[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
His Majesty King Charles III: A New Reign
Royal Mail Marks the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla with Four Special Stamps

• Presented in a miniature sheet the stamps represent the Coronation and causes His Majesty has dedicated his life of public service to
• The four stamps depict:
• The Coronation
• Diversity and Community
• The Commonwealth
• Sustainability and Biodiversity
• The stamps are available to pre-order now at royalmail.com/newreign and by telephone on 03457 641 641

Royal Mail has revealed the images of four new stamps that will be issued to mark the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, 6 May 2023.

The stamps illustrate the Coronation ceremony and the traditional street party, as well as some of the causes His Majesty has dedicated his years of public service to: cultural diversity and community; the global ties of the Commonwealth, which he now leads; and sustainability and biodiversity.

The Coronation
Representing the monarchy, continuity, longevity, heritage and tradition.

The stamp depicts the moment of coronation, with St Edward’s Crown being lowered onto His Majesty’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The King holds the Sceptre with Dove and the Sceptre with Cross and sits in the Coronation Chair. The scene is set in front of Westminster Abbey, with fireworks appearing above. In the background, a gun salute is being fired by a member of The King’s Troop, while crowds watch the ceremony and celebrate.

Diversity And Community
Reflecting a multi-faith community and the cultural diversity of contemporary British society.

The stamp features figures representing the Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist religions and is representative of all faiths and none. The background shows aspects of both rural and urban Britain and includes some of the many different places of worship that are found around the United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth
Depicting an outward-looking United Kingdom, global trade, cooperation, democracy and peace. The stamp features an imagined Commonwealth meeting, a representation of the Commonwealth Games, some of the flags of the Commonwealth nations, a scene depicting trade and commerce and a Commonwealth War Graves cemetery.

Sustainability And Biodiversity
Highlighting the importance of conservation, biodiversity and a society that works with nature.

The stamp depicts natural landscapes alongside sustainable farming methods and features renewable sources of energy such as hydroelectric power and solar panels. Images of diverse forests, wildflower meadows and pollinating insects highlight the importance of wildlife conservation, while traditional crafts such as hedge-laying and beekeeping also feature prominently.

The stamps are now available to view, ahead of their general release, at the Postal Museum, as part of The King’s Stamp exhibition: The King’s Stamp – The Postal Museum.

Gold miniature sheet

This is only the third time in history that Royal Mail has issued stamps to mark a Coronation. The previous two occasions were for King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The stamps were designed by Atelier Works and feature newly commissioned wood engravings by British artist Andrew Davidson.

The Miniature Sheet background design, also featuring a newly commissioned wood engraving by Andrew Davidson, depicts intermingling foliage, symbolic of the four countries of the UK: the rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock.

Simon Thompson, Chief Executive of Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail is proud to issue this set of commemorative stamps which celebrate the Coronation, and some of the causes which His Majesty has championed throughout his many years of public service. This is only the third time we have issued Coronation stamps and I am delighted that they mark the start of a new reign and a new chapter in our history.”

Official first day cover

Royal Mail will also be applying a special postmark to stamped mail to mark the event. It will read:

The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/coronation, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all four stamps in the set is priced at £7.50. The stamps go on general sale on 6 May 2023.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates the Legend of Robin Hood with a Set of Special Stamps

• The 10-stamp set depicts key moments in the famous legend of Robin Hood, from him being outlawed to his marriage to Maid Marian and his death, and including popular characters such as Friar Tuck, the Sheriff and King Richard
• The powerful illustrations were created exclusively for Royal Mail by British award-winning concept artist Jon McCoy
• Royal Mail worked with Dr Lesley Coote, Fellow of the University of Hull School of Humanities and established expert on Robin Hood
• The stamps are on general sale now at www.royalmail.com/robinhood and by telephone on 03457 641 641
• All 10 stamps in a Presentation Pack are priced at £11.90

Royal Mail is celebrating the story of the legendary and popular English folk outlaw Robin Hood with a set of 10 exclusively illustrated stamps.

The 10-stamp set depicts key moments in the famous legend of Robin Hood, from him being outlawed to his marriage to Maid Marian and his death, and including popular characters such as Friar Tuck, the Sheriff and King Richard

The stamps depict the following events:

• Robin Hood is declared an outlaw
• Robin Hood meets Little John
• Friar Tuck carries Robin Hood
• Robin Hood robs the rich
• Robin Hood wins the archery contest
• Robin Hood captures the Sheriff
• Robin Hood helps Maid Marian escape
• Robin Hood and Maid Marian marry
• King Richard removes his disguise
• Robin Hood shoots his last arrow

The powerful illustrations were created exclusively for Royal Mail by concept artist Jon McCoy. Award-winning McCoy has worked on feature films such as: The Batman; Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker; Avengers; and Blade Runner 2049.

