Mr. KINGasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether the new issue of penny and halfpenny stamps was submitted to any artists of repute before the design was approved; if so, who were the artists who approved this design; and whether he will consult the same or other artists in any further issues of new stamps; and (2) whether he has seen and considered the postage stamps now in use in France and Bavaria, which are in design and quality admitted to be superior to those of most other countries, especially to those now being issued in this country; and whether he will, so soon as may be, substitute for the present issue 1125 of penny and halfpenny stamps an issue at once more artistic and worthy of the nation?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Several artists of repute, selected after consultation with high authorities, were asked to submit, in competition, designs for the new issue of postage stamps. None of the designs sent in were, however, considered suitable for the Id. and ½d. stamps. Mr. Bertram Mackennal was then commissioned to produce designs for the frames of the stamps, which, after certain modifications to render them suitable for engraving, were considered satisfactory and were adopted. Dies and plates were produced by the Royal Mint, and were passed by the technical officers of the Board of Inland Revenue. The prints from the plates fell short of the standard anticipated from the proofs of the dies submitted by the Royal Mint. Allowance must be made, as I have suggested in answer to a previous question, for a firm newly taking up work of this kind, especially as they were working at high pressure in order to produce the stamps by Coronation Day. I am in communication with the Board of Inland Revenue, who are by Statute the authority controlling the printing and supply of stamps. Some improvement has already been made in the printing, and I believe that it will be found possible to arrive at a considerable further improvement in the appearance of stamps of the designs already issued, and to avoid similar defects in those yet to be issued, so that the saving of £40,000 a year which has been effected in the cost of printing the stamps shall not be gained at the expense of inferiority in their appearance. I would add that the process of surface printing employed in the production of these stamps is the same as that used in all the great countries of Europe for all postage stamps except in some cases for stamps of high denominations. The alternative process of recess printing, while allowing a better appearance, is not only five or six times as costly, but lends itself to the fraudulent use of cancelled stamps, and was abandoned many years ago in this country for that reason. I do not think any useful analogy can be drawn between the printing of the postage stamps of Bavaria and of those of this country, as the output of Bavarian stamps is, I am informed, comparatively small. Nor can a comparison he usefully made with the French stamps, as they contain no portrait, and I feel sure that the country would strongly dis- 1126 approve any proposal to omit from our postage stamps the effigy of the Sovereign.
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEIs it intended to go on manufacturing stamps at Somerset House in addition to the manufacture by the contractors?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI understand that Somerset House will manufacture sixpenny stamps, which are largely used for revenue purposes.
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEIs it not a fact that Somerset House have already manufactured penny stamps to the face value of £11,000, and that these have to be withdrawn?
§ Lord BALCARRESDid the right hon. Gentleman say that the designs of the penny and halfpenny stamps were now being revised?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNo.