🇬🇧 Just a day after the American philatelic agency IGPC revealed the designs of the 12 stamps and 1 miniature sheet containing 6 further stamps to be issued on 17 September 2021 by Royal Mail on the subject of characters from the American DC Comics, Royal Mail has now placed for sale all the items related to this Stamperija-like issue on its internet site.
Interestingly, the commentary on the site related to the issue makes no attempt whatsoever to explain why Royal Mail is releasing these products except to describe them as “A collection of Special Stamps paying tribute to Batman, his allies and enemies, as well as some who tread the fine line between good and evil”. Who would have thought in the days when Tony Benn was introducing the idea of a more aggressive British stamp issuing policy back in the 1960s that we would end up with the Queen’s head placed next to a cartoon representation of a large breasted, semi-naked American woman on one of the stamps or on others, next to cartoons of fictional murderous psychopaths? Is that what Benn had in mind? Talk about lèse majesté. Why on earth did Buckingham Palace give approval to this collection? Aren’t there more than enough real Britons who have made great contributions to Britain and the world to whom Royal Mail could be “paying tribute”?
The issue was designed by Interabang from art by Jim Cheung and Laura Martin and the stamps were lithographed by International Security Printers and are perforated 14.5.
The issue is made up of 12 x 1st Class stamps (total cost £10.20p), 1 miniature sheet costing £5.10p, 2 retail booklets (Batman and Robin and Wonder Woman each containing 4 x 1st Class Machin Head definitives plus 2 of the ‘Special stamps’ (each booklet costing £5.10p), 1 x ‘Prestige booklet’ containing 5 panes, one of which is made up of Machin Head definitives (3 x 2nd Class rate, 2 x 1st Class and 3 x 20p plus one central ‘Wonder Woman’ label), cost £21.20p, 1 x Limited edition Prestige booklet (similar to ordinary version but with different cover), cost £49.99p (and yet someone actually buys these things) and 1 x ‘Collector’s sheet’ containing the 12 Batman stamps with attached labels and selling for a joyous £11.40p (£1.20p above total face value). Anyone buying ‘one of each’ of these little gems will have to fork out £108.09p, a little jest The Joker himself would appreciate I think.
Here, for what it’s worth, are the various products which Royal Mail will spew on to the philatelic market in a couple of weeks time:-
I also find it strange how anyone can decide to buy a "prestige limited edition booklet" that is exactly the same as a regular booklet, with only the cover and a small tin box (which shouldn't cost much) and costs 2.5 more! If anyone has a good reason, speak up! Well, these objects that only serve to enrich the Royal Mail.
ReplyDeleteAs for the theme, I'm passionate about comics and I'm looking forward to buying this edition's presentation pack (only). They are certainly not English characters, but at least they speak English. But I understand your disappointment with Royal Mail's new policies to honor non-UK characters.
I disagree with your opinion about the question of Wonder Woman beside the face of the noble queen. I think that she, Queen Elizabeth, was also a wonder and wonderful woman, for different reasons but that bring the two figures together.
I have been unable to get these issues today - even though today is the "first day of issue". My local Crown Post Office only gets two presentation packs anyway (that is the sum total of their new issue supply) and they haven't arrived yet. The local branch Post Office does not carry commemorative stamps - only stamps in booklets of 12! I went in my lunchtime to an office to the north of me where I have got the special stamps before, and they were closed for lunch (due to shortage of staff). Three post offices, three fails. How are we meant to collect FDCs - by going to Benham and being charged £20 extra for the priveldge?
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