The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain,[m] is a country in north-western Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.[n] The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and most of the smaller islands within the British Isles, covering 94,354 square miles (244,376 km2).[f] Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland; otherwise, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea. It maintains sovereignty over the British Overseas Territories, which are located across various oceans and seas globally. The UK had an estimated population of over 68.2 million people in 2023. The capital and largest city of both England and the UK is London. The cities of Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are the national capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.
The UK has been inhabited continuously since the Neolithic. In AD 43 the Roman conquest of Britain began; the Roman departure was followed by Anglo-Saxon settlement. In 1066 the Normans conquered England. With the end of the Wars of the Roses the Kingdom of England stabilised and began to grow in power, resulting by the 16th century in the annexation of Wales and the establishment of the British Empire. Over the course of the 17th century the role of the British monarchy was reduced, particularly as a result of the English Civil War. In 1707 the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland united under the Treaty of Union to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the Georgian era the office of prime minister became established. The Acts of Union 1800 incorporated the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. Most of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922 as the Irish Free State, and the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 created the present United Kingdom.
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
1963.01
16.05.1963
National nature week
2v set
4½d
197
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
and
188
Woodlark Lullula arborea
and
102
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
1966.01
08.08.1966
British birds
4d
226
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
4d
52
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
4d
184
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
4d
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1966.02
08.08.1966
British birds
pho
1966.01
4d
226
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
4d
52
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
4d
184
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
4d
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1977.01
23.11.1977
Christmas
6v set
7p
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
7p
226
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
7p
27
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
9p
13
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
1980.01
16.01.1980
Wild bird protection
10p
90
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
11½p
228
White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus
13p
30
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
15p
238
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
1982.01
10.02.1982
Charles Darwin
4v set
26p
256
Common Cactus Finch Geospiza scandens
and
256
Large Ground Finch Geospiza magnirostris
1983.01
16.11.1983
Christmas
5v set
12½p
168
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
20½p
226
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
28p
226
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
31p
219
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
and
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
and
240
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
and
238
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
and
214
Common Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla
and
184
Great Tit Parus major
1985.01
14.05.1985
European music year
4v set
31p
24
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
1986.01
20.05.1986
Nature conservation
4v set
17p
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
1988.01
19.01.1988
The Linnean Society
4v set
31p
8
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
1989.01
17.01.1989
RSPB
19p
54
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica
27p
42
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
32p
40
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
35p
66
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
1991.01
05.02.1991
Greetings stamps
10v booklet
1st
8
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
1st
168
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
1st
90
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
1st
226
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
1992.01
14.01.1992
The four seasons
5v set
33p
226
Redwing Turdus iliacus
1993.01
19.01.1993
Abbotsbury swannery
18p
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
24p
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
28p
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
33p
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
39p
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
1995.01
30.10.1995
Christmas
19p
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
25p
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
30p
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
41p
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
60p
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1996.01
12.03.1996
The wildfowl and wetlands trust
19p
8
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata
25p
43
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
30p
8
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
35p
70
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris
41p
8
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
1997.01
12.08.1997
District post offices
4v set
20p
52
European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
1998.01
20.01.1998
Endangered species
6v set
31p
226
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
1999.01
03.08.1999
Millennium 1999, Darwin's theory
4v set
26p
256
Large Ground Finch Geospiza magnirostris
and
0
Archaeopteryx Archaeopteryx lithografica
2000.01
18.01.2000
Millennium 2000, above and beyond
4v set
19p
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
64p
66
Cape Gannet Morus capensis
2001.01
13.03.2001
Weather
4v set
45p
52
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
65p
240
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
2001.02
13.03.2001
Weather
4v sheet
2001.01
45p
52
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
65p
240
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
2003.01
14.01.2003
Birds of prey
Sheet
Click on thumbnail to launch image in popup 
1st
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
1st
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
1st
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
1st
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
1st
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
1st
104
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
1st
104
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
1st
104
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
1st
104
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
1st
104
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
2003.02
12.08.2003
Europa: Pub signs
5v set
E
8
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
2005.01
21.04.2005
World heritage
8v set
1st
232
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
47p
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
and
8
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
2005.02
04.10.2005
Greetings definitives
Booklet, sa
1995.01
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2006.01
21.09.2006
For special moments
4x5v sheet, sa
2005.02
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2007.01
04.09.2007
Endangered birds
1st
78
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
1st
187
Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus
1st
78
Red Kite Milvus milvus
1st
243
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus
1st
78
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
1st
42
