Harrisons - reputation and reality
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 6:00 pm
This is directed primarily to Robin Tibbenham, but of course anybody is very welcome to respond.
Dear Robin, I've just finished reading a report from the Royal Postal Archives on the production of the Coronation stamp. From mid-December when it was thought to be virtually impossible to produce any commemoration stamps to the actual sheets going into distribution two weeks before the Coronation is a fascinating story. Time and again, deadlines were missed, and delays were caused by the most minute details being discussed - by people who apparently did not really understand what they were doing. It reads like an episode from "Yes Minister".
It appears that Harrisons received the artwork from which to make the stamps, two weeks late. The limited supplies of stamps on sale - on request - on the 13th of May had obviously been produced under great pressure. The number of errors and flaws in the stamp are certainly greater than in any stamp before or since, and bear witness to a quantity-before-quality tactic by Harrisons.
Having some insight and sympathy into Harrison's dilemma, your comments about the progressive loss of quality by Harrison in postings to the Discussion Board came to mind.
I'd like very much to know a little more of your conviction in this matter, and hope that you'll be able to reply with some examples, or other evidence. Can do?
Best wishes and thanks in advance,
Robin Restall
Dear Robin, I've just finished reading a report from the Royal Postal Archives on the production of the Coronation stamp. From mid-December when it was thought to be virtually impossible to produce any commemoration stamps to the actual sheets going into distribution two weeks before the Coronation is a fascinating story. Time and again, deadlines were missed, and delays were caused by the most minute details being discussed - by people who apparently did not really understand what they were doing. It reads like an episode from "Yes Minister".
It appears that Harrisons received the artwork from which to make the stamps, two weeks late. The limited supplies of stamps on sale - on request - on the 13th of May had obviously been produced under great pressure. The number of errors and flaws in the stamp are certainly greater than in any stamp before or since, and bear witness to a quantity-before-quality tactic by Harrisons.
Having some insight and sympathy into Harrison's dilemma, your comments about the progressive loss of quality by Harrison in postings to the Discussion Board came to mind.
I'd like very much to know a little more of your conviction in this matter, and hope that you'll be able to reply with some examples, or other evidence. Can do?
Best wishes and thanks in advance,
Robin Restall