A commemorative stamp is one which is issued to commemorate a special event of some kind. Sounds quite straightforward. So it shouldn't be too difficult to decide which was the world's first commemorative stamp? It's not that easy, is it ever!
Some will argue that the United States 15 cent black of 1866, depicting Abraham Lincoln, the first stamp issued after his assassination, was the first commemorative. But there was never any announcement or indication that the stamp was anything other than a regular stamp. Others will suggest that the 'Jubilee' set, issued in Great Britain in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, should qualify, but once again, these were issued as regular stamps. It was just a case of fortuitous timing....
The first undoubted commemorative stamp was, in fact, issued in 1888 by the Australian State of New South Wales, to mark its Centenary. The stamp is inscribed 'One Hundred Years' so there is no argument about its being for a special event!
And, as they say, that was the start of something big. Since then, stamps have been used to mark just about any and every kind of event. (And the designs have improved!!)
Although the GB 'Jubilee' stamps weren't really, HM didn't miss out entirely, with Canada issuing a series of high values for the Diamond Jubilee in 1897
And Canada has another first, too. Although Christmas stamps only seem to have been with us for a few years, the first one was issued way back in 1898, though the purpose seems to have been to prove just how much red ink was needed to print a map of the world! And unlike Royal Mail who seem to believe, if they believe anything, that Christmas is simply a commercial opportunity, Australia continues to reflect its original meaning, commissioning original art for their Christmas stamps.
In Foreign Parts, commemorative stamps were beginning to take hold, too. The United States produced a set of 16 values from 1c to $5 to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus's getting lost while looking for the East Indies. How many post offices these days would spend the time and effort on producing such an extensive collection of intaglio stamps, every one hand-engraved?
But it wasn't just anniversaries which were commemorated. Current events made the philatelic front line too, especially the new science of aviation, which gripped the public imagination through film and press in a way not seen before.
For a while, it seemed as though airships were the ocean liners of the future, with a number of headline hitting world voyages, but the destruction of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937 effectively ended the dream, and heavier than air machines took over. Though perhaps, just perhaps, whoever it was issued this stamp for Mars was being a little bit premature! (At least it would seem that English is the Official Language!)
Political events also have their part to play in the story of commemoratives. In 1965 the colony of Southern Rhodesia made a unilateral declaration of independence, and issued stamps to commemorate the event.
Because the international community did not recognise Rhodesian Independence, these stamps weren't recognised either. It was only after the creation of Zimbabwe that they even appeared in the stamp catalogues!
But it is probably people who provide the most popular subjects for commemoration. Elvis has appeared on stamps from all around the world, including some from places he had probably never even heard of, such as Tadjikistan and Western Sahara!
Now we have arrived at Philatelic Marketing, and the linking of stamp issues with other products - and this particular product brings a whole new meaning to the term 'mug shot!' The Elvis stamp from the United States - on the mug - holds the record (ho ho ho) for the greatest sale of any commemorative stamp: 517 milliion. So, if you have the odd sheet or two, good for you, but don't give up the day job....
Closer to home, the death of Diana Princess of Wales resulted in an enormous range of items, not just stamps and miniature sheets, first day covers, booklets, presentation packs, but figurines, tea towels, biscuit tins, dolls, plates, some from countries not immediately associated with Diana's life or work, such as North Korea, and Estonia, and just about anything and everything else you can imagine.
Why not visit our version of Page 3, the Pictorials?