Jon McCoy said: “It’s been an amazing honour to illustrate for Royal Mail, one of the great English legends, and favourite stories from my childhood. I hope everyone enjoys these stamps as much as I did.”

Royal Mail also worked with Dr Lesley Coote, Fellow of the University of Hull School of Humanities and established expert on Robin Hood, who advised on the content used in the wider product range.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “These atmospheric illustrations bring to life the timeless stories of the Legend of Robin Hood, his merry men and Maid Marion. With its themes of friendship, loyalty, humanity and love, the enduring legend of Robin Hood has captured the hearts and imagination of people for centuries and will continue to do so.”

The stamps are available now at www.royalmail.com/robinhood and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is priced at £11.90.

The Legend of Robin Hood:
No particular individual can be proved to have been the ‘original’ Robin Hood; the figure may have been based on more than one person, or none. Traditionally, Robin Hood is made an outlaw by the corrupt Sherriff of Nottingham, so that he can confiscate Robin’s earldom of Huntingdon. In some stories, Robin plays into the Sherriff’s hands by protecting poachers in the royal forest of Sherwood Forest and builds a band of loyal outlaws, his ‘merry men’.

Foremost among these is Little John, a powerful man whom Robin invites to join he outlaws when John bests him in a quarterstaff fight. Friar Tuck is a former hermit with a fearsome reputation, known for carrying travellers over a nearby river. When Robin asks to be carried to the far bank, Tuck carries him over but then draws his sword and demands that Robin carry him back. Robin calls his men, and Tuck his dogs, but Robin avoids a damaging fight and asks Tuck to join the outlaws.

In later traditions, ‘Maid’ Marian is a nobleman’s daughter whom Robin helps escape when her father attempts to force her into life as a nun. Instead, Marian joins Robin’s band of outlaws. Marian and Robin fall in love and marry.

Robin and his comrades steal valuables from those who, like the monks from St Mary’s Abbey, hoard wealth they do not need. The outlaws redistribute the riches to those – from all walks of life – who do need them. Mostly, the outlaws rob people travelling along what became known as the Great North Road.

The Sherriff becomes Robin’s sworn enemy; a superb archer, Robin shames the Sherriff by winning the golden arrow in his archery contest. Sometimes the Sherriff is lured into the forest by Robin (or sometimes by Little John), where he is captured, tied up, stripped, and mocked by the outlaws, while in other stories he is killed, either for his bad faith or because he is their enemy.

Eventually, the King, disguised as an abbot, contrives to meet the outlaws in Sherwood Forest. He removes his disguise; the outlaws pledge their loyalty, and he pardons them. Robin goes to serve the King, but he later returns to the forest.

Robin Hood represents the powerless. Corrupt authority steals his power and agency, but he gradually takes them back – and helps others to do the same.

In the end, he is bled to death by his kinswoman the Abbess of Kirklees, but he takes charge again by firing the arrow that will mark his grave.

VSC: Royal Mail is offering an array of philatelic products, including a presentation pack, two postmarks for first day covers (the Wakefield postmark is shown on the right here), unserviced cacheted envelopes, framed stamps, full and half sheets of the Robin Hood Is Declared An Outlaw or Robin Hood Captures The Sheriff first-class stamps (but not for the other 8 stamps), and a set of picture postcards (below). However, we don’t see a minisheet or any platinum stamps this time (which would have been rather ironic considering Robin steals from the rich).

[from press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Reveals Flowers Special Stamps

• The new silhouette marks a significant milestone in British philatelic history
• The 10-stamp set showcases some of the most popular types of flowers grown in gardens across the UK:
  • Sweet pea
  • Iris
  • Lily
  • Sunflower
  • Fuchsia
  • Tulip
  • Peony
  • Nasturtium
  • Rose
  • Dahlia
• Royal Mail worked closely with gardening writer Naomi Slade on the stamp issue
• The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/flowers and by telephone on 03457 641 641
• All 10 stamps in a Presentation Pack go on general sale from 23 March and are priced at £10.40

Royal Mail is releasing a set of 10 stamps celebrating some of the most popular flowers which are grown in gardens across the UK.

