Description: This philatelic block features a se-tenant grid of ten 1st class stamps adorned with intricately rendered floral paintings. Spanning two rows, the upper section displays a deep blue Gentian, a creamy Magnolia, a striking striped Camellia, an orange-striped Flame Tulip, and a rich magenta Fuchsia. The bottom row mirrors this intensity with a fiery red Lily, a radiant orange Gazania, a detailed blue and white Iris, a delicate pink Lily variety, and a complex Passion Flower. A signature gold silhouette profile of Queen Elizabeth II frames the denomination on the right edge of every individual stamp. Each specimen is divided by clean perforations, preserving the vibrant, contiguous nature of the colorful botanical gallery.
Circa: 1997
Condition: MNH Intact strip
Notes:
The artwork chosen for this highly collectible block was curated from authentic 19th-century botanical prints, highlighting historical masterpieces by legendary horticultural artists such as Pierre-Joseph Redouté and Georg Dionysius Ehret. Cataloged under Stanley Gibbons references SG1955–1964, this release was part of Royal Mail’s incredibly popular annual "Greetings" stamp program. Collectors pay a premium for full, unsevered blocks of ten that retain original unmounted mint condition. Intact blocks are relatively uncommon today because millions of these stamps were split apart to be sold in retail booklets or used directly on seasonal greeting cards throughout the late 1990s.