Westminster Abbey Covers Appraisal

Official Westminster Abbey Commemorative First Day Covers for the 40th Anniversary of V.E. Day (1985)

This pair of philatelic collectibles consists of two official Westminster Abbey commemorative covers (envelopes) issued to mark the 40th anniversary of V.E. Day on May 8, 1985. The covers feature a prominent color photograph of Westminster Abbey on the left side with the heading 'H.M. THE QUEEN LEADS THE NATION IN THANKSGIVING SERVICE.' The text is printed in red and blue, including the sub-caption 'PEACE AND RECONCILIATION.' Each cover is franked with a British postage stamp: the top cover features a 16p Europa series stamp depicting a bridge design, while the bottom cover features a different 16p stamp showing a heraldic dragon motif. Both covers are canceled with a special circular '40th Anniversary VE Day - Westminster Abbey, London SW1' postmark dated 8 May 1985, which includes an architectural sketch of the Abbey's towers. Additionally, a curved 'Purchased from Westminster Abbey' mark is stamped at the bottom center. The items are mounted inside a white collectors' album page using clear mounts. The condition appears to be very fine (VF) with crisp edges, no visible toning or foxing on the paper, and clean cancellations. The paper is a standard white bond, and the printing displays high-quality color saturation characteristic of official Royal commemoratives from the mid-1980s.