Norvic Philatelics - GB New Stamps and Special Postmarks

A British Journey - Wales - 15 June 2004

Europa 2004 - Holidays

The third leg of 'A British Journey' takes us to the Principality of Wales. The first set was The Beauty of Scotland issue in 2003, and a set featuring the landscape of Northern Ireland was issued earlier this year. Royal Mail has used this set featuring the scenery of Wales as its contribution to the 2004 PostEurop (Europa) series, which has the theme of Tourism or Holidays, and brough in a historical element to celebrate the 600th anniversary of Wales's first independent parliament and its founder, the charismatic warrior leader Owain Glyndwr. Glyndwr, who united Wales at the turn of the fifteenth century, established the parliament of Machynlleth in 1404, where he was also crowned Prince of Wales. Two places with direct links to Glyndwr are included in this set: Hyddgen Valley, Plynlimon on the 1st Class stamp and Rhewl, Dee Valley on the 47p stamp.

The stamps in the set show:
2nd class - Barmouth, one of the most picturesque resorts on the Welsh coast, surrounded by the splendour of the Snowdonia National Park. The Grade II listed bridge which spans the estuary is shown being crossed by one of the passenger trains which travels between Pwllheli in the north and Machynlleth to the south.
1st class - The wild and desolate river valley of Hyddgen in the Cambrian Mountains. In the summer of 1401, Owain Glyndwr's 120 strong troop of volunteers mounted on Welsh mountain ponies, met and defeated a professional English and Flemish army reputedly of over 1,500 men. [Europa]
40p - The Brecon Beacons, the highest mountains in south Wales, are one of many spectacular features of the Brecon Beacons National Park, which covers an area of 520 square miles from Hay on Wye in the east to Llandeilo in the west.
43p - Pen-pych is one of the few flat-topped mountains in Europe. The three-sided mountain overlooks the village of Blaenrhonnda, which remains significant as the largest undefended Iron Age settlement in south east Wales.
47p - The small village of Rhew in the Dee valley is a short distance away from the four main towns of the Dee Valley: Llangollen, Corwen, Bala and Chirk, but is also close to Glyn Dyfrdwy where Owain Glyndwr grew up and from where he took his name.
68p - Marloes Sands is regarded as one of Pembrokeshire's most impressive beaches. The 410 million -year-old multi-coloured cliffs fringe the beach, and their strange Silurian rock formations have seen the area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

2nd class stamp Barmouth bridge 1st class stamp Hyddgen 40p stamp The Brecon Beacons
2nd class - Barmouth Bridge
Pont Abermaw
1st class - Hyddgen, Plynlimon
Hyddgen, Pumlummon
40p - Brecon Beacons
Bannau Brycheiniog
43p stamp Pen-pych 47p stamp Rhew in the Dee valley 68p stamp Marloes Sands
43p Pen-pych, Rhondda Valley
Pen-Pych, Cwm Rhondda
47p Rhewl, Dee Valley
Rhewl, Glyn Dyfrdwy

Birthplace of Owain Glyndwr
68p Marloes Sands
Traeth Marloes

Self-adhesive book

The self-adhesive book contains 2 x Hyddgen 1st class stamps and 4 x 1st class gold Machin definitives, and is - for the present - the last self-adhesive booklet containing non-definitive stamps.

Technical details: .
The stamps are printed in gravure by De La Rue, perf 14.5, with PVA gum.
All images except FDCs are taken from Royal Mail's Philatelic Bulletin and Postmark Bulletin, and are Copyright 2004 by Royal Mail.


Norvic Exclusive First Day Cover

As with previous British Journey sets we produced an exclusive FDC for this issue showing a map with a route linking the locations on the stamps and this has been used for the set of 6, and the self adhesive booklet:
Norvic FDC for Wales: British Journey stamps

For all other enquiries please email us.


The special postmarks which were available for the Day of Issue are shown here:

daffodill leek harp Celtic symbol dragon Celtic symbol
Ref W9157
Snowdonia, Barmouth, Gwynedd
Ref W9155
Machynlleth, Powys
Ref W9156
Brecon, Powys
Ref W9159
Blaenrhonnda, Glamorgan
Ref W9158
Llangollen, Clwyd
Ref W9160
Marloes, Pembrokeshire
flag & mountain map & daffodill harp daffodills text & flower Welsh dragon
Ref W9163
Brecon, Powys, Wales
Ref W9165
Portmeirion, Penrhyndeudraeth
Ref W9169
The Welsh Harp - Taffs Well Inn Public House/Inn
Ref W9167
Tenby, Dyfed
Ref W9166
Yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol / The National Trust, Apel Eryri / Snowdonia Appeal, Llanberis, Gwynedd
Ref W9168
Self Adhesives, Merthyr Tydfil
map of wales text - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch text - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch dragon coat of arms daffodills
Ref FD419
Bureau Official Postmark
Ref FD420
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-
gogerychwyrndrobwll-
llantysiliogogogoch
Ref FD420x
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-
gogerychwyrndrobwll-
llantysiliogogogoch
Ref L9128
Wales - A British Journey, Prince of Wales Road, London NW5
Ref W9171
Machynlleth, Powys
Ref W9170
Cymru - Wales, Caerdydd - Cardiff
sword <<<<
Ref L9151
Owens Way, London SE23
daffodill <<<<
Ref M9153
Prince of Wales Lane, Birmingham
warship <<<<
Ref W9164
Welsh 'Capital' ship, HMS Cardiff, Atlantic Patrol Ship South

This page updated 14 June 2004 [5.2.2005]

Any questions? please e-mail us.

2003
2004 stamp issues
2005
13 January Classic Steam Locomotives 30 January Hong Kong Stamp Expo 2004 Smilers Sheet 3 February Occasions/Greetings stamps and Smilers sheet 26 February Lord of the Rings 16 March Letters by Night Prestige Book (TPOs)
A British Journey - Northern Ireland
1 April New definitives, including airmail postcard book of stamps 6 April Centenary of the Entente Cordiale 13 April Ocean Liners 11 May 40p Country definitives 25 May Royal Horticultural Society
15 June British Journey - Wales 29 July Rule Britannia Smilers Sheet 10 August Royal Society of Arts 16 September Woodland Animals 5 October Scottish Parliament Building
12 October Crimean War 2 November Father Christmas
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