Paintings of King George V, Queen Victoria’s second-eldest grandson, who was also an avid stamp collector have gone on sale at the Island’s post offices.

George V came to the throne on 6 May 1910 following the death of his father, Edward VII.

Born on 3 June 1865, George started his career in the Royal Navy but found himself first in line to the throne after the untimely death of his elder brother Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale.

King George V’s reign was a turbulent time which saw the outbreak of the First World War.

As King he made hundreds of visits to troops and military hospitals, visiting wounded servicemen.

He was earnestly devoted to Britain and its Commonwealth and visited the Island on 12 July 1921.

Jersey Post’s Philatelic Marketing Manager Rachel MacKenzie said: “At the time, King George V was only the second reigning monarch to pay an official Royal visit to the Island and it was this visit which occasioned the design of the parish crests Jersey still uses today.”

He played an important role in building the Royal Philatelic Collection into the world’s most comprehensive collection of postage stamps of Great Britain and the Commonwealth and today his collection is housed in St James’ Palace in 328 red albums.

The portrait ‘His Majesty King George V (1865–1936)’, which features on Jersey Post’s 95p stamp and also on the Miniature Sheet, was painted by Jersey man John Saint-Helier Lander in 1934. It was commissioned by philanthropist Thomas Benjamin Davis for the Howard Davis Hall at Victoria College and was unveiled in 1936 by HRH Edward, Prince of Wales. It still hangs in the Great Hall today. 

The King George V stamps are now on sale at all branches of Jersey Post and you can buy Miniature Sheets, First Day Covers and Presentation Packs from the Jersey post offices at Broad Street and Rue Des Pres.

You can also order them here or by phoning the Jersey Philatelic Bureau on: 00 44 (0)1534 516320.

You can still pick up part one in the series King Edward VII through philatelic dealers and you can get further details from the Bureau.