The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps.Statue of John Cabot in Newfoundland, England's first overseas colony .Defeat of the Spanish Armada, by Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourg, painted 1796.Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown (John Trumbull, 1797). The loss of the American colonies marked the end of the "first British Empire".
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Commonwealth/ British Colonial

The British Empire was the most extensive empire in world history and for a substantial time was not only a major power but also the foremost power in the world. more...

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It was a product of the European age of discovery, which began with the global maritime explorations of the Iberian states in the late 15th century, that inaugurated the era of the European global empires.

By 1913, the British Empire held sway over a population of about 458 million people, approximately one-quarter of the world's population. It covered about 36.6 million km² (14.2 million square miles), about a quarter of Earth's total land area. Though it has now mostly evolved into the Commonwealth of Nations, British influence remains strong throughout the world: in economic practice, legal and governmental systems, society, sports (such as cricket and football), and the English language itself, to name just a few.

Because of its size at the peak of its power, it was often said that \"the sun never sets on the British Empire\" because the empire's span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous colonies.

English Empire

Growth of the overseas empire

The overseas British Empire (in the sense of British oceanic exploration and settlement outside of Europe and the British Isles) was rooted in the pioneering maritime policies of the English King Henry VII, who reigned from 1485 to 1509. Building on commercial links in the wool trade promoted during the reign of his predecessor, King Richard III, Henry established the modern English merchant marine system, which greatly expanded English shipbuilding and seafaring. The merchant marine also supplied the basis for the mercantile institutions that would play such a crucial role in English and, after the union with Scotland in 1707, British imperial ventures, including the Massachusetts Bay Company and the British East India Company. Henry's financial reforms made the English Exchequer solvent, which helped to underwrite the development of the Merchant Marine. Henry also ordered construction of the first English dry dock, at Portsmouth, and made improvements to England's small navy. Additionally, Henry sponsored the voyages of the Italian mariner John Cabot in 1496 and 1497 that established England's first overseas colony - a fishing settlement - in Newfoundland, which Cabot claimed on behalf of Henry.

The foundations of sea power, having been laid during Henry VII's reign, were gradually expanded to protect English trade and open up new routes. King Henry VIII founded the modern English navy through plans for new docks, and the construction of the network of beacons and lighthouses that greatly facilitated coastal navigation for English and foreign merchant sailors. Henry thus established the munitions-based Royal Navy that was able to hold off the Spanish Armada in 1588, and his innovations provided the seed for the Imperial navy of later days.

