For the 1940 health several designs featuring children were submitted with
one design featuring a triangular stamp design. The Government Printer
opposed triangular stamps as they would be hard to arrange on a plate and
there was also concern that post office workers would have trouble
separating the stamps. In late May 1940 the Director-General made a
recommendation to the Postmaster-General that portraits of Princess
Elizabeth and Princess Margaret would "prove eminently suitable".
This required permission to use their portraits, an assurance that the
stamps would be printed in time for the October issue and advice whether
perforating the triangular stamps would be possible.
On July 24th
the Postmaster-General was advised that "owing to the development of
the war situation and the possibility of there being difficulty in
obtaining prompt delivery of the stamps from England, further consideration
was given to the matter and it is now understood that the Prime Minister
wishes stamps of the same design as those of last year to be used this
year." At this stage new plates were produced with the same design as
the
1939 Health stamps but with the correct
increased postal rates from 1939 included.