New issues.
🇮🇲 Isle Of Man Post Office -
12 September 2022 - 75th birth anniversary of the late David Bowie - 8 stamps (cost - £9.80), 1 sheetlet of the 9 different stamps sold perforate for £9.80 and imperforate in a ‘limited edition’ of 1000 for £17.50 and 1 booklet containing 4 panes (each of 4 different stamps,) sold for £19.60p or a set of 2 different panes sold for £9.80. There is also a sheetlet of 9 x £1.04 ‘Labyrinth’ stamps sold for £9.36. The Labyrinth stamp is additionally inscribed EUROPA as IOM Post Office’s contribution to the 2022 EUROPA omnibus series which is themed ‘Folklore and stories’. The issue, designed by Jonathan Barnbrook, notes the deceased popular music singer’s career as an actor and the designs depict him in various roles. As far as I can see there is very little to link Bowie with the IOM except that the movie Everybody Loves Sunshine (1999) was produced and filmed on the island. Rating:- 0.
It seems that all the countries in Europe perfectly understood the meaning of the annual theme of 2022 except the Isle of Man that issued the series of a Rock and Roll star, who are popularly referred to as "rock legends" in English-speaking countries. Were it not for the desire to earn money from the poor Davis Bowie fans, a fact proven by the extensive list of variations in the series, whether in leaves, carnets and other crap, we could think of a simple misunderstanding. So I come here to express my protest against the growing wave of exploitation by philatelists that has been guiding this small postal administration of the Isles of Man. This time they missed the opportunity to spread their ancestral legends and myths that are the basis of the formation of the culture of any people or country.
ReplyDeleteWhite Knight - hello Luis. I agree with every word you write. It is just worthwhile however mentioning my interpretation of the issue - it is not about Bowie being a rock legend rather the mythical nature of the film Legend in which he played a fantastical part. That said, you are quite correct, the IOM has a lovely collection of local myths and folklore associated with it and this was indeed a wonderful opportunity to draw the world’s attention to them. Unfortunately it does seem that many of the people responsible for stamp issues are generally little more than Philistines and as Wilde once said, “know the price of everything and the value of nothing”. Perhaps that’s how people in charge of failing businesses have to behave. Best wishes - WK.
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