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HONG KONG QV SG# 48 MH 20c ON 30c GREEN US $19.99 1912,EARLY INDIA CANC.RMS KARACHI K-23 OUT.PAKISTAN.TPO US $1.99
SOUTH AFRICA-OLD COLLECTION-CANCELS-M/U-F/ VF--CAT$250+ US $18.00 INDIA.QV,KEVII STATIONERY CUT OUTS. US $2.75
Y75 CANADA 1923 $1 BROWN-ORANGE SG255 MNH CV £95 US $30.94 BARBADOS 1944 Censored Cover to US (A152) US $5.00
Tokelau 1974 Sc #41-44 Shells MNH US $2.99 STRAITS SETTLEMENTS,1867-1904 LOT(69) USED, DUPLICATION US $4.97
1937 Straits Settlements Malaya First Day Cover FDC US $5.00 Tokelau 1970 Sc #22-24 Ships MNH US $3.99
Trinidad & Tobago Stamps - Fine Used Selection US $1.47 Y75 CANADA 1916 7c YELLOW-OCHRE SG209 MNH CV £20 US $11.39
1976 ITALY ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION ROSS DEPENDENCY SIGNED US $4.95 Gibralter Stamps - Mint and Fine Used selection US $1.47
1959 Singapore Malaya POLLING DAY First Day Cover FDC US $3.00 Trinidad & Tobago 1972 Sc #210-15 Butterflies VLH US $4.99
Y75 CANADA 1912 10c BROWNISH PURPLE SG210 MNH CV £90 US $48.86 NEW ZEALAND. 1d Universal Booklet Pane US $5.00
Trinidad & Tobago 1969 Sc #144-59 MNH US $5.99 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1908 OCEAN POST OFFICE US $6.52
Trinidad & Tobago 1960 Sc #89-102 MNH US $12.99 BRUNEI 1924 - 1949 Silver Jubilee FIRST DAY COVER FDC US $3.00
Y75 CANADA 1911 50c SEPIA SG215 MNH CV £50 US $27.68 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1907 OCEAN POST OFFICE code E US $6.52
Trinidad & Tobago 1953 Sc #72-83 VLH VF US $12.99 1937 India - BIJAWAR SG 11 - 15, mounted mint US $110.00
BRITISH GUIANA LOT OF 11 STAMPS, 1930s-1940s US $2.00 1936 India - BIJAWAR SG 6 - 10 rouletted set of five US $45.00
India 1947 Gandhi Memorial Folder all 4values unused US $180.00 Y75 CANADA 1911 5c INDIGO SG206 MNH CV £90 US $48.86
Tristan Da Cunha 1961 Sc #42-54 Fishes MNH US $29.99 NEW ZEALAND 2 PAGES STAMPS OLD FROM 1937 US $4.00
POST CARDS 14 INDIA KING EDWARD VII POSTCARDS & STAMPS US $1.61 Y75 BECHUANALAND 1886 1s GREEN SG8 FU CV £170 US $57.00
1970 BRUNEI Stamps One Cent Uncut Sheet of 50 RARE US $8.00 Tristan Da Cunha 1962 Sc #113-15 Ships MNH US $11.99
100 Different MINT NH British Empire mostly large size US $6.97 1930,INDIA KGV POST CARD USED KARACHI.PAKISTAN.SLOGAN. US $2.35
TRANSVAAL: 1901 BOER WAR 1d V.R.I. Post Card US $16.29 Tristan Da Cunha 1965 Sc #71-84 Ships VLH US $5.99
Y75 BARBADOS 1905 SET OF7 MULTI CA SG135-144 MM CV £200 US $97.73 1973 Singapore Flower 1 cent Stamps Uncut Sheet of 100 US $5.00
Y75 BAHAMAS 1920 PEACE SET OF 5 SG106-110 MM CV £19 US $9.76 Burma 1952-53 Sc # 122-35 MLH-NH US $7.97
India 1951 Sc #235-36 VLH VF US $5.99 India 1905 Sc #254-71 Cancelled US $5.99
Jamaica 1937 Coronation registered first day cover US $5.00 New Zealand 1935 Pictorial stamp first day cover US $5.00
Tuvalu 1990 Sc #543-48 Ships MNH US $4.99 Y75 BAHAMAS 1916 2s BLACK & BLUE SG79 LMM CV £29 US $16.27
Ceylon 1954 Sc #319-28 MLH US $19.99 Tuvalu 1984 Sc #235-46 Locomotives MNH US $4.99
Br. Antarctic Territory 1971 Sc #39-42 VLH VF US $19.99 Norfolk Island 1953 Sc #13-18 VLH VH US $14.99
Cape of Good Hope Rare Stamps US $4.99 Y75 AUSTRALIA 1922 4d ULTRAMARINE SG65 MM CV £48 US $24.42
British Colonial - JAMAICA - small EARLY lot - used US $2.50 TRANSVAAL CLEARANCE COLLECTION LOT OF 36 STAMPS FREE SH US $3.49
16 INDIA FDC FIRST DAY COVERS FROM 1961 - 1966 US $1.61 Y75 AUSTRALIA 1920 1s4d GREENISH BLUE SG66a LMM CV £70 US $32.57
British Colonial - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - small EARLY lot US $2.50 British COLONIAL - Jamaica - Judicial 2sh Revenue US $2.50
Singapore four covers to England US $2.44 STRAIT SETTLEMENTS CLEARANCE COLLECTION LOT OF 52 STAMP US $3.49
British Colonial- HONG KONG 1903/04 Sc#74+79+91 U CV$40 US $2.50 British Colonial- HONG KONG 1903/7 Sc#71+73+96 * CV$30 US $2.50
British Colonial - CYPRUS - small EARLY lot - used US $2.50 SIERRA LEONE & SEYCHELLES CLEARANCE COLLECTION LOT 47 S US $4.49
British Colonial - SIERRA LEONE - small EARLY lot -used US $2.50 British Colonial - CEYLON - small EARLY lot - used US $2.50
1947,PAKISTAN HANDSTAMP ON INDIA KGVI.LAHORE TYPE.MNH. US $2.35 British Colonial - CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - small EARLY lot US $2.50
British Colonial - GOLD COAST- small EARLY lot - used US $2.50 British Colonial -DOMINICA & SEYCHELLES small EARLY lot US $2.50
NEW ZEALAND HEALTH STAMPS OLD KGV KG5 FROM 1935 US $4.00 British Colonial - MAURITIUS - small EARLY lot - used US $2.50
British Colonial BERMUDA,CAYMAN,LEEWARD islands old lot US $2.50 EARLY INDIA QV LOCAL DEPARTMENT CANCELLATION.MINT. US $2.35
Barbados Stamps - Mint and Fine Used selection US $1.47 MALTA #3B MNH NO GUM US $199.99
RHODESIA & NYASALAND CLEARANCE COLLECTION LOT OF 58 STA US $3.49 New Zealand - Selection 90 cent issues, used US $1.61
1993,PAKISTAN.SURCHARGED AIR MAIL ENVELOPE. US $1.75 Gold Coast Stamps - Small Very Fine Selection US $1.47
New Zealand - 1997 - Scenic Trains, used set US $1.61 HONG KONG -- SC# 438a -- MINT, NH US $13.50
New Zealand - 1992 - Glaciers, used set US $1.61 PITCAIRN ISLANDS 1938 AUCKLAND MUSEUM TO DAVID A YOUNG US $99.95
NEW ZEALAND CLEARANCE COLLECTION LOT OF 65 STAMPS US $3.49 New Zealand - 1996 - Wildlife, used set US $1.61
Rhodesia 1979 cover End of Sanctions by Great Britain US $1.99 New Zealand - Selection $1 issues, used US $1.61
New Zealand - 2008 Issues Selection incl. HiValues US $2.04
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Prices current as of last update, 09/20/09 4:35pm.