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
1st
70
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris
1st
204
Dartford Warbler Curruca undata
1st
30
Corn Crake Crex crex
1st
104
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
2008.01
08.01.2008
Ian Fleming's James Bond
6v set
1st
69
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
and
68
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
78p
21
Red-billed Streamertail Trochilus polytmus
2008.02
08.01.2008
Ian Fleming's James Bond
6v sheet
2008.01
1st
69
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
and
68
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
78p
21
Red-billed Streamertail Trochilus polytmus
2008.03
08.01.2008
Ian Fleming's James Bond
Booklet
2008.01
1st
69
Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
and
68
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
78p
21
Red-billed Streamertail Trochilus polytmus
2009.01
12.02.2009
Charles Darwin
6v set, sa
50p
256
Large Ground Finch Geospiza magnirostris
and
256
Medium Ground Finch Geospiza fortis
and
256
Small Tree Finch Camarhynchus parvulus
and
256
Green Warbler-Finch Certhidea olivacea
2009.02
12.02.2009
Charles Darwin
4v sheet
1st
68
Flightless Cormorant Nannopterum harrisi
1st
256
Common Cactus Finch Geospiza scandens
81p
223
Floreana Mockingbird Mimus trifasciatus
2009.03
12.02.2009
Charles Darwin
Prestige booklet
2009.01-2
50p
256
Large Ground Finch Geospiza magnirostris
and
256
Medium Ground Finch Geospiza fortis
and
256
Small Tree Finch Camarhynchus parvulus
and
256
Green Warbler-Finch Certhidea olivacea
1st
68
Flightless Cormorant Nannopterum harrisi
1st
256
Common Cactus Finch Geospiza scandens
81p
223
Floreana Mockingbird Mimus trifasciatus
2011.01
22.03.2011
WWF
4v sheet
60p
107
Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
2011.02
22.03.2011
WWF
Booklet
2011.01
60p
107
Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
2014.01
04.11.2014
Christmas 2014
7v set, sa
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1st Large
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
= 1st
2014.02
04.11.2014
Christmas 2014
12x1st booklet, sa
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
= 2014.01
2014.03
04.11.2014
Christmas 2014
7v sheet
2014.01
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1st Large
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2016.01
28.07.2016
Beatrix Potter
4v sheet
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1.33£
232
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
2016.02
28.07.2016
Beatrix Potter
Pane from prestige booklet
2016.01
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1.33£
232
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
2016.03
16.08.2016
Landscape gardens
8v set
2nd
8
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
1.33£
8
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
2016.04
08.11.2016
Christmas 2016
8v set, sa
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1st Large
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2016.05
08.11.2016
Christmas 2016
8v sheet
2016.04
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
1st Large
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2016.06
08.11.2016
Christmas 2016
Booklet, sa
2016.04
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2016.07
08.11.2016
Christmas 2016
Generic sheet, sa
2016.04
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2016.08
08.11.2016
50 years of christmas stamps
10x2v sheet, sa
2016.04
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2017.01
04.05.2017
Songbirds
1st
184
Great Tit Parus major
1st
217
Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
1st
198
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
1st
214
Goldcrest Regulus regulus
1st
188
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
1st
204
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
1st
226
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
1st
227
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
1st
24
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
1st
243
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
2018.01
17.04.2018
Reintroduced species
6v set
1st
77
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
2018.02
11.05.2018
Owls
1st
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
adult
1st
80
Little Owl Athene noctua
adult
1st
80
Tawny Owl Strix aluco
adult
1st
80
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
adult
1st
80
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
adult
1st
79
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
juvenile
1st
80
Little Owl Athene noctua
juvenile
1st
80
Tawny Owl Strix aluco
juvenile
1st
80
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
juvenile
1st
80
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
juvenile
2018.03
16.08.2018
James Cook
6v set
2nd
57
Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
1.45£
256
Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina
2018.04
01.11.2018
Chriistmas 2018
8v set, sa
1.25£
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2018.05
01.11.2018
Chriistmas 2018
8v sheet
2018.04
1.25
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2018.06
01.11.2018
Chriistmas 2018 Generic sheet
20 stamps, sa
2018.04
1.25£
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2019.01
04.04.2019
Birds of prey
1st
78
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
1st
104
Merlin Falco columbarius
1st
104
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
1st
78
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
1st
78
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
1st
104
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
1st
78
Eurasian Goshawk Astur gentilis
1st
78
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
1st
78
Red Kite Milvus milvus
1st
104
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
2019.02
04.04.2019
Birds of prey
Booklet, sa
2019.01
1st
78
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
1st
104
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
2021.01
22.07.2021
Wild coasts
10v set
1st
66
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
2021.02
22.07.2021
Wild coasts
10v sheet, sa
2021.01
1st
66
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
2022.01
07.04.2022
Migratory birds
1st
14
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
1st
227
European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
1st
20
Common Swift Apus apus
1st
238
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
1st
53
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
1st
37
Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
1st
52
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
1st
190
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
1st
27
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
1st
78
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
2023.01
13.07.2023
River wildlife
10v set
2nd
90
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
1st
238
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
1st
228
White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus
2023.02
13.07.2023
River wildlife
10v sheet, sa
2023.01
2nd
90
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
1st
238
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
1st
228
White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus
2024.01
13.08.2024
Tower of London
6v set
2.50£
168
Northern Raven Corvus corax
2025.01
11.03.2025
Garden wildliife
10v set
2nd
226
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
2nd
184
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
2025.02
11.03.2025
Garden wildliife
10v sheet, sa
2025.01
2nd
184
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
2nd
226
Common Blackbird Turdus merula
1st
227
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
Philately has been considered as an "auxiliary science of history" because it is based on the general principles of other sciences, which in turn contribute to enrich it. It acquires knowledge of the sciences, of the arts, of languages and opens an immense road of social relations through all countries. This science broadens broad horizons of culture, discovers artistic temperaments and offers the interest of the new and the unknown, while performing a positive therapeutic wor.
