The Kids Page
Learn more about the British royal family and about the hobby of stamp collecting by checking out the following list of selected books, Web sites and fun activities.
Books
Graham, Tim (photographer) and Patricia Burgess. Queen Elizabeth II: A Celebration of Her Majesty's Fifty-Year Reign. [comprehensive photographic biography]
Barton-Wood, Sara. Queen Elizabeth II: Monarch of Our Times. [biography appropriate for grades 3-6]
Ross, Stewart. The Little Queen: The Amazing Story of Queen Victoria. [picture book for preschoolers]
Green, Robert. Queen Victoria. [biography appropriate for grades 3-6]
Jonath, Leslie. Stamp It: The Ultimate Stamp Collecting Activity Book. [a fun book for beginning stamp collectors]
Web Sites
The British government Web site devoted to the royal family and their stamp collection. See http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page218.asp for the "Kids Zone" of the Web site.
The Royal Mail Service of Great Britain Web site - see "Stamps & Collecting" at www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/ for updated information about British postal issues. The Web site devotes a section entirely to young collectors and kids. Look for the fun, interactive games.
The American Philatelic Society Web site with information for all levels of stamp collectors.
The British Royal Mint
The British North America Philatelic Society Stamp Collecting for Kids Web site
The Bath Postal Museum
The British Library Philatelic Collection
The Royal Philatelic Society, United Kingdom
Activites
Writing to Royalty
If after exploring the National Postal Museum's website or visiting The Queen's Own exhibition, you want to write to Queen Elizabeth II with your impressions of the royal stamp collection, send your letter to the following address:
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
United Kingdom
Remember that you could also include a drawing of an object from the royal collection that you thought was most interesting.
To view a sample letter to the Queen, click here.
Design a Mulready
The Mulready envelope, named for the artist William Mulready, who designed it, is an example of early postal stationery - similar to the modern aerogramme - where the stamp or "indicia" is printed on a large, die cut sheet of paper that becomes both the letter and the envelope when folded and sealed. You can see examples of Mulreadys on this website, by clicking here.
Create your own Mulready envelope and send it in the mail to a friend! Begin by folding a sheet of paper in thirds; then draw a design in the outside, center section. Remember to leave space for the name and address of your friend. Open up the folded paper and write the letter inside. When that is finished, remember to seal the paper with a sticker or a piece of tape. Now write the address on the outside, add a stamp and put it in the mail! Don't forget to include your name and return address in the upper left corner of the face of the envelope or on the back.
Draw Your Own Stamp
England's royal family has been portrayed on many postage stamps. You can see many different examples on this website. Click here to see Kristen Ollies's collection of stamps that portray the current Queen, Elizabeth II.
Draw your version of one of these stamps. Or create a stamp of your own design that portrays a member of your family. Click here to download and print a border for your stamp design.
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Related:
Kristen Ollies Collection
Bibliography
Stamp Collecting
For Educators
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