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Here in the Smilers News section you will find a current update to our catalogue and listings, providing all the latest Smilers related information, news snippets and anything else we think you might be interested in relating to Smilers and associated label sheets issued by Royal Mail and others!  Full details of all new issues will appear under the New Issues menu option.

Earlier News Reports are provided in Adobe Acrobat pdf file format and are generally available during the first couple of weeks following the preceding period. Click on this link News Archive to go to the Smilers News Archive page.

News - 2024

• Porridge  

  In the week that the UK government freed 1,700 prisoners on an early release scheme due to overcrowding in Britain's Jails, the Royal Mail have spectacularly celebrated the event with a new stamp issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of the TV sitcom, Porridge, a comedy set in one of Britain's Victorian prisons and much of the humour dating back to that time! In Royal Mail's own words ....

  To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic British TV comedy series Porridge Royal Mail is thrilled to release a commemorative stamp set and range of collectibles. First broadcast by the BBC in 1974, Porridge has become a beloved classic, renowned for its witty dialogue, memorable characters, and the brilliant performance of Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher. The series, set within the confines of a prison, masterfully blends humour with poignant realism, capturing the hearts of millions. This special stamp collection pays tribute to the enduring legacy of Porridge, a show that continues to resonate with audiences, offering both nostalgia and a reminder of its timeless appeal.

  The stamp issue is due out on 3rd September 2024 and features four horizontal se-tenant pairs and includes memorable quotes and scenes featuring some of the most popular characters in the sitcom including Fletcher, Godber and Mr Mackay.  The stamp issue  includes First Day Covers, Presentation Pack, Postcards, Frames and of course the ubiquitous Generic Smilers/Collector Sheet.  The Collector Sheet includes all eight stamps plus two additional 1st class stamps to make up the 10 stamps on the sheet.  Unlike the gummed standard issue these are sold as self adhesive stamps, creating an additional collectible variety.

  

  GS-166

  We will again be supplying this sheet through our eBay shop and if this is of interest then please click on the above image to see our listing on eBay. We have also produced a small number of Collector sheet FDC's and these are also available for purchase through our eBay shop. (01/09)

• Dungeons & Dragons  

  The latest pop-culture-inspired set of stamps and collectibles has been released by Royal Mail, this time to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the iconic role-playing tabletop fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons. 

  All you ever wanted to know about this "iconic" game can be found here:

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons

  (Probably more than you ever wanted to know if the truth be told! - as you may have inferred I am not a fan of this issue but I am sure I am in a minority and many others will, no doubt, be delighted with these colourful designs).

  This new issue of stamps features a set of eight stamps 4 x 1st and 4 x £2.50 which are repeated on a new Collector Sheet which duplicate one pair to enable 5 x 1st and 5 x £2.50 stamps to be featured on the sheet.

  There is a plethora or other Royal Mail collectibles to accompany this issue - mini sheet, presentation pack, FDC's, fan sheets etc., but you can find out more about these over at the Royal Mail web site.

  

  GS-165

  We can supply this sheet through our eBay shop, if interested, please click on the above image to see our listing on eBay.   We have also produced a small number of Collector sheet FDC's and these are also available for purchase through our eBay shop.  Click on the following images to see our eBay listing. (25/07)

  

  

• Royal Mail - Gone to the Dogs?  

  In the month Royal Mail accepted a take-over offer by Czech Billionaire Daniel Kretínský, Royal Mail  announced that their next special stamp issue would feature ten of the UK's most popular breeds of dog.  Their latest issue subject neatly reflects the plight that Royal Mail find themselves in but that is a subject for others to pick over! 

  Five first class and five second class stamps make up the new issue which is due out on the 6th June 2024 and depicts images of some of the most popular dog pet breeds in the UK. The stamps are issued se-tenant in sheets of 50 and printed by Cartor on water activated gummed paper in Lithography.

  

  The special issue includes the usual collectible offerings such as Presentation Pack, First Day Covers, maxi-cards pack and framed stamps sets. Additionally it includes a Collectors Sheet containing all 10 stamps accompanied by labels showing ‘fetching’ images of each of the breeds featured in the set whilst enjoying the outdoors. All stamps and accompanying labels are Litho printed on self-adhesive paper, and so are different from the stamp set.

  

  GS-164

  Whilst nobody can deny these stamps are cute, even likeable, no one is suggesting that they are anything other an attempt to cash- in on philatelic interest in British Stamps whose days may be numbered given the interest from Daniel Kretínský. Mad dogs and Englishmen .....

  That said, we are stocking this Collector Sheet and you can buy it through our eBay store by double clicking on the above image.  We have also produced a pair of First Day Covers featuring these smilers stamps/labels and these are also also available through our eBay store - please double-click on image below if interested. (04/06)

  

• Centenary of British Commemorative Stamps   

  Royal Mail's next issue, due out on the 16th April 2024, "celebrates 100 years since the United Kingdom issued its first commemorative stamp in 1924". 

