1935 Silver Jubilee Omnibus (Complete Commonwealth Set)

1935 Silver Jubilee Omnibus: The Crown Jewel of Commonwealth Philately

The 1935 King George V Silver Jubilee Omnibus is widely regarded as the cornerstone of any serious British Commonwealth stamp collection. Issued to celebrate the 25th anniversary of George V's accession to the throne, it became the first-ever British Commonwealth Omnibus issue -- a coordinated stamp release across dozens of territories simultaneously, all sharing a common design. For philatelists, a complete set of all 249 stamps from all participating territories is a trophy piece that represents both remarkable scope and genuine historical significance.

Historical Context: The Silver Jubilee of George V

King George V ascended to the throne on May 6, 1910, following the death of his father King Edward VII. By 1935, his reign had spanned 25 years -- a Silver Jubilee that the British Empire was eager to celebrate with genuine enthusiasm. George V had proven a stabilizing force during turbulent times: the First World War, the Irish troubles, the General Strike, and the Great Depression had all tested the monarchy. His public image as a steady, dutiful king earned him genuine affection.

The Silver Jubilee was celebrated on May 6, 1935, and the stamp issue was timed to coincide with the occasion. It was the first time the British government coordinated a simultaneous commemorative stamp release across all its territories and dominions -- a logistical accomplishment as much as a philatelic one.

Sadly, George V died less than a year later on January 20, 1936, making the Silver Jubilee issue retrospectively poignant as one of the last great celebrations of his reign.

The Design: Silver Jubilee Common Design

The Silver Jubilee stamps used a single common design across all territories, though each territory printed its own version with appropriate local currency denominations and territorial identification. The design was created by Barnett Freedman, a British graphic artist known for his distinctive printmaking style.

The central design features a portrait of King George V in profile, set within an oval frame, with the Royal Windsor Castle shown in the background. A streaking diagonal lightning bolt effect was added to the design, intended to represent a bolt of lightning -- though some collectors have affectionately called it the "lightning and castle" issue.

Each territory printed the design using its own typography and currency, but the basic composition remained consistent across the Empire.

The Scope of the Issue: 249 Stamps from 58 Territories

The 1935 Silver Jubilee Omnibus included stamps from 58 different territories across the British Empire:

• Great Britain itself

• 54 British Colonies

• Four Dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)

The total issue comprised 249 different stamps, as territories issued multiple denominations. A complete collection encompasses all 249 unique stamps.

Some participating territories include:

Values for a Complete Set

The value of the 1935 Silver Jubilee Omnibus varies considerably based on condition (mint vs. used) and the quality of individual stamps:

Stanley Gibbons, the world's most authoritative philatelic catalog publisher, lists the complete mint set in the GBP 1,800+ range, and high-quality, well-centered never-hinged examples command premiums above catalog value.

Individual rarities within the set also affect price: some territories had lower circulation stamps that command significant premiums. Varieties including the famous "lightning conductor" variety (a printing error on certain Barbados stamps) can add hundreds of dollars to individual values.

Key Varieties and Rarities

Beyond simply completing the set, serious philatelists seek out noted varieties:

• "Lightning Conductor" variety: Certain stamps show a line connecting the lightning bolt to the castle's flagstaff. This striking variety appears on stamps from multiple territories and is a known printing artifact.

• Diagonal line through turret: Another printing variety visible on selected issues.

• Dot varieties: Various plate varieties exist that specialists catalog separately.

• Double perforations and perforation varieties: On select issues.

These varieties transform the collection from a straightforward set into a specialist pursuit that collectors can spend careers researching.

Why This Set Matters to Collectors

The 1935 Silver Jubilee Omnibus holds its special place for several reasons:

First of its kind: No coordinated omnibus issue had existed before 1935. This set established the template for all subsequent Commonwealth omnibus issues (Coronation 1937, Victory 1946, etc.).

Historical gravity: George V's silver jubilee represents the twilight of the British Empire at its geographic maximum. The territories on these stamps include some that no longer exist as independent entities, others that have been independent for 70+ years, and places whose histories are bound up with the complex legacy of British imperialism.

Collector challenge: Completing the set from 58 territories across multiple denominations requires decades of searching. Finding all 249 stamps in genuinely mint, well-centered condition is a lifelong pursuit for many collectors.

Investment stability: Complete mint examples have maintained or increased in value steadily, as the global philatelic market has grown and Commonwealth collections have attracted buyers worldwide.

Storing and Presenting Your Collection

For storage and display:

• Use acid-free album pages or stock pages with glassine interleaving

• Never use ballpoint pen or adhesive tape near stamps

• Store in a stable, humidity-controlled environment (40-50% relative humidity ideal)

• Avoid hinges on never-hinged stamps -- use stamp mounts instead

• Reference Gibbons, Scott, or Stanley Gibbons catalogs for variety identification

A complete, well-presented 1935 Silver Jubilee Omnibus is one of the great accomplishments in Commonwealth philately and a genuine treasure in any serious collection.

Browse all Stamps →

Related Items