To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the BBC and the 75th anniversary of the first “wireless” factory by Guglielmo Marconi in Chelmsford, Essex, the Royal Mail issued a commemorative set of stamps which went on sale on Wednesday 13th September 1972.
BBC 50th Birthday 3p stamp ~ The stamp displays six different types of microphone used by the BBC from their early days in 1922 up to 1972. Stamp designed by David Gentleman ARCA FSIA.BBC 50th Birthday 5p stamp ~ The stamp displays an early 1920’s domestic swan neck loudspeaker. Stamp designed by David Gentleman ARCA FSIA.BBC 50th Birthday 7½p stamp ~ The stamp displays a colour television camera used by the BBC at Lime Grove to show the then modern technology the BBC had at their disposal in 1972. Stamp designed by David Gentleman ARCA FSIA.75th Anniversary 9p stamp ~ Although this commemorates the experiments done by Marconi, the first experiment was built at the new Chelmsford factory in this year and was tested 2 years later. Stamp designed by David Gentleman ARCA FSIA.