-
The 2024 Stamp Programme from Royal Mail
The 2024 Royal Mail stamp programme has been released to the stamp
trade but is embargoed until 5th January 2024. So why don't you tell
me what you want, what you really, really want, to see as the first issue
in January! Keep Smiling! (13/11)
-
Christmas 2023 Collector Sheet
The Christmas stamp issue has arrived as an early Christmas present for
some Smilers collectors, issued on 2nd November 2023, just as yours truly
was setting off on a two week break, my apologies for the delay in posting
details of this issue due in part to Royal Mail's publicity embargo dates
coinciding with my winter jollies!
The Christmas 2023 set of stamps has been inspired by Christmas carols
and caroling. One of the great joys of the caroling tradition in the UK is
that it has been open to many different musical and cultural influences.
From the riches of British and European folk song to stirring hymns and
village ‘wassail’ songs, many of our best-loved and most popular
Christmas carols have a rich and varied history.
The set of five special stamps features brand new illustrations by
artist Tom Duxbury, who specialises in the techniques of block printing to
depict both vintage and modern scenes and lines from some of the most popular Christmas
carols. The five new stamps are:
- 2nd
Class
O Holy Night
- 1st
Class
O Little Town of Bethlehem
- 2nd Class Large Silent Night
- 1st Class Large Away in a Manger
- £2.20
We Three Kings
Royal Mail have stuck
with the nativity theme design for the stamps which maybe the reason I see
similarities in design to last
years issue, with lines of verse from well known Christmas Carols featuring
on the stamps themselves and on the attached labels of the Collector
Sheet. Of particular note is the appearance of King Charles III silhouette
on these stamps, the first of his reign on British Christmas Stamps.
Royal Mail have restricted the stamps included in the
Collector sheet design to the three most widely used values (2nd, 1st and
£2.20 overseas letter rate) which has, in my opinion, improved the symmetry
in design. It's one of the nicest Christmas Collector/Smilers sheets
I think Royal Mail have produced and if history is anything to go by will
surely be a sell out well before the withdrawal date.
We have produced a couple of first day covers featuring
these stamps/labels from the new sheet and these and the collector sheet
are available to order through our eBay store, please click on the
images above.
Finally, may I wish all my readers a very peaceful and reflective
festive period and a prosperous and happy New Year for the year ahead,
remember Keep Smiling! (12/11)
-
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
October sees the return of new Harry Potter themed stamps with Royal
Mail's latest stamp issue, due out on 19th October 2023. Royal Mail
celebrates the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter with a new set of
10 Special Stamps and Miniature Sheet of six stamps.
In keeping with recent "media-based" stamp
issues from Royal Mail there is a huge hoard of collectibles to collect
including FDC's (2), Fan Sheets (3), Prestige Booklets (2),
Presentation Pack, Coin Covers, Postcards, etc., etc., not least of which
includes a Wizarding World Collector Sheet.
GS-159
The collector sheet includes all ten new stamps from the
stamp set paired with still images of the final films and the battle that
ensued between good and evil. The background features Hogwarts protected
by charms to create a fortress and includes characters Ron Weasley, The
Weasley Twins, Minerva McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry Potter,
Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, Molly
Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, Fenrir Greyback, Scabior,
Lord Voldemort, a Death Eater, Severus Snape, Alecto Carrow, Draco Malfoy
and Gregory Goyle. The Sheet is printed in Litho by Carter Security
Printers on self-adhesive paper which is different from the stamps in the
set which are Litho and conventional PVA Gum.
We have produced a few sets of first day covers featuring
the stamps/labels from this new sheet and these and the collector sheet
are available to pre-order through our eBay store, please click on the
images above. (12/10)
-
It's all about the Bassey!!
Due out on the 21st September 2021 is the eighth issue in the Royal
Mail Stamp series, Music Giants, and Royal Mail has chosen to
celebrate the unique voice and iconic status of Dame Shirley Bassey,
70 years on from the start of her career in 1953 with a set of eight new
stamps (4 x 1st + 4 x £2) capturing her performances over the
years.
