On September 13, 1965, the Royal Mail issued 8 stamps commemorating the 25th Anniversary go the “Battle of Britain” in WWII. Six of these stamps were provided as se-tenant. Two of them caused quite a stir even into the House of Parliament. Also Jewish organizations did protest those two stamps.

The reason was that on these stamps two Nazi/Wehrmacht insignia were shown, namely a Balkenkreuz (beam cross) and a Swastika on parts of airplanes. The stamps were eventually issued unaltered and did also sell readily, even if the Royal Mail, due to boycott threats, did supply the postal offices with sufficient amounts of alternative stamps.

In parallel the stamps, alongside other contemporary stamps, were subject to discussion as to whether the head of the Queen being part of each UK stamp should be abandoned. This did not occur and thus the stamps do have a representation of the Queen’s head.

Se-tenant with disputed stamps (right)

Two additional stamps (not affected)