These Special Stamps mark a significant milestone in British philatelic history as they are the first to feature the silhouette of HM King Charles III. This is the first change of silhouette since 1968. [more on the silhouette]

The stamps feature striking photographs of flowers against a white background alongside their common names and show:

• Sweet pea
• Iris
• Lily
• Sunflower
• Fuchsia
• Tulip
• Peony
• Nasturtium
• Rose
• Dahlia

Royal Mail worked closely with gardening writer Naomi Slade on the stamp issue.

The UK’s Favourite Blooms:
Although they are steeped in the familiarity of long association, many of the UK’s most identifiable flowers have arrived here from all over the world.

In addition to our native dog roses, a key ancestor of the garden favourite is the fragrant, multi-petalled French rose, Rosa gallica. It was prized by the Greeks and the Romans, and legend has it that new varieties arose when a cultivated form, Rosa gallica var. of ficinalis, was carried from Syria to France after the Crusades, where it became the Rose of Provins.

Peonies, too, are a footloose breed. The tree peony is esteemed in China as Hua Wang, the King of Flowers, and although 8th-century Buddhist monks originally valued peonies for their medicinal properties, this has been overshadowed by the sheer magnificence of their blossoms. Frequently held up as paragons of simplicity, lilies are more complex and culturally significant than most of us imagine. Cherished for millennia, the various species can be found in rocky Chinese gorges, flourishing in American meadows, or baking in Mediterranean heat. Yet throughout history, they have represented gods and purity, death and seduction, and have appeared in art for thousands of years.

Dahlias arrived in Spain from Central America, and inspired Europeans with their flamboyance and in finite variety. Like 17th-century ‘tulip mania’, dahlia-fancying soon became an expensive hobby. By the 19th century, dahlia tubers could fetch as much as £100 – then several years’ wages for many people.

It seems that even the UK’s best-loved traditional blooms are wanderers. Sweet peas hail from Sicily, while fuchsias, nasturtiums and sunflowers – often the first seeds we sow as children – are from the Americas.

In many ways, however, geography and provenance are irrelevant to the glorious melting pot that is a garden. Flowers mark our celebrations, our joys and our sorrows and, above all, they unify us through a pleasure that we can all understand.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Britain is a nation of gardeners, and a love of flowers runs deep in our collective consciousness. His Majesty is known to be a passionate gardener and we are delighted that the first Special Stamps to feature his silhouette should be a celebration of some of the most popular flowers in British gardens”.

The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/flowers and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is available on general sale from 23 March and priced at £10.40.

[VSC: Philatelic products include first day covers (two postmarks, the Tipton alternate shown below], unserviced cacheted envelope, picture postcards and sheets and half-sheets with just five of the 10 designs.]

Technical Specifications:
Number of stamps: Ten
Value of stamps: First Class
Design: Charlie Smith Design
Stamp format: Square
Stamp size: 35mm x 35mm
Number per sheet: 25/50
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Print process: Lithography
Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5
Phosphor Bars: as appropriate
Gum: PVA

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
HM King Charles III Silhouette Takes Its Place on UK Stamps

The creation of the new HM King Charles III silhouette was a collaboration between the illustrator Andrew Davidson, Head of Design and Editorial at Royal Mail, Marcus James, and Ian Chilvers, from design agency, Atelier Works.

The project began with Andrew Davidson working on a likeness that would work at stamp size.

The second major stage of development was the digitising and fine-tuning of the detail in the silhouette. This was conducted by both Royal Mail and Atelier Works with visual adjustments that were tested at actual size to ensure the silhouette would work at the diminutive dimensions required.

The final image was adjusted to ensure a likeness to the new Definitive ’everyday’ stamp.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks Flying Scotsman’s Centenary with a Set of Special Stamps
The Final Set Of Special Stamps Featuring Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Silhouette

• Steam locomotive Flying Scotsman celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023
• The 12-stamp set features the National Railway Museum’s Flying Scotsman in various locations across the UK:
  • Pickering Station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
  • In the Yorkshire Dales National Park
  • Crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
  • Steaming through the town of Blyth in Northumberland
  • In a blizzard at Heap Bridge on the East Lancashire Railway
  • Crossing the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed
  • At London’s Victoria Station
  • In close-up at Shildon, County Durham
• A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet show images of Flying Scotsman and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) poster artwork from the 1920s and 1930s
• These will be the final Special Stamps to feature Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s silhouette
• The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/flyingscotsman and by telephone on 03457 641 641
• All 12 stamps in a Presentation Pack go on general sale from 9 March and are priced at £17.70

Royal Mail and the National Railway Museum are marking the 100th anniversary of steam locomotive Flying Scotsman with a set of 12 Special Stamps.