  At the risk of being labeled a pedant (and it wouldn't be this first time)  one could argue that since the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland didn't come into being until 1927 it can hardly claim this anniversary as its own.  But such is Royal Mail's ability to warp the truth, along with its sister company - the Post Office, mere facts such as these can easily be swept under the carpet in the hope that no one notices. 

  It is however, 100 year since the issue of a set of commemorative stamps to mark the British Empire Exhibition, which took place at Wembley Park in London in 1924/25.  King George V was a keen stamp collector but he was somewhat unsure about the idea of a commemorative stamp issue, however, despite his initial reluctance the first British commemorative set, with designs by Harold Nelson, was issued on 23 April 1924, the first day of the exhibition.

  In the early days, there were few commemorative issues. King George V got a commemorative stamp set for his Silver Jubilee in 1935. Numbers of commemoratives remained low in the 1950s, with only five issues. These were produced to mark some of the major events of the decade, most notably the Festival of Britain. The 1960s saw a marked change in stamp production and a period of great expansion in designs and approaches especially following the reforms to Commemorative Stamp issues initiated in 1964.

  Today things have developed to a point where hardly any stamps are issued to commemorate or mark worthwhile national events or anniversaries with most such issues now falling into the category of "special stamps", a term coined by Royal Mail to distinguish them from definitive stamp issues, such as the recent Spice Girls issue!

  Some senior stamp collectors may welcome this issue as a brief return to a more familiar territory , however some may think that Royal Mail have gone overboard in issuing another 10 x 1st class series when perhaps 4 would have sufficed - but then it would have been difficult to fill a new collector sheet with only 4 new designs......

  

  GS-163

  The ten new self-adhesive stamps incorporated in this sheet design are the same ten designs as the normal issue printed in Litho on gummed paper. As such, they will vary from the normal issue. The stamps are attached to illustrated labels showing a hand-stamp from the time of the stamp featured in the new design. 

  Other products include : Presentation Pack, First Day Cover, Maxicards, and framed collectibles. The sheet will be available to purchase from the 16th April via our eBay store (click on image above) as are First Day Covers bearing these stamp/label combinations. (10/04) 

• Spice Up Your Life!   

  Royal Mail are celebrating the biggest girl group of all time – the Spice Girls – on their 30th anniversary of their formation in 1994. Music Giants IX is the first stamp issue for 2024 due out on 11th January. The stamp issue comprises 10 x 1st class stamps, a mini sheet, comprising a further 5 x 1st class stamp designs and a plethora of other collectibles too large for me to do them justice in this column. Of specific interest are two new collector sheets, the first includes all 10 x 1st class stamps from the Music Giants IX issue, set against a colourful background and attached to themed labels with further images of this successful girl band. The second includes two sets of the 5 x 1st class stamps featured in the mini sheet we are calling it the "the pink sheet"!!   

  

   

  

  GS-161

  

  GS-162

  As has been the practice of Royal Mail in similar media based issues, the first of the two collector sheets is printed in Litho on self adhesive and thus the only source of the self adhesive format stamps. The second sheet features self adhesive stamps printed in Litho similar to those featured on the mini sheet.  The sheet stamps are issued in se-tenant strips of 5 and on gummed paper.  The above collector sheets are now available to order through our eBay store, if interested please click on the images above to order. (06/01)

• Royal Mail Stamp Programme 2024   

  Royal Mail have announced details of their proposed 2024 stamp issue programme as follows. 

  Stamp Issue	Date of Issue
  Music Giants IX: Spice Girls	11-Jan-2024
  Weather	01-Feb-2024
  Vikings	20-Feb-2024
  Dinosaurs	12-Mar-2024
  Centenary of Commemorative Stamps	16-Apr-2024
  Peppa Pig	16-May-2024
  Dogs	06-Jun-2024
  Red Arrows 60th Anniversary	20-Jun-2024
  Dungeons & Dragons	25-Jul-2024
  Tower of London	13-Aug-2024
  Porridge	03-Sep-2024
  Spiders	26-Sep-2024
  Music Giants X -The Who	17-Oct-2024
  Christmas 2024	05-Nov-2024
  Winston Churchill	30-Nov-2024

  The issues highlighted in red are those with potential interest for Smilers Sheet Collectors.  No further details exist so we shall all have to wait and see what 2024 brings! (06/01)

• 2023 News Archive    

  I have now archived the 2023 Smilers News and you may now download this in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format by clicking on the above link. Keep Smiling in 2023! 

  I have also updated  details of all generic, collector, themed and business customised stamp sheets issued during 2023 and hopefully have not made too many mistakes!  You can find these updated listed under the New Issues menu item at top left.  (04/01)