See also...
Aden, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Anguilla, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Ascension Island, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Australia, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Bahamas, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Bahrain, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Barbados, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Basutoland/ Lesotho, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Bechuanaland/ Botswana, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Bermuda, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
British Antarctic Territory, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
British Guiana/ Guyana, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
British Honduras/ Belize, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
British Indian Ocean Territory, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
British Levant, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
British Virgin Islands, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Brunei, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Burma, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Canada, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Cayman Islands, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Ceylon, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Collections/ Mixture, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Cook Is/ Aitutaki/ Penrhyn, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Cyprus, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Dominica, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Falkland Is & Dependencies, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Fiji, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Gambia, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Gibraltar, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Gilbert & Ellice Is/ Kiribati, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Gold Coast/ Ghana, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Grenada, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Heligoland, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Hong Kong, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
India, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Jamaica, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Kenya/ Uganda/ Tanganyika, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Kuwait, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Leeward Islands, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Malaya/ Malaysia/ S. Setts., Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Maldive Is., Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Malta, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Mauritius, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Montserrat, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Morocco Agencies, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Nauru, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
New Hebrides/ Vanuatu, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
New Zealand, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Nigeria, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Niue, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Norfolk Island, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
North Borneo, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Northern Rhodesia/ Zambia, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Nyasaland/ BCA/ Malawi, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Omnibus Issues, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Other Commonwealth Stamps, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Pakistan/ Bahawalpur, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Palestine, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Papua New Guinea, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Pitcairn Island, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Samoa, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Sarawak, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Seychelles, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Sierra Leone, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Singapore, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Solomon Islands, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Somaliland Protectorate, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
South Africa, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
South West Africa/ Namibia, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
St Helena, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
St Kitts & Nevis, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
St Lucia, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
St Vincent/ Grenadines, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Sudan, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Swaziland, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Tonga, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Trinidad & Tobago, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Tristan da Cunha, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Turks & Caicos Is, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Tuvalu, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
Zanzibar, Commonwealth/ British Colonial
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