The images feature Flying Scotsman in various locations across the UK:

• Pickering Station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• The ‘Christmas Dalesman’ steam special in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
• The ‘Cathedrals Express’ crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
• Steaming through the town of Blyth in Northumberland
• In a blizzard at Heap Bridge on the East Lancashire Railway
• The ‘Cathedrals Express’ excursion crossing the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed
• At London’s Victoria Station
• In close-up at Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham

A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet feature images of Flying Scotsman and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) poster artwork from the 1920s and 1930s.

• ‘Scotland by the Night Scotsman’ poster, artwork by Robert Bartlett, 1932
• ‘LNER train service to and from Scotland’ advertisement, designed by HL Oakley, 1923
• ‘Edinburgh: Mons Meg’ poster, artwork by Frank Newbould, 1935
• ‘Refuelling the Flying Scotsman’ poster, artwork by Frank Newbould, 1932

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Flying Scotsman is a national treasure of engineering and design that conjures up the golden age of steam travel. This remarkable locomotive epitomises the romance of rail travel and is loved all by people over the world. We are honoured to mark this landmark milestone with a set of Special Stamps.”

Royal Mail worked closely with Bob Gwynne, Associate Curator at the National Railway Museum, (part of the Science Museum Group), to select the images featured on the stamps that were chosen from amongst hundreds of period photographs.

About Flying Scotsman:
The steam locomotive Flying Scotsman left the LNER’s Doncaster Works in February 1923.

It was named the following year after the principal express which ran between London and Edinburgh. In 1928, it hauled the first regular non-stop service from London to Edinburgh.

Built as an ‘A1’ class engine with a boiler pressure of 180psi (pounds per square inch), it was rebuilt in 1947 as an ‘A3’, with a higher boiler pressure of 220psi.

The engine ushered in an era of big locomotives, and its long history of operation has included several ‘firsts’, such as being the first steam locomotive to achieve a speed of 100mph (161kmh).

Over a 40-year career on British rails, Flying Scotsman travelled over two million miles (3.2 million km) and became the first steam locomotive to reach a speed of 100mph (161kmh).

After Flying Scotsman’s retirement from scheduled service in 1963, it was bought by businessman Alan Pegler and given a1920s LNER livery and the number 4472. Pegler was ambitious, and in 1969 he took his loco on a ‘Buy British’ tour of the United States. The journey attracted big crowds, and over several years the engine steamed from Texas to Canada and then over the Rockies to San Francisco, garnering publicity but losing Pegler his fortune.

The locomotive was rescued from an uncertain fate by British millionaire Sir William McAlpine, who returned it to the UK in 1973, determined that this national treasure would never again be threatened with exile. In 1988, Flying Scotsman went to Australia for the country’s bicentenary and visited Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Perth. The tour ‘down under’ was a triumph, with the return journey via Cape Horn ensuring another ‘first’: the locomotive had circumnavigated the globe.

Since 2004, Flying Scotsman has been part of the collection of the National Railway Museum in York, following a global public campaign to save the engine for the nation. As the oldest operating steam locomotive on the main line, it remains a potent symbol of the steam age and an inspiration to many.

Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s silhouette:
Flying Scotsman’s stamp issue will be the last to feature the silhouette of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

The silhouette has been in constant use on Special Stamps since 1968 (55 years).

The first version of Queen Elizabeth’s silhouette to appear on Special Stamps was adapted from a 1953 design by sculptor and medallist, Mary Gillick, used on coinage from 1953 to 1967. It was first used on the Landscapes stamp issue in May 1966.

Stamp illustrator, David Gentleman, re-worked the Gillick Head silhouette. The updated design was first used on the British Bridges issue in 1968 and has remained in use until today.

The only occasion on which the silhouette has not featured on a Special Stamp is when an actual image of The Queen was used in the design of the stamp.

Future Special Stamps will feature a silhouette of His Majesty King Charles III.

The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/flyingscotsman and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps in the set is available on general sale from 16 February and priced at £17.70.