A Miniature Sheet with an additional four stamps shows a more natural
side of Dame Shirley with photographs taken during recording sessions and
rehearsals.
The issue also includes a variety of other collectibles including a Presentation
Pack including all eight new stamps, a fan sheet, an uncut press sheet, a
prestige stamp booklet, three different coin covers, First Day covers for
both the stamp set and miniature sheet, framed collectibles and (of
course) a Collector Sheet featuring all eight new stamps attached to
labels with additional images of Dame Shirley Bassey.
GS-158
The stamp sheet features all eight new stamps (4 x 1st + 4 x £2). The collector sheet is self adhesive and thus the only
source of these stamps in this format. The sheet stamps are issued se-tenant
pairs on gummed paper. The above collector sheet is available to
order through our eBay store, please click on the image above...
(12/09)
-
Happy Birthday Paddington!
Issued today, the 5th September 2023 is a brand new stamp set from
Royal Mail celebrating the 65th birthday of Peru’s most famous bear -
Paddington!
The marmalade-loving bear first appeared in October 1958 in A Bear
Called Paddington, written by English author Thomas Michael Bond CBE.
Paddington’s adventures have now been translated into more than 40
languages, with over 35 million copies sold worldwide, and the friendly
bear has also featured in several TV series, two blockbuster films - with
a third in development, not to mention cameo appearances with certain
British Royalty (my personal favourite appearance - see below)!
A new set of six new stamps feature Ivor Wood’s strip cartoons of
Paddington, originally published in the London Evening News newspaper in
the late 1970s and comprise 2 x 1st, 2 x £2 and 2 x £2.20. There
is also a delightful miniature sheet with four new stamps taken from the
1975 TV series, also by Ivor Wood.
In addition to the usual offerings of First Day Covers, Presentation
Packs, Press Sheets and other Royal Mail collectibles there is also a
rather nice Collector/Generic Smilers sheet featuring the two
first class stamps (5 of each design) with accompanying labels also
illustrated by Ivor Wood. All stamps and accompanying labels are
Litho and self-adhesive, this is different from the stamp set which are
Litho and Gum.
GS-157
As usual we are carrying stocks of this latest collector
sheet and you can buy it through our e-bay shop by clicking on the above
image.
Finally, as we approach the first anniversary of our late
Queen's death on 8th September 2023 I thought this a fitting tribute
to our much loved, Queen Elizabeth II....
..... I mentioned earlier that Paddington Bear had
appeared in a cameo appearance with British Royalty - to relive this
moment just click on the following image for a joyous snapshot in time.
Enjoy! (05/09)
-
Terry Prachett's Discworld
Released on 10th August 2023, Royal Mail's latest stamp issue features
some of the characters from Terry Prachett's Discworld.
Sir Terry Pratchett, OBE (1948–2015) is regarded as one of the UK’s
greatest fantasy writers. His defining work is the Discworld series, which
spans 41 novels that have been translated into over 40 languages, with
more than a hundred million copies sold worldwide. A flat, circular planet
revolving atop a vast star turtle called the Great A’Tuin, Discworld is
the fictional setting of Terry Pratchett’s iconic series and inspiration
for this Royal Mail Special Issue.
Royal Mail commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the publication of the
first Discworld book, The Colour of Magic, with eight new stamps
featuring artwork by Terry Pratchett’s illustrator of choice, Paul Kidby.
The stamps include characters Rincewind, The Librarian, Granny Weatherwax,
Sam Vimes, and Great A’Tuin, as well as specially commissioned artworks
of Death and Mort, Tiffany Aching and Moist von Lipwig.
The new issue includes a new Smilers / Collector Sheet from Royal
Mail.
