Read VSC’s notes after the lengthy press release for more information. “Epic” may refer more to the efforts of stamp collectors who try to collect one of each!

[press release] [you can click on any image for a larger version]
Royal Mail Reveals Epic Stamp Images of the New DC Collection
Featuring Batman, His Allies, DC Super-Villains and a Special Justice League Stamp Miniature Sheet

Issue Date: 17 September

• The 12 stamps in the main set feature: Batman; Batwoman; Robin; Batgirl; Alfred; Nightwing; The Joker; Harley Quinn; The Penguin; Poison Ivy; Catwoman; and The Riddler
• A further six stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, celebrate the Justice League – the World’s Greatest Super Heroes joining forces to protect the planet, featuring: Batman; Green Lantern and The Flash; Wonder Woman; Superman; Cyborg and Aquaman; Supergirl and Shazam!
• All 18 stamps have been illustrated exclusively for the stamp issue by British, comic book artist, Jim Cheung and award-winning colourist, Laura Martin
• DC have thrilled generations of readers and given birth to some of the best-known Super Heroes and Super-Villains in the world
• The full set of 18 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £16.20. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/dccollection and go on general sale from 17 September

Royal Mail, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, has revealed stunning images of 18 stamps that celebrate DC and the Super Heroes & Super-Villains genre that it helped create.

The main set of 12 stamps pay tribute to the world-famous Batman, his allies and foes through the ages. Featured on the main stamps in the set are:

• Batman
• Batwoman
• Robin
• Batgirl
• Alfred
• Nightwing
• The Joker
• Harley Quinn
• The Penguin
• Poison Ivy
• Catwoman
• The Riddler

A further six stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, celebrate the Justice League – the World’s Greatest Super Heroes joining forces to protect the planet:

• Batman;
• Green Lantern and The Flash;
• Wonder Woman;
• Superman;
• Cyborg and Aquaman;
• Supergir and Shazam!

All 18 stamps have been specially commissioned for Royal Mail and illustrated by British comic book artist, Jim Cheung and colourist Laura Martin.

Matt Parkes, Director Stamps & Collectibles, Royal Mail, said: “Generations have grown up, spellbound by the adventures and the personalities of these Super Heroes and Super-Villains. These illustrations detail each character with such vivid imagery that they look ready to leap out of the stamp!”

STAMP-BY-STAMP: MAIN SET

Gotham City Allies!
Since his first appearance, Batman has built up a formidable array of ‘family’ and allies as he fights crime in the troubled streets of Gotham City. Some – such as Catwoman and Jason Todd – tread a delicate path between heroic acts and villainy. Others – such as Robin and Batgirl – have gone on to become fully fledged members of the Batman Family, fighting both alone and alongside the Dark Knight against the city’s crazed Super-Villains

Batman
Bruce Wayne swore vengeance when his parents were gunned down in front of him. He spent his teenage years training to be a master of martial arts and the World’s Greatest Detective. On his return to Gotham City, he takes on the role of Batman to strike fear into the hearts of criminals and create a more just world.

Batwoman
Kate Kane becomes Batwoman after the Dark Knight saves her life. Thanks to rigorous training, she uses her abilities to protect the innocent from crime and corruption.

Robin
Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown have all been Robin, but the latest is the Dark Knight’s own son – Damian Wayne. Trained in secret by his mother, Talia al Ghul, to be an assassin, Damian eventually connects with his father who takes him under his protective wing and puts his deadly skills to better use.

Batgirl
Barbara Gordon is a computer mastermind and a martial arts expert. She combines these skills to fight crime as Batgirl and keep Gotham City safe.

Alfred
Alfred Pennyworth has been the man Batman trusts most in the world. He provides medical, technological and emotional support to the Dark Knight, constantly looking after his welfare and helping him reach his full potential.

Nightwing
Dick Grayson was the first Robin. After outgrowing the role, he took on the mantle of Nightwing, bringing justice to the streets of Blüdhaven.

Gotham City Foes!
Gotham City’s mean streets have given birth to a number of crazed Super-Villains. Some, such as Poison Ivy, fight for their own causes, while others seek fortune and infamy. Many, such as The Joker, are simply looking to bring ruin to those around them. Others, like Harley Quinn and Catwoman, have occasionally helped Batman and his allies. But all have had moments when they’ve brought fear and terror to Gotham City… even though it may not have taken long for Batman to thwart their evildoings.

