The stamp. Sized 21 mm x 24 mm. A tiny, insignificant element we use every time we have to post a letter. But the stamp is a symbol of British life. With the Queen proudly situated on top, what is it about a stamp that has an intriguing nature. Something that offers a window into British life. It is one of the main things that has never changed. As life has progressed extremely through the use of technology the stamp stands still. It has been a consistent element in our lives that has never gone a miss.
If ever life were to fail completely at least we know the reliable stamp is the main consistent element in our everyday lives.
For many the postal service is an annoyance. The stamp is nothing more that something you put on a letter. And yes, it is. However, taking a look at Instagram there are accounts dedicated to the love of the stamp. Or others which document the lives of a post box, travelling around the UK to photograph as many as possible. It may seem sad to you but for others this is the joy they have in their lives. To them, seeing you booze up in a Wetherspoons on a Friday night isn’t fun.
Yes, unlike you who grew out of your love for the loyal stamp there is someone out there doing exactly what they did when they were 12. Except this time, they are putting them on Instagram. It seems unusual to go around to places simply to get a stamp, trailing through Ebay to find the exact stamp you’re after. Well. No harm in the simple stamp.
Having been invented in 1837 in England by a Sir Rowland Hill we now see the stamp being transformed into an art piece. Ruben James is a UK artist, using stamps sourced from around the world to create celebratory maps. Exuberant colours, stamps from Sydney to Russia to your local post office, a way to connect all parts of the world with something so small. There is a simplicity to James’ artwork, a white canvas with the intricate details from the tiny rectangle bring to life a world story. They aren’t particularly detailed pieces of work, it is stamps, a canvas and cutting out said stamps. But because of this it draws you in, in a sense. You don’t need something particularly extravagant to make it interesting or detailed. The work is on the stamp and James simply sources a new life for the stamp, whilst not touching the artwork at all.
The stamp itself is so intricate, just looking at the tiny details of stamps from around the world. There is a sense that you can connect culture to the stamp, different things that symbolise the location placed onto the stamp. Whether that’s a member of the royal family, lemons, a building or a celebrity. The stamp certainly has a way of bringing people together.
Now, don’t go thinking I’ll be collecting stamps any time soon. But just know, when you’re down the boozer (out of lockdown) someone somewhere is sitting with their loyal stamp. Or, they are travelling round different parts of the UK, shooting as many Post Offices or Post Boxes as possible. Just so their followers know that another red post box exists.
Really, I don’t know what this article was about, but the loyal stamp certainly is loyal. So, the next time you look down at that tiny rectangle have a bit of appreciation for this article.
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