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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.

 

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News - 2023

  • 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
    TBC - Mega Media issue possibly 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)

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                                    Last updated: February 16, 2023