GS-156
The stamp sheet features all of the eight new stamps with the 1st
class pair duplicated. The collector sheet is self adhesive and thus the only
source of these stamps in this format. The sheet stamps are issued se-tenant
pairs on gummed paper. The above new sheet is available to buy
through our eBay store, please click on the image above... (10/08)
-
River Wildlife
On 13th July 2023 Royal Mail released their latest stamp issue to
include a Smilers / Collector Sheet offering. The stamp issue comprises a
set of ten stamps featuring River Wildlife (5 x 2nd and 5 x 1st) which are
repeated in the collector sheet attached to labels with additional images
of river wildlife. The collector sheet is self adhesive and thus the only
source of these stamps in this format. The sheet stamps are issued se-tenant
in strips of 5 on gummed paper.
GS-155
We have produced a pair of first day covers featuring
these stamps/labels, cancelled using a special first day of issue hand
stamp. To purchase either this collector sheet or the set of first day
covers please click on the relevant image. (16/07)
-
Security Backing Paper (SBP)
This week I received an interesting e-mail from long-time collector and
contributor
to these columns, John Gray, who provided the following
observation (and challenge) for us Smilers sheet collectors to consider,
now that the nights are drawing in ....
" I am aware that all the Royal Mail Collectors sheets issued
since DC Collections in 2021 have been printed on Security Backing Paper
and that over the 18 different sheets issued both types of Security
Backing Paper (SBP2u and SBP2i) have been detected. What I don’t know is
if any of the Collectors sheets have been issued on two different papers.
I have put together a listing with the sheets and relevant Security
Backing Papers in my collection.
| Sheet
No. |
Sheet
Name |
Sheet
orientation |
SBP
orientation |
SBP
type |
| GS137 |
DC
collection |
Portrait |
Horizontal |
SBP2i |
| GS138 |
Christmas
2021 |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
| GS139 |
Lunar Year
of the Tiger |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
| GS140 |
Rolling
Stones Hyde park |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2i |
| GS141 |
Rolling
Stones on Tour |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2i |
| GS142 |
London 2020 |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
| GS143 |
Cats |
Portrait |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
| GS144 |
PRIDE |
Landscape |
Horizontal |
SBP2i |
| GS145 |
Transformers |
Landscape |
Horizontal |
SBP2u |
| GS146 |
Aardman
Classics |
Portrait |
Horizontal |
SBP2i |
| GS147 |
Christmas
2022 |
Landscape |
Horizontal |
SBP2u |
| GS148 |
Lunar Year
of the Rabbit |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
| GS149 |
Iron Maiden
Live |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
| GS150 |
Iron Maiden |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
| GS151 |
X-men |
Portrait |
Horizontal |
SBP2i |
| GS152 |
King
Charles III |
Portrait |
Vertical |
SBP2i |
| GS153 |
Blackadder |
Landscape |
Horizontal |
SBP2u |
| GS154 |
Warhammer |
Landscape |
Vertical |
SBP2u |
The orientation of the lettering of the SBP can be seen by looking
directly at a pale-coloured part of the sheet with illumination from the
back. The Cats sheet is a good sheet to start with as there is a lot of
white and a pale background. The lines of text can be seen to run either
horizontally or vertically (vertically on the Cats sheet) when the sheet
is looked at from the front with the sheet in its normal orientation. The
lines of text are curved, but it is easy to distinguish the horizontal or
vertical orientation.
The rolls of SBP used to print the sheets may be introduced into the
printer units in two different orientations, originally called SBP2u
(upright) or SPB2I (inverted). John Deering of Gibbons Stamp Monthly has
introduced another description, Ls (Large over small) or sL (small over
Large), when looking at two adjacent lines of text in the same
orientation. The SBP2u (or Ls) and SBP2i (or sL) orientations are shown
below. The text must be looked at from the front of the stamp in its
normal orientation.
However, this causes a slight problem when the text is running
vertically through the sheet as in sheets issued in Landscape
format. The solution is to turn the sheet so the right-hand side is
at the top and then read which type of SBP has been used. This gives the
types I have recorded for my sheets.