VSC adds:

There are 32 philatelic products available for this issue, including three different first day covers, each available with one of two postmarks (Doncaster and Tallents House). The third cover above is a “Prestige FDC.” There is also a set of postcards:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions] [most recent items are at the bottom]
Royal Mail Reveals Image of the New King Charles III Definitive Stamp

Date of Issue: 4 April
[addition at the end, 10 February]

• The image of HM The King is an adapted version of the portrait created by Martin Jennings for The Royal Mint for the obverse of the new UK coinage and shows the new monarch facing to the left
• A definitive stamp, often referred to as an ‘every day’ stamp that consists solely of the monarch’s head and value of the stamp on a plain coloured background
• The use of the coin image is a continuation of a long tradition stretching back to the creation of the Penny Black in 1840
• The King’s effigy appears alongside a barcode printed in matching colour alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line
• The colours for all four values are retained from the Machin definitive stamp that featured HM The Late Queen Elizabeth
  • 1st Class – Plum Purple
  • 2nd Class – Holly Green
  • 1st Class Large – Marine Turquoise
  • 2nd Class Large – Dark Pine Green
• Retailers will continue to sell their existing stocks of definitive stamps featuring Her Late Majesty The Queen and will be supplied with the new stamps when existing stocks at Royal Mail have been exhausted
• Customers can register their interest at www.royalmail.com/hmkingcharlesregister
• The stamps will go on general sale from 4 April
• The new 1st Class King Charles definitive stamp will form part of a special exhibition of Great Britain’s definitive stamps at the Postal Museum. Called ‘The King’s Stamp’, the exhibition is now open and runs until 3 September 2023

Royal Mail has revealed the image of new definitive stamp featuring the image of King Charles III. A definitive stamp is a stamp that consists solely of the monarchs’ head and value of the stamp on a plain coloured background.The image of HM The King is an adapted version of the portrait created by Martin Jennings for The Royal Mint for the obverse of the new UK coinage and shows the new monarch facing to the left.

The new coin effigy was carefully adjusted and digitally re-lit to make it suitable for use on definitive stamps, with the aim of creating a worthy successor to Arnold Machin’s classic image of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

The King’s effigy appears alongside a barcode printed in matching colour alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line. The colours for all four values are retained from the Machin stamps:

• 1st Class – Plum Purple
• 2nd Class – Holly Green
• 1st Class Large – Marine Turquoise
• 2nd Class Large – Dark Pine Green

To minimise the environmental and financial impact of the change of monarch, existing stocks of definitive stamps that feature Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth will be distributed and issued as planned and will remain valid for use in line with our recent transition to barcodes on definitive stamps.

Retailers will continue to sell their existing stocks of definitive stamps featuring Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth and be supplied with the new stamps when existing stocks at Royal Mail have been exhausted.

The use of the coin image is continuation of a long tradition stretching back to the creation of the Penny Black in 1840 [right].

Since the release of the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, in 1840, there has been a close association between British coins and Definitive stamps. The portrait of Queen Victoria on the Penny Black was based on that designed by William Wyon, chief engraver at The Royal Mint, for the ‘City’ medal of 1838, which commemorated Queen Victoria’s first visit to the City of London the year before.

During successive reigns, many artists worked on both coins and stamps or had their designs for the former adapted for use on the latter. In the 1960s, Arnold Machin created an effigy of The Queen for decimal coinage and then designed new definitive stamps, which became an iconic symbol of the United Kingdom around the world, reproduced billions of times.

King Charles III becomes the seventh monarch to appear on a Definitive stamp. The first was Queen Victoria who appeared on the Penny Black in 1840, followed by Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Queen Elizabeth II and now King Charles III.

Simon Thompson, CEO, Royal Mail said: “Ever since the Penny Black was issued in the reign of Queen Victoria, British stamps have carried the image of the reigning monarch. The Definitive stamp has become a recognisable symbol of each reign. Uniquely, British stamps do not have the country of origin printed on them as the image of the monarch is sufficient. So today is a hugely important milestone for Royal Mail and the country as we reveal the image of the new King Charles Definitive.”

Customers can register their interest now at www.royalmail.com/hmkingcharlesregister

The stamps will go on general sale from 4 April 2023.

The Postal Museum Exhibition:
The new 1st Class stamp forms part of an exhibition of Great Britain’s definitive stamps at the Postal Museum, London. Called ‘The King’s Stamp’, the exhibition coincides with the release of the new King Charles III 1st Class definitive stamp. and runs until 3 September 2023.

The display will celebrate the newest stamp design with a unique chance to see a sheet of King Charles III 1st Class definitive before they are in public circulation.

The exhibition tells the story of definitive stamps from the very first design, the famous Penny Black featuring Queen Victoria, to today. Visitors will see rare stamps from the reigns of seven monarchs, including King Edward VII’s Tyrian Plum, which was never released, and Queen Victoria’s Two Penny Blue. It will culminate in the newest design for the reign of King Charles III.

