🇧🇲 Bermuda Post Office -
16 March 2023 - Succession and coronation of King Charles III (see Blog 2254) - 1 stamp.
June 2023 - ‘Reflections’
September 2023 - ‘Backyard birds’
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