I would like to know if any of the sheets were printed with two
different orientations of the SBP. Many of the definitive stamp printings
for counter sheets, booklets and business sheets are known with both
types, as are minisheets of special stamps, but this might be expected
with large printing runs requiring changes of the paper rolls. With the
relatively small print runs for Collectors sheets, are changes of the
paper rolls likely?"
John's challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to look at
your sheets and if you find any at variance with John's findings please
send me an e-mail with a note of the variation. As is usual in such
"covert missions", this message will self destruct after
reading!
I cannot find any variations to John's list from my own stock and
collection and would support John's hypothesis that given the relatively
small print runs of these sheets it is likely that variations in SBP
orientation, for a given issue, may not exist. However, we await
your findings with interest. (21/06)
-
Warhammer
When I read that Royal Mail were planning to release a set of stamps on
the 8th June based on something called Warhammer I immediately
envisioned that the issue would feature that well known Scandinavian
detective played by Kenneth Branagh. Apparently his name is Wallander not
Warhammer which left be scratching my head wondering what nationality
Warhammer was!! Turns out he (or more correctly "it") is not a
detective at all!
First produced in 1983 by British manufacturer Games Workshop, Warhammer
originally started out as a tabletop wargame but over the past 40 years
has grown into something infinitely larger (or smaller depending upon your
point of view). I must admit feeling a bit like Rip Van Winkle when I
discovered this. Where had I been for 40 years? How could this phenomena
have passed be by?
As Royal Mail outlined in their publicity statement .....
"For millions of hobbyists around the world, Warhammer is more
than just a game – it is a way of life. From collecting, customising and
painting model figures to constructing battlefields and landscapes for
them to rampage through, and from playing online games and reading novels
set in these huge fantastical universes to joining fellow enthusiasts for
mammoth tabletop battles decided on the roll of a dice, Warhammer is an
endlessly creative, competitive and collaborative hobby."
For those of you that were awake 40 years ago, discovering that
Warhammer would be the latest Royal Mail special stamp issue
commemorating this "British" institution must have come as
welcome news, let's hope so for their sake!
The latest stamp issue includes a set of six new stamps, a mini sheet
featuring four more new stamps, a presentation pack, a variety of first
day covers, medal covers, fan sheets, ingots and of course the ubiquitous collector
sheet. These are just some of the collectibles on offer from Royal
Mail.
GS-154
Of particular interest to smilers/label sheet collectors will be the
Warhammer collector sheet which comprises the complete collection of ten
Warhammer stamps – six stamps in the main set featuring miniatures
spanning three different worlds of the game, plus the additional four
stamps in the Miniature Sheet celebrating the artistic interpretations of
Warhammer.
Each of the stamps is paired with a self-adhesive label with artwork of
other characters in the same fantastical world. All stamps and
accompanying labels are printed in Litho and Self-adhesive, making these
different from the stamp set which are Litho and PVA Gum. The sheet
is available through our eBay store, just click on the above image to
view/purchase. Also available are two sets of first day
covers.
The first set comprises four Royal Mail First Day covers bearing all
ten stamps/labels from the sheet.
The second set is a pair of A5 size First Day Covers each with one half
of the new collector sheet tied with a special hand-stamp dated 8th June
2023.
Please click on the either of the above First Day Cover
images to visit our eBay shop. (08/06)
-
BC398 Coronation Procession - an update
Recently I received an e-mail from long-time smilers sleuth, Chris, who
pointed out to me an apparent new sheet from the house of
Bradbury.
It seemed that Adrian Bradbury had, somehow, breathed life into the
coronation event by announcing a new Business Customised Stamp sheet.
However, upon receipt of the actual product it became clear that this
"new issue" was in fact an adaptation of the earlier sheet which
had been updated for King Charles III coronation by the addition of a
cleverly placed sticker.
BC-398a
It's good to see these surplus sheets refreshed and brought to
life with new meaning. I have placed a couple on eBay if anyone is
interested priced £36, which is a significant discount on the original
price of this sheet when issued 10 years ago (£50). Just click on the
image above to visit my eBay store. Keep Smiling!! (19/05)
-
Blackadder
Royal Mail released a set of eight stamps and a mini sheet on 17th May
2023 celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the BBC TV comedy show, Blackadder.