The Joker
The Joker is Batman’s complete opposite. He is a ruthless criminal whose maddening plans have brought death and destruction to Gotham City while hurting those closest to the Dark Knight. The Joker’s origins are shrouded in mystery, but he has developed an obsession with Batman as the two are locked in a never-ending duel.

Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn once had an obsessive love affair with The Joker. Now she’s gone solo and has even become something of an anti-hero – albeit in her own chaotic way.

The Penguin
Operating from his nightclub, the Iceberg Lounge, and obsessed with birds, Oswald Cobblepot is better known as The Penguin and controls much of Gotham City’s criminal underworld.

Poison Ivy
Botanist Pamela Isley gained the power to control flora and became an eco-terrorist, fighting to save her beloved plant life from humankind’s destruction.

Catwoman
Selina Kyle is the criminal who stole Batman’s heart. She is one of the best jewel thieves in the world but also protects those close to her with a feline ferocity.

The Riddler
Edward Nygma is better known as The Riddler, a criminal genius obsessed with puzzles. He loves leaving clues to his crimes – clues usually only someone as smart as he can solve.

MINIATURE SHEET

Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is an Amazonian warrior beyond compare – the only thing that rivals her super-strength is her compassion and belief in others.

Superman
The last survivor of Krypton, Superman protects his adopted home of Earth as he battles for truth, justice and hope – shining a light on what the world can be.

Batman
Bruce Wayne assumed the identity of Batman to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. He is Gotham City’s protector and the World’s Greatest Detective.

Aquaman
Aquaman is the half-human, half-Atlantean King of the Seven Seas. He accepts his destiny to protect both the surface world and its underwater realms from global threats.

Cyborg
When teenager Victor Stone is injured in a tragic accident, his father rebuilds him as a Cyborg – part human, part machine and all Super Hero.

Green Lantern
Jessica Cruz overcomes anxiety and fear to join the Green Lantern Corps. She uses her power ring to protect Earth and the universe as a part of this courageous intergalactic peacekeeping force.

The Flash
The Flash is the Fastest Man Alive after a freak lightning strike connected Barry Allen to the mysterious Speed Force and opened up the possibilities of the Multiverse for all.

Supergirl
The powerful Kara Zor-El arrived on Earth as a teenager long after her cousin grew up to become Superman, but she quickly realises she can be her own positive force for justice in her new home.

Shazam!
An ancient wizard bestowed teenager, Billy Batson, with magic superpowers, and now he can transform into Earth’s Mightiest Mortal by uttering one word: SHAZAM!

The full set of 18 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £16.20. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order from today (1 September) at www.royalmail.com/dccollection and go on general sale from 17 September 2021.

Here are the first-day postmarks, two for the “main set” and two for the minisheet:VSC’s Notes:
There are many more philatelic products available: Framed prints, unserviced envelopes, postcard sets, medal covers, medals by themselves, gold-plated covers, “souvenirs” (FDCs without addresses), press sheets and a prestige booklet. There are two booklets, each with two DC stamps and 4 of Her Majesty:and…and a prestige booklet that includes a pane only available in that product and on a first-day cover, but not separately.We calculate that to buy one of everything will cost nearly 1,000 pounds — £995.41 to be exact. That’s US$1,370.44 or €1,159.76! Or as they say in comic books, !!!!

Stamp Images we couldn’t fit in above:

Finally, here are links to VSC material on other comic book superheroes stamps:

• • Marvel Comics stamps (UK)
  • Batman(U.S.)
  • Photos from the Batman U.S. first-day ceremony
  • Batman collects stamps! and earlier
  • Wonder Woman (U.S.)
  • DC Comic Book Heroes (U.S.):

Issue Date: 2nd Sept 2021

[press release]
Royal Mail Issues 12 Special Stamps that Illustrate the Development of British Army Vehicles over The Decades

• The stamp set features stunning paintings of eight British Army Armoured Vehicles including Main Battle Tanks from across the decades.
• Seven of the eight stamps in the main set were painted exclusively for Royal Mail, by ex- Battle Tank crewman, turned military artist, Mick Graham.
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, include a range of specialist support and patrol vehicles used by the British Army.
• Royal Mail worked closely with the Ministry of Defence on the stamp issue.
• The full set of 12 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £16.20. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available at www.royalmail.com/britisharmyvehicles and go on general sale from 2 September 2021.

