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Stamps mark Royal Observatory's 350th anniversary

Royal Mail Brown stamp with a clock face on itRoyal Mail
The Shepherd Gate Clock was the public's first chance to accurately know the time

A set of 10 stamps to mark the history and achievements of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, has been released by Royal Mail.

They include four images of telescopes, one of a clock, and one of the original observatory building, Flamsteed House.

A further four special stamps show marine timekeepers, as pioneered by clockmaker John Harrison.

The Royal Observatory was founded by King Charles II in 1675 and is described by Royal Museums Greenwich as Britain's oldest purpose-built scientific institution.

Royal Mail Painting of John Harrison, wearing a silver peruque and a brown suit. He grips a clock in one hand and the other rests on his thigh. On the left, all four of the timepieces are shown on a white background.Royal Mail
John Harrison's prototypes for measuring longitude at sea became known as H1, H2, H3 and H4

The observatory was founded to provide better star charts to help navigation for global trade.

Its Astronomers Royal - the first of whom was John Flamsteed - observed the stars and developed new instruments such as the Airy Transit Circle and Great Equatorial Telescope.

Royal Navy surveyors plotted their longitude from Greenwich using chronometers based on horologist Harrison's timekeepers, and the widespread use by ships worldwide of charts based on the Greenwich meridian led to the international recognition of Greenwich as the prime meridian of the world in 1884.

The stamps are available to pre-order from Thursday and go on general sale from 12 June.

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