Launched in 1983 by writer Richard Curtis and star Rowan Atkinson the
Blackadder stamp issue also includes a cunning Collector Sheet which
includes ten stamps/labels (the 1st class values are duplicated) from
the stamp set which capture timeless moments from all four series of
Blackadder. Each stamp is paired with either a memorable quote or a film
still from the same series. All stamps and accompanying labels are printed
in Litho and are self-adhesive, making these different from the issued
stamps which are water activated PVA Gum. We have this sheet in stock
priced £22.50 and it is available from our ebay store - click on image
below. (19/05)
GS-153
-
A New Reign and Missed Opportunity Perhaps!
Following yesterday's rather soggy Coronation Day celebration in
London, and the issue of Royal Mail's Miniature sheet featuring four new
stamps depicting aspects of King Charles III - A New Reign, I can now
reveal the design of the forthcoming Collector Sheet which was initially
intended to be issued on 6th May 2023 but which will now be available from
15th May 2023, we understand. Whether this is due to a late design
change or production problems is unclear.
If, as I suspect, this issue has now been delayed it seems a missed
opportunity by Royal Mail not to have planned it so, and to have included
images of the actual coronation celebrations in place of proposed label
designs. We have this sheet in stock
priced £21.50 and it is available from our ebay store - click on image
below.
GS-152
Contrast this to the plans of Isle of Man Post Office who
seem to be right on the ball and may have caused the odd red face at Royal
Mail by announcing the issue of a customised collector sheet which DOES
feature stamps and images from the actual day of celebrations and is
scheduled for release by the end of May.
According to Isle of Man Post....
" Photographers present at the coronation will
rush through images of this historic moment as soon as they are taken,
which will then be placed in eight special postage paid stamp labels.
These will accompany the four King Charles Cypher stamps on this beautiful
souvenir sheet. This sheet is housed within a deluxe wrap packed with
pictures from the extraordinary day. The story of the coronation is told
through issue text written by best-selling author and royal correspondent
for the Evening Standard, Robert Jobson. Each sheet is individually
numbered. Image is a visual representation, product will differ from
that shown. The sheet has been created in collaboration with Stanley
Gibbons and features their logo."
Perhaps its time for a new reign at talent-less house,
Royal Mail. (06/05)
New Collector Sheets on the Horizon
It has been a relatively busy year for Royal Mail on the new issue
front so far this year with new definitive issues, tariff changes, special
issues etc., and given the planned issues, going forward, I sense that the
new monarch has not had a significant impact on Royal Mail's stamp issuing
policy, despite a hopeful start with the recent Flowers issue. I
thought this to be a refreshing change from the somewhat darker preceding
issues of Iron Maiden and X-Men and at least Robin Hood is traditionally
British!
So far this year we have seen three Collector/Generic Smilers Sheets
issued during 2023 but that is about to be doubled with the issue of three
more new sheets during the period of 6th May to 8th June 2023.
Whist I cannot share with you (yet) the embargoed stamp images of these
issues I can tell you that a collector sheet is planned to be issued for
the following three issues.
- King Charles III Coronation - 6 May 2023
- Blackadder - 17th May 2023
- Warhammer - 8th June 2023
I particularly like the KC3 collector sheet which features 2 x 4 of the
New Reign stamps attached to images of the new King and Queen.
I am less taken with the "cunning" Blackadder sheet, although
no doubt it will be well received by its huge fan base, but I have to
admit to being a little bemused by the proposed Warhammer issue and accompanying
collector sheet - I had never heard of this apparent gaming phenomena and
cannot understand, for the life of me, how this one has made it into the
stamp issue schedule of Royal Mail. Let us hope KC3 can have more
influence going forward. (20/04)
Universal Mail UK are back!
Following a number of telephone calls, e-mails and voicemails to UM-UK enquiring
as to the status of their operations here in the UK, I was pleasantly
surprised to finally hear that their UK operations were again up and
running and that some 33 Universal Mail strips had been reprinted, all
dated 07/22.