Royal Mail has revealed images of 12 Special Stamps that illustrate the development of British Army Vehicles over the decades.

Included are eight images featuring stunning paintings of important British Army Armoured Vehicles illustrated in action through the years since the First World War.

Seven of the eight stamps in the main set were exclusively illustrated for Royal Mail by military artist Mick Graham. Mick Graham was part of the 4th Royal Tank Regiment, serving for fifteen years, including as a Gunnery Instructor on Chieftain Tanks before turning his hand to art.

The British Army has always needed vehicles to transport food, munitions and supplies to allow soldiers to carry out their operations. For centuries, this meant the horse and wagon.

At the start of the First World War, however, breaking through trenches defended by barbed wire and machine guns required new vehicles. An innovative experimental armoured vehicle with a petrol engine, a turret for armament and tracks to cross broken ground was commissioned and nicknamed ‘Little Willie’.

Whilst this vehicle never saw combat action the innovation and experimentation which were hallmarks of its development led to the construction of the first rhomboid-shaped tanks, 49 of which first fought in September 1916. By the end of the war, Britain had developed most of the types of armoured vehicles still in service today: tank, armoured personnel carrier, self-propelled artillery and an engineer vehicle.

On the day the First World War ended, a floating tank was being trialled. Between the two world wars, the Army experimented with a fully mechanised force, including tracked scout carriers, tanks, gun tugs and trucks to ferry troops – controlled via newly effective radios.

Despite the success of the trials, the financial depression of the 1930s and the emphasis on the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as the first line of defence meant that mechanisation was slower than the Army wanted.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the Army had 40,000 vehicles – and was the only fully mechanised force in Europe. Armoured divisions played a crucial role in mobile warfare in Europe and North Africa; Britain started the war with two of these armoured divisions and finished with eleven. Britain’s own vehicle production was supplemented by tens of thousands of trucks, jeeps and tanks from the USA, and by 1945 there were over 1.5 million vehicles in service.

The Cold War brought new requirements for Army vehicles, such as for some to be sealed against chemical and nuclear contamination, and new technologies, such as infrared or thermal imaging, enabling night-time use.

Recent campaigns have led to a range of vehicles to help patrol and protect troops and supplies against all-round attack. New developments and experimentation with digital technology are leading to the increasing fielding of remotely controlled and autonomous vehicles.

Matt Parkes, Director of Stamps & Collectibles at Royal Mail said: “These are some of the most important vehicles that have served the British Army since the First World War. Their impact both in combat and the development of armoured vehicles cannot be underestimated – and it is for this reason we mark these vehicles with a set of Special Stamps.”

Royal Mail worked closely with the Ministry of Defence on the stamp issue.

Product range at a glance:

• Stamp set AS7600 £10.20
• Miniature Sheet MZ168 £5.10
• Presentation Pack AP496 £16.20
• First Day Cover Stamps AF477 £12.90
• First Day Cover Miniature Sheet MF164 £6.80
• Stamp Souvenir AW196 £12.90
• Stamp Sheet Souvenir AW197 £6.80
• First Day Envelope AE432 £0.30
• Postcards AQ312 £5.85
• British Army Vehicles Matilda Mk II Framed Gallery print with stamp N3263 £59.99
• British Army Vehicles Centurion Mk 9 Framed Gallery print with stamp N3264 £59.99
• British Army Vehicles Chieftain Mk 5 Framed Gallery print with stamp N3265 £59.99
• 1st Full Stamp Sheet – 48 AS7600AFS £40.80
• 1st Half Stamp Sheet – 24 AS7600AHS £20.40
• £1.70 Full Stamp Sheet – 48 AS7600BFS £81.60
• £1.70 Half Stamp Sheet – 24 AS7600BFS £40.80

Mk IV – 1st class
The first use of Mark I tanks on the Somme in September 1916 had mixed results, but British Commander-in-Chief General Douglas Haig saw their potential and ordered 1,000. The Mark II and III tanks were made in small quantities, but it was the Mark IV, with over 1,200 made, that saw the most use before the war’s end. Tanks were designated either ‘male’ or ‘female’, according to gun types fitted. The male Mark IV tanks had shorter six-pounder guns than on the Mark I, and the housings could be pushed into the vehicle to simplify rail movement. The eight-strong crews saw their tanks work well at the Battle of Messines in June 1917 but then flounder in mud at Passchendaele. Doubts were raised about the expense and usefulness of the tank, but the Mark IVs were to prove their worth in a mass attack by over 400 at Cambrai in November 1917.