Visitors can explore how stamps have been designed and produced with works from Edmund Dulac, Bertram Park and Dorothy Wilding. They can also discover how past monarchs have influenced the design process, shaping their royal identity through these ubiquitous objects.

The exhibition is included with entry to The Postal Museum and is perfect for all ages. For tickets, visit postalmuseum.org

Added 10 February:
From the Royal Mail register-your-interest page, “A range of collectibles with all four new King Charles III stamps including a Presentation Pack and First Day Cover will be available to pre-order from 3 March. The stamps will go on general sale from 4 April.”

Added 4 March:
Royal Mail sent out a promotional email:

The very first definitive stamps to feature the new portrait of His Majesty King Charles III are now available to pre-order.

This is a defining moment in philately that you’ll not want to miss.

The stamps feature a portrait of King Charles III, created by Martin Jennings for the UK’s coinage and adapted for use on postage stamps, continuing a tradition dating back to the creation of the Penny Black in 1840. Don’t miss your chance to order from this issue.

Under that are illustrations and links to four of the products Royal Mail is offering:The “Shop Now” links don’t work in the above illustration, but you can see these and more collectibles on the Royal Mail site’s page for this issue.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Reveals Images of Marvel’s X-Men Special Stamps
Stamp designs are exclusively illustrated by renowned British comic book artists, Mike Mckone and Lee Garbett

• The X-Men franchise celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2023
• The 17-stamp set celebrates some of the most iconic characters to have featured in the comic book franchise since 1963
• MARVEL is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies with a catalogue of iconic Super Hero characters
• The stamps are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/xmen and by phone on 03457 641 641
• All 17 stamps in a Presentation Pack go on general sale from 16 February and are priced at £16.35

Royal Mail is marking the 60th anniversary of X-Men, with a new set of 17 Special Stamps.The stamps celebrate some of the most iconic characters to have featured in the comic book franchise since 1963.

The 12 stamps in the main set are original illustrations and were created exclusively for Royal Mail by renowned British comic book artist Mike McKone. They feature: Professor X; Kitty Pryde; Angel; Colossus; Jubilee; Cyclops; Wolverine; Jean Grey; Iceman, Storm; Beast; and Rogue.

An additional set of five stamps is included in a miniature sheet. These images were exclusively illustrated for Royal Mail by Eisner-Award-nominated artist, Lee Garbett. The miniature sheet stamps feature some of the mutant enemies faced by the X-Men: Juggernaut; Mystique; Magneto; Emma Frost; and Sabretooth.David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Generations have grown up, enamoured by the adventures and the personalities of the X-Men and their enemies. We celebrate the X-Men Universe with these stylish new stamps featuring some of its iconic characters.”

The stamps are available now at www.royalmail.com/xmen and by phone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 17 stamps in the set is available on general sale from 16 February and priced at £16.35.

Where it all began:
The X-Men were founded by mutant telepath Professor Charles Xavier. His first team consisted of Cyclops (Scott Summers), Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), Angel (Warren Worthington III), Beast (Hank McCoy) and Iceman (Bobby Drake) and was based in Xavier’s home, which was transformed into the School for Gifted Youngsters and dubbed the X-Mansion. After many of the original X-Men were captured by the mutant island of Krakoa, Professor X formed a new squad to rescue them, bringing heroes such as Wolverine and Storm into a new international team. Xavier’s school soon became a refuge for mutants from all over the world, forming and inspiring teams such as the New Mutants, Excalibur and Generation X. Now the X-Men live in a new home — a reborn Krakoa — that welcomes all mutants. Cyclops and his allies still fight the good fight as the world’s premier mutant heroes the X-Men, keeping Xavier’s dream alive.

Stamp-by-stamp:
Professor X: One of the world’s most powerful telepaths, Charles Xavier lost the use of his legs while fighting a super villain named Lucifer. Charles, aka Professor X, formed the X-Men to train young mutants and show the world that they could also be heroes.

Kitty Pryde: For many years, Kate ‘Kitty’ Pryde was the X-Men’s youngest member, joining when she was a teenager. Her mutant ability allows her to phase through objects. She was taught martial arts by Wolverine’s teacher Ogun and by Wolverine himself, and she adopted an alien dragon named Lockheed.

Angel: Sprouting wings while at college, Warren Worthington III fought crime as Avenging Angel before Professor X recruited him for the X-Men. He once lost his wings and was transformed by Apocalypse into a more fearsome entity but eventually regained his angelic appearance.

