[et_pb_section fb_built=\u00a0\u00bb1″ admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbsection\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=\u00a0\u00bbrow\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb3.25″ background_size=\u00a0\u00bbinitial\u00a0\u00bb background_position=\u00a0\u00bbtop_left\u00a0\u00bb background_repeat=\u00a0\u00bbrepeat\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb-44px|auto||auto||\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb3.25″ custom_padding=\u00a0\u00bb|||\u00a0\u00bb custom_padding__hover=\u00a0\u00bb|||\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s good enough for Queen Elizabeth II then it must be good enough for the rest of us, right? The question alludes to the news that the current Queen of the United Kingdom and indeed 15 other Commonwealth realms, received a Covid-19 vaccination at Windsor Castle this month, according to a Buckingham Palace press announcement. This type of news undoubtedly intends to promote the efficacious nature of the vaccine, and to lift flagging spirits, amongst other things. It\u2019s certainly an important milestone in more ways than one, and should give encouragement to multitudes of her subjects, and maybe to others around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb column_structure=\u00a0\u00bb1_3,2_3″][et_pb_column _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3″][et_pb_image src=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.davidfeldman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PT_OnePenny_SE_2021.png\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb alt=\u00a0\u00bbone penny\u00a0\u00bb title_text=\u00a0\u00bbPT_OnePenny_SE_2021″ hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb type=\u00a0\u00bb2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Interestingly, Queen Elizabeth II has reached the ripe age of 94, and has reigned as monarch for a whopping 69 years next month. That\u2019s impressive, and testimony to her continuing good health. Our featured stamp, which has the distinctive profile of another female monarch who reigned for over 60 years, Queen Victoria, on an iconic 1840 1d Black plate 3 (SE)<\/a> Imprimatur, boasts its \u2018Provenance<\/em>\u2019 as coming from the collection of, no other than, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II herself. Not often you write that when describing an item available for purchase via Private Treaty<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb column_structure=\u00a0\u00bb3_5,2_5″][et_pb_column _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb type=\u00a0\u00bb3_5″][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n In comparing Queen Victoria’s reign with that of Queen Elizabeth II, it\u2019s fascinating to see that during 1889-1892, there was a flu pandemic which killed an estimated 1 million people worldwide, and some scientist now think that actually it wasn\u2019t flu but the human coronavirus OC43, which is similar to Covid-19.\u00a0 During the recurrence phase of that pandemic, in 1891-92, Prince Albert Victor, who was the first son of Prince Edward VII and thus a future King at that time, died of what is said to have been \u2018pneumonia\u2019 <\/em>on 14 January 1892, at Sandringham in Norfolk, less than a week after his 28th birthday. An otherwise fit, and apparently youthful Prince tragically taken before he could become King. His younger brother Prince George ultimately took the throne, and the rest is history, as they say. But, if the scientists who have more recently reported that this flu was really a coronavirus, and Prince Albert died as a consequence of contracting it, then that\u2019s a pretty staggering set of events, and further reinforces the importance of HM Queen Elizabeth II having the vaccine.\u00a0 Obviously, apart from the lack of awareness of what they were dealing with during Queen Victoria’s reign, they did not have the benefit of such scientific advancements in medicine like we do today. A further comfort for us in these challenging times.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb type=\u00a0\u00bb2_5″][et_pb_image src=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.davidfeldman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PT_2021_prince.png\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb title_text=\u00a0\u00bbPT_2021_prince\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb30px||||false|false\u00a0\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb column_structure=\u00a0\u00bb1_3,2_3″ hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″][et_pb_column _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3″][et_pb_image src=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.davidfeldman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PT_Article_QueenElisabethII.png\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb title_text=\u00a0\u00bbPT_Article_QueenElisabethII\u00a0\u00bb custom_margin=\u00a0\u00bb4px|||17px|false|false\u00a0\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb type=\u00a0\u00bb2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n The other thought-provoking aspect of all this history is that Queen Elizabeth II would never have been anywhere near the throne, notwithstanding King Edward VIII\u2019s abdication who again wouldn\u2019t have been in line, had Prince Albert not died in 1892. Does make you wonder what the Royal landscape would have looked like if he had taken the throne in 1910, on the death of his father King Edward VII. From a philatelic perspective it would have certainly reshaped many of the GB stamps we all admire these days. No King George Downey heads, KGV Seahorses, or QEII Machins to study. Not to mention that it was King George who was always a philatelist, right from a young age, and Prince Albert was never documented as being remotely interested in stamps. The Royal Philatelic collection, which King George V, together with the assistance of Sir Edward Denny Bacon, nurtured and matured substantially.\u00a0 And Queen Elizabeth II has added to that work and as we see very occasionally releasing a stamp, where the collection has a duplicate. And that gives the opportunity not only to acquire a rare piece of Queen Victoria philatelic history, but also an ever rarer opportunity to own a stamp which links both these long-serving female monarchs. Queen Victoria\u2019s stamp, but Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s philatelic collection. If it\u2019s good enough for the latter, then surely it is good enough for the rest of us.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb type=\u00a0\u00bb4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.6.1″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″ sticky_enabled=\u00a0\u00bb0″]<\/p>\n