For collectors with standing orders for these strips I am in the process
of procuring and supplying these latest re-prints and have updated
our collectors guide for these
strips to reflect these new issues.
The re-printed strips are as follows, all dated 07/22.
• UK0001 International Postcard Stamp - London Day
• UK0002 International Postcard Stamp - London Night
• UK0003 International Postcard Stamp - London Icons
• UK0020 International Postcard Stamp - Scotland
• UK0029 International Postcard Stamp - Historic Scotland -
Edinburgh
• UK0030 International Postcard Stamp - Historic Scotland -
Sterling
• UK0032 International Postcard Stamp - Historic Royal Palaces -
Tower of London
• UK0033 International Postcard Stamp - Historic Royal Palaces -
Palaces
• UK0036 International Postcard Stamp - Historic Scotland -
Central
• UK0038 International Postcard Stamp - Historic Scotland -
North
• UK0050 International Postcard Stamp - East England
• UK0052 International Postcard Stamp - North East England
• UK0053 International Postcard Stamp - North West England
• UK0057 International Postcard Stamp - Animals of Scotland
• UK0058 International Postcard Stamp - Scottish Icons
• UK0063 International Postcard Stamp - Isle of Skye
• UK0066 International Postcard Stamp - The National Gallery
• UK0070 International Postcard Stamp - The Roman Baths, Bath
• UK0074 International Postcard Stamp - Stonehenge, Colour
• UK0075 International Postcard Stamp - Stonehenge, Black and
White
• UK0094 International Postcard Stamp - The Lake District
• UK0100 International Postcard Stamp - Wiltshire
• UK0115 International Postcard Stamp - York Minster
• UK0120 International Postcard Stamp - Cornwall
• UK0122 International Postcard Stamp - Titanic Belfast
• UK0127 International Postcard Stamp - National Trust
• UK0129 International Postcard Stamp - National Railway Museum
• UK0152 International Postcard Stamp - Windsor
• UK0153 International Postcard Stamp - Tower Bridge
• UK0180 International Postcard Stamp - Westminster Abbey
• UK0190 International Postcard Stamp - Official Queen Elizabeth
II
• UK0194 International Postcard Stamp - University of Glasgow
The above strips are available individually priced at £12.50.
Please advise interest by e-mail
in the first instance. (01/04)
X-Men went to ...
You know you are getting old when you interpret the latest Royal Mail
mega media bundle as a rather large mowing party! In fact Royal
Mail's next stamp issue features another marvel from the Marvel
Comics stable - X-Men! According to Royal Mail, their pop-culture
themed stamps and collectibles continue to be very popular with a broad
range of pop-culture fans. I guess that makes me not a fan of
pop-culture stamp issues!!
The Marvel Universe is the inspiration for Royal Mail's latest stamp
issue, due out on 16th February 2023. The X-Men franchise celebrates
its 60th anniversary in 2023 with their first comic book appearance in The
X-Men #1 in 1963.
A set of 12 stamps celebrating some of the X-Men superheroes to have
featured in the comic book franchise since 1963.
An additional set of 5 stamps are included on the Miniature Sheet,
featuring five of the mutant enemies faced by the X-Men. All 17 stamps in
the X-Men collection are original illustrations created exclusively for
Royal Mail by renowned British comic book artists: Mike McKone (stamp set)
and Lee Garbett (minisheet).
Plus, each of the 12 stamps in the main set has a unique Augmented
Reality animation which shows the artwork being created from pencil
sketches through to the finished colourised stamps. This can be activated
by downloading the Royal Mail App and scanning the stamp with a smart
phone or tablet.
In addition to the 12 stamp set and mini-sheet, this issue from
Royal Mail includes the following additional collectibles.