Colossus: Hailing from Siberia, Piotr Rasputin has the mutant ability to transform his skin into an organic steel-like substance. His mutation also gives him exceptional strength and power. A gentle soul, Piotr has developed a close friendship with fellow mutant Nightcrawler.

Jubilee: An expert gymnast, Jubilee was the daughter of Hong Kong immigrants to the USA and raised in Beverly Hills. She joined the X-Men shortly after her parents’ death, when her mutant ability to create explosive balls of light kicked in.

Cyclops: When he was a teenager, Scott Summers’s deadly optic-blasts threatened those around him. Once Professor X invited him to join the X-Men, he learned to control his powers with the use of a ruby quartz visor. Codenamed Cyclops, he was the X-Men’s first team leader.

Wolverine: Wolverine’s mutation gives him an amazingly quick healing ability and wild, feral traits. Born James Howlett, he later took the name Logan. His virtually indestructible adamantium metal skeleton and claws — coupled with a warrior-like fury and exceptional martial arts skills — make him one of the world’s deadliest mutant heroes.

Jean Grey: Jean Grey was one of Professor Xavier’s first students, and she learned to control her exceptional telepathic and telekinetic powers under his guidance. She was once also Phoenix, a powerful and fearful cosmic entity. She now leads a team of X-Men with Cyclops.

Iceman: Bobby Drake was the youngest of the original X-Men. Able to freeze both himself and the world around him, he saw his abilities become increasingly powerful as he matured. Now he can not only create weapons made of ice but also transform his body into sentient ice.

Storm: Ororo Munroe’s parents were killed in an explosion. The orphaned child survived as a thief on the streets of Cairo until her mutant ability to control the weather made some believe that she was a goddess. Soon after joining the X-Men, she became one of the key members.

Beast: Gifted scientist Hank McCoy was one of the X-Men’s founding members. He gained a more beastlike form while trying to rid himself of his mutation. He has since come to terms with his appearance and revels in the extra strength and agility it gives him.

Rogue: As a teenager, Anna Marie discovered that she had the mutant power to absorb other people’s memories and abilities — including any superpowers they possessed. After starting out as a villain alongside Mystique, she turned to the X-Men for help, becoming one of their greatest heroes.

[end of press release]

The 37 X-Men items available from Royal Mail include:

• X-Men Silver Plated Ingot – Professor X [shown right], £24.99. Limited to only 5,000
• “Fan sheets” for Jean Grey [shown above] and Wolverine (but not others?), each £7.00. These are also limited to just 5,000 (each)
• X-Men Silver Plated Medal Cover — Professor X, £19.99, and also one for Magneto. These, too, are limited to — you guessed it — 5,000.
• First day covers of all 16 stamps, with Muir of Ord or Tallents House postmarks, each £12.40
• Prestige sheet FDC with either postmark, each £4.70

as well as postcards, cacheted envelopes at £0.30 each, press sheets, and full- and half-sheets of the 1st Class or 2nd Class stamps.
VSC editor’s notes:

• There is no attempt in the press release to link the X-Men or their creation with the United Kingdom; that is, no justification for these stamps other than “it’s an anniversary and we want to issue these.”
• The highest-priced item is the press sheet at £67.80. Some previous UK pop-culture issues have had products at much, much higher prices.
• The FDC for the Prestige Booklet stamps [below] is the only illustration on the Royal Mail site of the prestige stamps.
• Royal Mail warns that its “international export services continue to be disrupted following a cyber incident. There is currently a limited service.”

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Honours Rock Legends Iron Maiden with a Set of 12 Special Stamps

• Royal Mail has revealed images of 12 stamps being issued as a tribute to one of the most revered and influential bands of all time – Iron Maiden
• Eight of the stamps will feature images of some of their legendary performances over the years
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, pays homage to the band’s long-serving mascot and pop-cultural icon in his own right, Eddie
• The band has amassed over 100 million record sales, almost 2,500 live performances across 64 countries, 17 studio albums and has recently finished their Legacy Of The Beast World Tour where they played to over 3,000,000 fans
• Royal Mail collaborated closely with the band members and Phantom Music Management Ltd on the stamp issue
• Iron Maiden become only the fifth music group to feature in a dedicated stamp issue – following on from The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020, and the Rolling Stones in 2022
• The band will be back on the road in 2023 with their brand new The Future Past tour, with dates across the UK and Europe
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available  at www.royalmail.com/ironmaiden and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641
• The Presentation Pack containing all 12 stamps is priced at £17.70

Royal Mail has revealed images of 12 new Special Stamps celebrating one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, Iron Maiden.