Matilda Mk II – 1st class
The A12 Infantry Tank, or Matilda, was the second in a series of infantry tanks that Britain put into production just before the Second World War. It was thought that three types of tank would be needed: small light tanks for reconnaissance, cruiser tanks to exploit breakthroughs and infantry tanks that would attack a defended position with the infantry. As they were more heavily armoured, infantry tanks were slower (9mph off-road), but this was considered adequate as they were to support infantry on foot. The Matilda II saw action in France in 1940, its thick armour making it impervious to the standard German 37mm anti-tank gun. Against Italian opposition in North Africa, the success of the Matilda led to it being called ‘The Queen of the Desert’. Its small turret prevented the fitting of a larger gun, so from 1942 the Matilda was relegated to use in the Far East, where the Japanese fi elded only lighter tanks.

Churchill AVRE – 1st class
The costly failure of the raid at Dieppe in 1942 led a Canadian Royal Engineer Lieutenant JJ Denovan to propose a conversion of the Churchill infantry tank. In the turret, a spigot mortar, called the Petard, could fire a 40lb (18kg) demolition charge to a range of 200 yards. This would have a devastating effect on defensive structures or obstacles. Fixtures on the tank allowed it be adapted – to carry large loads or devices such as bobbin to lay trackway or demolition charges. The AVREs – Armoured Vehicles Royal Engineers – were issued to the 79th Armoured Division, 60 for each of three assault regiments, and they first went into action on D-Day (6 June 1944). Along with other specialised vehicles of the 79th Armoured Division, the AVREs were issued across Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s 21st Army Group in the North West Europe campaign, and they were considered a great success.

Centurion MK 9 – 1st class
The Centurion was the British answer to the German Panther tank, developed in the Second World War. It missed seeing wartime action by a month but went on to have a long service life. The tank went through 13 marks (or models) in British Army service, showing an ability to be upgraded. It started with a 17-pounder gun, then a 20-pounder, followed by the very successful L7 105mm gun. The Rolls Royce Meteor engine gave the tank 650 horsepower – double that of most other wartime tanks. However, earlier models had a range of only 60 miles (97km), so a fuel mono-trailer was used until a larger internal tank was provided. The Mark 9 tank was an improved, rebuilt version of the Mark 7 with the L7 105mm fitted. This powerful gun became a NATO standard. The Centurion tank first saw action in the Korean War and was a huge export success, with some tanks still in service.

Scorpion – £1.70
The Scorpion was part of a family of vehicles designed by Alvis in the 1960s around a number of common components. The 76mm low-velocity gun could fire a range of ammunition types and gave the small, light (8 tonnes) tank quite a punch. With aluminium armour (to keep weight down) and the Jaguar J60 4.2-litre petrol engine (the same as the E-type sports car), the tank’s top speed of 45mph made the Scorpion a difficult target to hit as a reconnaissance vehicle. Two Scorpions could fit inside a C-130 Hercules transport plane, and the original width specification was to allow it to pass through Malaysian rubber plantations. It was exported widely, and Scorpions are still in service. The vehicle saw action with the British Army in the Falklands conflict and in the First Gulf War before being withdrawn from service in 1994. Many remember the vehicle as the Action Man toy tank.

Chieftain Mk 5 – £1.70
Britain decided that the priority for a main battle tank (MBT) in the Cold War was to have the best firepower and great protection; mobility was seen as less important. The stabilised 120mm gun was tremendously accurate compared to those of the wartime generation, and it was placed in a new style of mounting without a traditional mantlet (or shield). The driver had a semi-recumbent driving position, meaning that the hull could be lower, to present a smaller target. The steel armour was sloped to increase the level of protection, and additional ‘Stillbrew’ armour was added when the Soviets introduced the 125mm gun. However, the L60 engine had many reliability issues in service – a definite weakness of the tank. The tank was upgraded, running through 12 marks, after being introduced to the Army in 1967. It had some export success in the Middle East and left British service as a gun tank in the late 1990s.