- Presentation Pack
- First Day Covers (3)
- Set of Stamp Cards (17)
- Prestige Stamp Book
- Limited Edition Prestige Stamp Book
- Fan Sheets (2)
- Silver Plated Ingot - Professor X
- Silver Plated Ingot - Wolverine
- Silver Plated Medal Cover - Professor X
- Silver Plated Medal Cover - Magneto
- X-Men branded stamp packs (4)
- Uncut Press Sheet c/w 12 X-Men Miniature Sheets
- Framed X-Men stamps and mini-sheet
- Framed X-Men Fan Sheet
and last, but not least (fanfare), a new Collector/Generic Stamp Sheet!
GS-151
The X-Men collectors sheet is a celebration of the comic book artwork
of the famous mutant superheroes. It Includes all twelve X-Men Superhero
stamps featuring original illustrations exclusive to Royal Mail.
Each character is paired with a comic book clipping as an attached label
alongside the stamp. The Sheet is printed in Litho by Cartor
Security Printer on self-adhesive backed paper which is different from the
stamps in the set (Litho/PVA Gum).
We will be stocking the sheet and a limited number of First Day Covers
of the Collector Sheet stamps/labels. Please click on the above
image to pre-order a copy of the above Collector Sheet from our eBay
store. (11/02)
Gong Hei Fat Choy!
Chinese New Year is upon us and we have now entered the Year of the
Rabbit! The Westminster
Collection have produced another in their delightful annual PNC cover
collection celebrating Chinese New Year.
Bearing a Smilers stamp/label from the recent Royal Mail
Lunar New Year stamp sheet and a sponsored special hand-stamp dated 22nd
January 2023, the cover includes a UK 2023 Year of the Rabbit £5
coin. It's disappointing that Westminster choose to use a Royal Mail
stamp/label this year as opposed to their own personalised version and
this move has not helped keep prices down! Westminster have
increased the cost of this cover from £25 last year to £35 +pp, a 40%
increase. (21/01)
Music Giants VII - Iron Maiden
To mark the 40th anniversary of their studio album Piece of Mind, Royal Mail
has issued a set of eight special stamps which focus on some of the band’s
renowned and iconic live performances. They range from the 1980s until
more recent years and feature all 6 current band members..
An extensive range of officially licensed Iron Maiden collectibles is
also available with this issue including a Minisheet, FDC,
Presentation Pack, Postcards, Frames, Collector Sheet x 2, Fan
Sheet x 2, uncut press sheet, gold stamps set, etc., etc..
As noted above and of perhaps special interest to Stamp sheet collectors
will be the Collector and Fan sheets illustrated below.
GS-149
GS-150
Both of the above stamp sheets are currently available to purchase from
our eBay store. In
addition we have sets of the Smilers stamps/labels on Royal Mail
First Day covers - sets of 2 covers per sheet (4 in total) priced at
£35.00 for the set of 4. Please e-mail
me if any of the above are of interest. (21/01)
Royal Mail Stamp Programme 2023
Royal Mail have announced details of their proposed 2023 stamp issue
programme as follows.
| Stamp Issue |
Date of Issue |
| Music Giants VII: Iron Maiden |
12-Jan-2023 |
| X-Men |
16-Feb-2023 |
| Flying Scotsman |
09-Mar-2023 |
| Flowers |
23-Mar-2023 |
| The Legend of Robin Hood |
13-Apr-2023 |
| HM King Charles III: A New Reign |
06-May-2023 |
| Blackadder |
17-May-2023 |
| Warhammer |
08-Jun-2023 |
| Windrush: 75 Years |
22-Jun-2023 |
| River Wildlife |
13-Jul-2023 |
| Terry Pratchett's Discworld |
10-Aug-2023 |
| Paddington |
05-Sep-2023 |
| Music Giants VIII : Dame Shirley
Bassey |
21-Sep-2023 |
| Harry Potter |
19-Oct-2023 |
| Christmas |
02-Nov-2023 |
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 2023
brings! (21/01)
2022 News Archive
I have now archived the 2022 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 2022 and hopefully have not
made too many mistakes! You can find these updated listed under the New
Issues menu item at top left. (21/01)