The main stamp set celebrates Iron Maiden’s live performances, featuring a selection of photos from their world-wide tours across the years, internationally and at home – and feature all current members of the band.

Images range from the 1980s until 2018 and show:

• Steve Harris in Vancouver, June 2010
• Bruce Dickinson at Hammersmith, Odeon, London, May 1983
• Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Steve Harris in Pamplona, September 1988
• Nicko McBrain in Quito, March 2009
• Dave Murray, Bruce Dickinson and Janick Gers in Rio de Janeiro, January 2001
• Adrian Smith and Steve Harris in Helsinki, May 2018
• Iron Maiden at Twickenham Stadium, London, July 2008
• Bruce Dickinson sword fighting with Eddie in Birmingham, August 2018

A further four stamps pay homage to the band’s long-serving mascot and pop-cultural icon in his own right, Eddie, with his own miniature sheet. The stamps show four notorious Eddie artworks, including the latest addition featuring Eddie as a samurai warrior from the recent Senjutsu album.Shown on the stamps are:

• • ‘Iron Maiden’ Eddie: The stare that started it all. Born in 1980 – on the cover of the band’s debut album
  • ‘The Trooper’ Eddie: The unforgettable artwork for one of Iron Maiden’s greatest hit singles and, more recently, the logo for their award-winning beer
  • ‘Aces High’ Eddie: Reimagined as a fighter pilot for a song honouring the RAF servicemen who defended Britain during the Second World War
  • ‘Senjutsu’ Eddie: Samurais, feudal Japan and flashing blades inspired this katana-wielding warrior, from the band’s most recent album

  The backdrop of the miniature sheet is taken from Iron Maiden’s first official live album, Live After Death (1985).

  Founded in east London in the mid-1970s by songwriter and bassist Steve Harris, Iron Maiden’s decades-spanning career has made them one of the most revered and influential bands of all time. With over 100 million record sales, almost 2,500 live performances across 64 countries and 17 studio albums – including their latest, Senjutsu, released in 2021 – Iron Maiden have remained fearlessly creative and dedicated to their legions of fans for almost half a century.

  Iron Maiden founder member and bassist Steve Harris comments: “We were all absolutely astounded – in a good way! – when we heard first about the commemorative project, and equally pretty much speechless when we saw the stamps for the very first time. They look superb and I think they really capture the essence and energy of Maiden. We’re all very proud that Royal Mail has chosen to honour the band’s legacy like this and we know our fans will feel the same way,”

  Iron Maiden manager, Rod Smallwood adds: “As a band who have never played by anyone else’s rules for over 40 years, it’s very gratifying to see them honoured in their home country in this way. We’re proud to show how these six band members are still appealing to more and more fans every year with their music and their legendary shows – which I think these stamps really capture well. It’s also fantastic that Eddie has been honoured too – it’s incredible to think that Her Majesty, may she rest in peace, saw these and lent her iconic silhouette to them too.”

  David Gold, Director of External Public Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Few bands in the history of rock music can be called bona fide rock legends – but Iron Maiden are just that – and more. With legions of devoted fans of all ages and from every corner of the globe, not only have they changed the way rock music sounds, but they have also changed the way it looks. We fully expect their fans will love these stamps as much as we do.”

  Royal Mail collaborated closely with the band members and Phantom Music Management Ltd on the stamp issue.

  The band will be back on the road in 2023 with their brand new, The Future Past tour, with dates across the UK and Europe.

  The stamps are now on general sale from 12 January 2023 with a Presentation Pack containing all 12 stamps priced at £17.70. They may be ordered at www.royalmail.com/ironmaiden and by phone on 03457 641 641.

VSC Notes: The “special products” include

• A “highly collectible keepsake featuring platinum-layered Eddie Stamp Sheet stamps packaged in an Iron Maiden flight case” [shown here]. It is currently “out of stock” but when it is available, the price is £199.99.
• A special edition version of the Iron Maiden stamp set “plated in pure 24 carat gold with colourised and embossed detailing.” This one is in-stock and only £149.99.
• Various fan and collector sheets (£7.50 to £12.40), a press sheet, postcards, and “full sheets” (48 stamps) and “half sheets” (24), with either the four first-class designs or four £1.85 designs
• The only first day covers offered are two silver-plated “medal” covers at £19.99 each.