Challenger 2 – £1.70
The Challenger 2 tank was initially started as a private venture by Vickers Defence, given that the Army saw the Challenger 1 (a design originally intended for the Shah of Iran) as only a stop-gap vehicle. The Challenger 2 was issued to regiments in 1998 after extensive testing. It has Chobham armour, a still-secret composite arrangement of material including ceramics that gives much greater protection than steel alone against modern weapons. When going into action, extra armour can be fitted to the tank, along with a range of other devices, such as electronic countermeasures. The Challenger 2 has a 120mm rifled gun that can fire a range of ammunition types and a thermal imaging system to allow it to fight at night. The Perkins diesel engine creates 1,200 horsepower. As with many tanks, the vehicle is being upgraded to respond to new threats and challenges on the modern battlefield.

Ajax – £1.70
Ajax is the scouting vehicle in a new family of 589 medium-weight armoured vehicles just coming into service with the British Army. Using state-of-the-art digital technology, the Ajax has advanced intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities and can process and share digital information with other vehicles and higher formations. The Ajax has a turret mounting a new 40mm cased telescoped armament system (CTAS) that can fire a variety of ammunition types accurately on the move. The vehicle is protected by modular armour and a number of defensive systems to detect threats, one of which has acoustic shot detection sensors that can tell the crew the direction of incoming fire. The Ajax family consists of six variants based on a common chassis: Ajax (turreted, reconnaissance and strike vehicle), Ares (reconnaissance and armoured personnel carrier), Argus (engineer reconnaissance), Athena (command and control), Atlas (equipment support recovery) and Apollo (equipment repair).

Stamps – Technical Details:
Number of stamps: 8
Value of Stamps: 4 x 1st and 4 x £1.70
(4 x Horizonal se-tenant pairs)
Illustrations: Mick Graham Art © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2021, except for Challenger 2 © Mick Graham Art
Design: Royal Mail Group Limited
Stamp Format: Landscape
Stamp Size: 50mm (w) x 30mm (h)
Printer : International Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14 x 14
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Gum: PVA

Miniature SheetAn additional four stamps featuring a range of non-combat vehicles used by the British Army

• 1st Class: Coyote (Tactical Support Vehicle)
• 1st Class: Army Wildcat (Reconnaissance Helicopter)
• £1.70: Trojan (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers)
• £1.70: Foxhound (Light Protected Patrol Vehicle)

The Coyote Tactical Support Vehicle is based on the Jackal but has six wheels instead of four. The extra wheels allow it to carry a heavier load and up to five soldiers, and it can act as a support vehicle for the Jackal. The Jackal and Coyote have superb off-road capability and are used for reconnaissance and patrolling.

The Wildcat AH Mk 1 Reconnaissance Helicopter has a number of roles to fulfil for the Army (‘AH’ in this variant stands for ‘Army Helicopter’): airborne reconnaissance, command and control, transport of six troops or supplies, and the carrying of a sophisticated battlefield surveillance system. The Army ordered 34 Wildcats and the Royal Navy 28 in a slightly different configuration.

Trojan is an armoured engineer vehicle that is equipped to clear obstacles on the battlefield. It can have a dozer blade or a mine plough fitted to the front, has an excavator arm and can position a fascine – a large bundle of plastic pipes – in a gap to allow other vehicles to cross. It can also tow a trailer-mounted, rocket-propelled mine-clearing system

The Foxhound is a lightweight and fast patrol vehicle, with a maximum speed of 70mph. It has a V-shaped hull to channel the blast from mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) away from the underside of the vehicle. It has a crew of two and can carry up to four troops in the rear

Miniature Sheet – Technical Details

Number of stamps: 4
Value of Stamps: 2 x 1st and 2 x £1.70
Design: Studio Up
Acknowledgements: Coyote photo © HOT SHOTS/Alamy Stock Photo; Army Wildcat, Foxhound and Trojan photos: UK MOD © UK Crown copyright 2021; Army logos are trade marks of the UK Secretary of State for Defence and used under licence
Sheet Size: 115mm x 89mm
Stamp Size: 41mm (w) x 30mm (h)
Printer : International Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14.5 x 14
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Gum: PVA

First Day Cover – Stamps

An authentic Ministry of Defence security hologram is affixed to the back of the envelope.

