Not true! Queen Victoria was not angry with B-P!
It is sometimes said that Queen Victoria was angry with Baden-Powell (B-P) for having put his image and that of Sergeant Goodyear and his bicycle on Mafeking Siege stamps rather than hers. Indeed, I have suggested as much on this website. Apparently, it's not true.
1900. Mafeking-manufactured Siege Stamps showing B-B left and Sergeant Goodyear on bicycle right.
Stamps vary a great deal in colour and size, both on height and width. These are not to size and scale.
The mint Sergeant Goodyear centre right shows the 'ONE PENNY BROKEN 'N' at foot' flaw.
The other notable flaw not shown here is a very obvious cracked plate on the 3d B-P.
I was recently browsing through old copies of the SAP (THE SOUTH AFRICAN PHILATELIST) looking for something else when I found this from April, 1950. (page 55, an article entitled 'Stamps with a Story). This quotes B-P speaking out about this matter.
In discussing the Mafeking Siege stamps it says they were "Designed by Capt. M. Greener, Chief Paymaster in Mafeking during the siege. Produced by Dr. D. Taylor, gummed and perforated by Townshend & Son. 3,036 of this printed, and 6,072 of the smaller size. B.-P. had no hand in their issue and only consented when it was pointed out that as a "local" issue it would be derogatory to the Queen to have her portrait on it. The story that she was very angry and shelved B.-P. is quite false. He writes: "The Queen wrote me a message of congratulation with her own hand on the relief of Mafeking and herself ordered my promotion to Major-General. Within four months I was given the biggest command of my life—the South African Constabulary—and after that the blue ribbon of the mounted branch, the Inspector-Generalship of Cavalry in Great Britain and Ireland and Africa. So I never knew that she was offended, or that I was ignored."
The follow-up question, perhaps, is "was she amused?"
Circa 1902. Major-General Baden Powell striking a heroic pose in the SAC uniform he designed himself.
Below, from much the same time. The reality of the SAC maintaining Pax Britanica.
