Pack of 11 postcards based on Royal Mail stamps with Royal Observatory Greenwich imagery
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with images and text relating to Flamsteed House at Royal Museums Greenwich
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with an image of an H1 Clock
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with an image of an H2 Clock
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with an image of an H3 Clock
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with an image of an H4 pocket watch
Postcard featuring a portrait of John Harrison and four Royal Mail stamps
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with images of the Airy Transit Circle Telescope
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with images of the Shepherd Clock
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with images of the Prime Meridian
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with images of the Great Equatorial Telescope
Postcard featuring an enlarged Royal Mail stamp with images of the Annie Maunder Telescope

Royal Observatory Greenwich 350 Celebration Postcards Pack

£4.95
£4.95

These 11 postcards have been issued by Royal Mail to celebrate 350 Years of discovery at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The postcards feature enlarged reproductions of Royal Observatory stamps, designed by Steers McGillan Eves.

Step into centuries of astronomical innovation with our celebration of the 350th anniversary of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich — a landmark institution founded by King Charles II in 1675. This historic site has been at the heart of scientific advancement, pioneering discoveries that changed the way we understand time, space, and navigation.

 

In 2025, the Royal Observatory Greenwich celebrates its 350th anniversary. Founded by Charles II in 1675 to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea and save sailors’ lives, the Royal Observatory Greenwich also became the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, making it one of the most important historic scientific sites in the world.

From its origins in Flamsteed House, home to ten distinguished Astronomers Royal, the Royal Observatory led the way in developing groundbreaking instruments such as the Airy Transit Circle and the Great Equatorial Telescope. These tools enabled more precise star mapping and played a crucial role in global exploration and trade.

As the birthplace of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the Observatory revolutionised timekeeping with innovations like the Shepherd Gate Clock and telegraph signal distribution, synchronising clocks across Britain and the world. At sea, John Harrison’s marine chronometers empowered Royal Navy surveyors to accurately determine longitude, laying the foundation for modern navigation.

Recognised as the Prime Meridian of the World in 1884, Greenwich became the global reference point for time and geography. Despite surviving two world wars, the Observatory eventually yielded to London’s light pollution, but its spirit of discovery endures.

Today, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a hub for science education. It welcomes thousands of visitors each year and reaches a global audience through online livestreams, including stunning celestial views via the Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope.

1. Flamsteed House, home of the Astronomer Royal, completed in 1676

2. John Harrison's H1 c.1735

3. John Harrison's H2 c.1739

4. John Harrison's H3 c.1759

5. John Harrison's H4 c.1759

6. John Harrison's Marine Timekeepers and a portrait of John Harrison by Thomas King

7. Shepherd Gate Clock, the Observatory's first public clock 1852

8. Prime Meridian Line, the centre of time and longitude 1884

9. Airy Transit Circle Telescope, 1851

10. Great Equatorial Telescope installed in 1893

11. Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope installed in 2018 for astrophotography

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Royal Observatory Greenwich 350 Celebration Postcards Pack
£4.95

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