The First Day Cover is a unique time-limited and personalised collectible which includes all 8 British Army Vehicles stamps postmarked on their first day of issue – 2nd September 2021.

Customise your First Day Cover with your choice of two special edition British Army Vehicles postmarks.

Talents House postmark – Location: Tallents House, Edinburgh, Image: – Features a British army logo.

Alternative postmark – Location: Bovington, Wareham
Bovington is the location of The Tank Museum and, according to David Willey, still is the ‘home of the tank’ for the British Army.
The handstamp features an illustration of tank tracks.

You can even personalise your envelope with a name address of your choice making this an ideal collectible for yourself or a wonderful surprise gift for a friend or relative.

Inside the envelope is an information card with more details about the British Army Vehicles stamp issue

• Includes all eight British Army Vehicles Special Stamps
• Postmarked on the stamps’ first day of issue
• Personalised with name and address of customer’s choice
• Choice of 2 postmark designs

First Day Cover – Miniature Sheet

An authentic Ministry of Defence security hologram is affixed to the back of the envelope.

The First Day Cover is a unique time-limited and personalised collectible which includes all 4 British Army Vehicles miniature sheet stamps postmarked on their first day of issue – 2nd September 2021.

Customise your First Day Cover with your choice of two special edition British Army Vehicles postmarks.

Talents House postmark – Location: Tallents House, Edinburgh. The handstamp features a British army logo.

Alternative postmark – Location: Bovington, Wareham
Bovington is the location of The Tank Museum and, according to David Willey, still is the ‘home of the tank’ for the British Army.
The handstamp features an illustration of tank tracks.

You can even personalise your envelope with a name address of your choice making this an ideal collectible for yourself or a wonderful surprise gift for a friend or relative.

Inside the envelope is an information card with more details about the British Army Vehicles stamp issue.

• Includes all four British Army Vehicles miniature sheet Special Stamps
• Postmarked on the stamps’ first day of issue
• Personalised with name and address of customer’s choice
• Choice of 2 postmark designs

Stamp Souvenirs
The Stamp Souvenir is a non-personalised version of the traditional First Day Cover, meaning it will not have the customer’s name and address printed on the front and will be available on sale for 3 months after the stamp issue date – until 2nd December 2021. The stamps are cancelled with the alternative Bovington, Wareham postmark.

An authentic Ministry of Defence security hologram is affixed to the back of the envelope.

FDC Postmarks
Customers can personalise their First Day cover with a choice of postmarks available. The alternative postmark location represents the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.

First Day Envelope

An [unserviced] envelope featuring the issue title set against a camouflage pattern

Information Card (Filler Card)The information card is included inside the First Day Envelope, FDC and Stamp Souvenir and Stamp Sheet Souvenir. It provides a brief overview and specifications for the stamp issue. It was written by David Willey, Curator at the Tank Museum.

[press release]
Royal Mail Marks the 70th Anniversary of Beano’s Dennis with a Set of 10 Special Stamps

Issue date: July 1

• Six stamps depict key moments in the life of popular Beano comic character Dennis from 1951 to the present, marking his 70th anniversary
• The six stamps are based on original illustrations that appeared in the actual comics of the time
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, have been illustrated exclusively for Royal Mail by the current Dennis artist Nigel Parkinson, and wish Dennis a Happy Birthday!
• Also celebrated in the stamp issue is Dennis’s canine pranking partner, Gnasher. Dennis first met the stray Abyssinian wire-haired tripe hound in 1968
• Dennis – ‘the world’s wildest boy’ – was first brought to life in a pencil sketch in January 1951
• He made his debut in Beano issue no. 452, dated 17 March 1951
• Royal Mail collaborated with Beano on the stamp issue
• The full set of 10 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £13.65. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today at www.royalmail.com/dennisandgnasher

Royal Mail today announced the launch of a new set of stamps celebrating 70 years of the British comic character Dennis.

Six stamps look back at Dennis through the ages; from his first ever black-and-white comic strip in 1951, to important events in his life, including meeting his baby sister, Bea, adopting Gnasher, and even finding out that his dad is a grown-up version of Dennis from the 1980s. These stamps are based on original strips from Beano comics of the time.

