Following the donation of a Falkland Islands 1928 2½d Provisional in September, Stanley Gibbons is to complete the National Collection for the Falkland Islands Museum with a further donation of a Falkland Islands 1933 £1 Centenary.

The Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group (FIPSG) has, for some months, been trying to compile a basic mint collection of stamps to form the Falkland Islands National Stamp Collection to be housed in the Falklands Museum, after it was found that the collection bought previously was incomplete; Stanley Gibbons is pleased to announce that they will be donating the last stamp missing from the collection; a 1933 £1 Centenary.

An example of the 1933 £1 Centenary being donated to the collection

“The 1933 £1 Centenary (the top value of a wonderful pictorial set of 12) is simply one of the most handsome and recognisable stamps of the British Empire” said Stanley Gibbons Director of Philately, Dr Philip Kinns.

“The central design is the finest portrait of King George V, himself a stamp collector, ever to appear on a postage stamp, and the colour of the frame and superb quality of production enhance the noble effect.”

Every collector, whether of Falkland Islands or British Commonwealth, aspires to own one, but its desirability is such that it will always be beyond the reach of most, the current catalogue prices being £2000 unused and £2750 used; as such it is the most valuable ‘basic’ stamp of the Falkland Islands (when varieties, shades and errors are excluded).

Only 2711 were sold, which is a small number for such a popular and covetable stamp.

After being approached by a customer and member of the FIPSG regarding a 1928 2 ½ d Provisional for sale on their website, Stanley Gibbons presented that stamp to project co-ordinator, Stefan Heijtz and the Chairman of FIPSG, Hugh Osborne, at Autumn Stampex in London in September, leaving only two stamps missing from the collection.

Hugh Osborne of the FIPSG receiving the stamp from Pauline MacBroom of Stanley Gibbons

Stefan managed to track down a 1929 £1 ‘Whale and Penguins’ following the event, leaving just one elusive stamp missing from the collection.

Stanley Gibbons is now pleased to announce that they have obtained a suitable example of the final missing stamp, the £1 Centenary, and will be donating it to the collection.

The complete collection will be presented to Falkland Islands Government Representative, Sukey Cameron, at a special ceremony being held at Falkland House, London, on 4th November before being flown to its permanent home in the Falkland Islands Museum in Stanley later in November.