The 1971 United Kingdom postal workers strike was a strike in the United Kingdom staged by postal workers between 20 January and 3 March 1971. When the British postal service went on strike, the Malawi Government made a special arrangement for the transmission of mail to the United Kingdom.
On 8 February 1971, they placed on sale the 3/- 1968 definitive stamp overprinted 30t Special United Kingdom Delivery Service. Air letters intended for the United Kingdom had to bear normal postage stamps in addition to the overprinted stamp. Attached to cover was also a red S.A.D.S. (Special Airmail Delivery Service) label to assist in the identification of mail using the private service.
Mail was despatched from Malawi twice a week. On arrival in England, the mail was taken to the Malawi Buying and Trade Agents in Victoria Street, London, who then employed one of the London private postal services to deliver the mail.
The strike ended on 4 March 1971 with postal services resuming on the 8 March and the private delivery service was withdrawn. Approximately 500 commercial used the service.
The use of the overprinted stamp ended on 15 February 1971 when the decimal definitive stamps were issued. Less than 50,000 of the stamps were sold. A supply was sent to the Crown Agents but was exhausted by 6th March.
Details
- Date of Issue: 8 February 1971
- Date Withdrawn:
- Date Invalidated:
- Subject: Paradise Flycatcher
- Designer: Victor Whiteley
- Printer: Harrison & Sons Ltd, London
- Process: Photogravure
- Paper:
- Watermark: Cockerels (sideways)
- Perf: 14.5 (comb)
- Cylinders: 1A (Yellow), 1A (Red), 1A (Cyan), 1A (Blackish-Grey)
- Sheet: R5 x 12 (60 stamps)
- Quantity:
- 42,000 (sold)
- 93,360 (printed)
Stanley Gibbons 1973 catalogue places the amount sold at 42,000. A sheet number of 1556 exists, suggesting 93,360 were printed.
Sheet Numbers