A further four stamps, exclusively illustrated by the current Dennis artist, Nigel Parkinson, show the culmination of an exclusive comic strip. The strip, written especially for Royal Mail is featured in the Presentation Pack. The story focuses on Dennis’s birthday celebrations and includes a brief ‘history of Menaces’. The light-hearted episodes end with a birthday surprise, with the final comic strip frame revealing the four new stamps.

Natasha Ayivor, Royal Mail said: ”For seven decades Dennis has been entertaining children by getting into all manner of mischief and mayhem. Generations have experienced the excitement and anticipation of reading about Dennis’s latest prank. Royal Mail is delighted to be honouring Dennis and Gnasher with a set of stamps as the ultimate birthday present.”

Mike Stirling, Editorial Director of Beano Studios said: “Dennis has stamped his personality across first class laughs and mischief for generations of children. We believe everyone has a little bit of the Dennis spirit within them, so can’t wait for fans big and small to take delivery of this amazing piece of Dennis history. This incredible stamp collection really pushes the envelope of philately flattery for our hero.”

Royal Mail collaborated with Beano Studios on selecting all the stamps and associated imagery featured in the issue.

Dennis through the years:
Dennis – ‘the world’s wildest boy’ – was first brought to life in a pencil sketch on the back of a cigarette packet in January 1951. Seventy years later, his mischievous pranks and cheeky grin have not only earned him a place in the hearts of readers of all ages but also ensured that he remains one of Beano’s most famous creations.

Dennis made his first appeared in issue no. 452 of Beano, dated 17 March 1951. It would be another few weeks before he donned his legendary red and black striped jumper, but in this half-page strip, illustrated by artist David Law, readers were offered their first glimpse of the cheeky schoolboy in action as he ignored signs to ‘keep off the grass’ at a local park with hilarious results.

Prior to 1954, Dennis’s strip appeared either in black and white – as per his very first appearance – or supplemented with red, but in February of that year, ‘the world’s wildest boy’ went on his first full-colour adventure on Beano’s back page. Of course, full colour only heightened the mischief, and as Dennis embarked on a day of trainspotting, he not only tricked the train station staff to get onto the platform but ultimately found himself driving the train.

In August 1968, Dennis’s life changed forever when he met a stray Abyssinian wire-haired tripe hound whom he decided to name Gnasher. In the first story featuring the now infamous duo, Gnasher proved that he was just as much of a prankster as his human pal when he swiped a bone from one of the ‘pampered pooches’ at a local dog show – and a fight ensued. Gnasher would go on to star in his own strip from 1977.

After 26 years on the cover of Beano, Biffo the Bear was finally ousted from the front page by Dennis in September 1974. It was a change that had been hinted at two years previously, when Dennis announced his desire to star on the front cover while featuring in a Biffo strip, and it is one that, over the years, has proved incredibly successful – Dennis has appeared on the front cover of almost every issue of the Beano since.

Dennis first met his porcine chum Rasher in May 1979, when he spotted the ‘fine porker’ jumping on his trough at Wurzle Farm. After Dennis agreed to take Rasher off the farmer’s hands, the pig further endeared himself to Dennis when they ran into Walter Brown and he pushed over Dennis’s arch-nemesis, breaking his piggy bank. In 1984, thanks to his popularity with readers, Rasher was given his own strip, which ran regularly in Beano until 1988.

Shortly after Beano celebrated its 60th anniversary in 1998, Dennis’s mum and dad had a big surprise in store for Dennis: his mum was pregnant! In the 19 September issue, Dennis’s little sister – Bea – arrived. Although Dennis was initially hesitant at the prospect of having a girl in the family, it turned out that Bea was not unlike her big brother when it came to causing mischief.

In May 2015, Dennis fans were left gobsmacked when Beano revealed that Dennis’s dad was in fact Dennis 30 years earlier. In the strip, footage was unearthed of Dennis Senior as a boy in which the youngster – dressed as Dennis from older editions of the comic – could be seen engaging in a variety of pranks that, in the present, suitably impressed his young son.

The full set of 10 stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £13.65. [There are also several different first day covers (one of which is shown below), unserviced cacheted envelopes, a presentation pack, picture postcards and a press sheet. —VSC] The stamps and range of collectible products are available today (1 July) from www.royalmail.com/dennisandgnasher.