Fancy a Music Giant issue being ousted from first place in the year by the Vicar of Dibley! A seemingly unending supply of music greats continues with number 11, AC/DC which, as Wikipedia tells us is, "an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock and heavy metal, although the band calls it simply "rock and roll". They are cited as a formative influence on the new wave of British heavy metal bands."
So how do Royal Mail justify including this band from a land down-under?
Royal Mail is celebrating the legendary rock band AC/DC with a set of special stamps and collectibles marking the 50th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album High Voltage. Formed in Australia by Scottish brothers Angus and Malcolm Young , their music has forged an enduring connection with British fans. From their iconic performances to the critical acclaim of albums like Highway to Hell and Back in Black, AC/DC’s electrifying sound has become part of the fabric of British rock history.
Eight new stamps capture the band in full force, with dynamic images of AC/DC performing live, while an additional miniature sheet of four stamps features the record covers from some of their most successful and influential albums. Alongside the stamps are a number of officially licensed and limited-edition souvenirs to appeal to music fans and collectors alike.
With over 200 million albums sold worldwide and a legacy of high-energy rock that spans decades, AC/DC remains a defining force in music, as proven by their Power Up album of 2020 and its namesake tour of 2024.
The stamps
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| Set of 8 special stamps honouring the band AC/DC issued 18 February 2025. |
Images and acknowledgements:
1st class Bon Scott and Angus Young of AC/DC performing in London, UK, 1976, photo © Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty Images; Brian Johnson and Angus Young of AC/DC performing in Melbourne, Australia, 2015, photo © Daniel Pockett/WireImage/Getty Images; Angus Young of AC/DC performing in Chicago, USA, 1979, photo © Paul Natkin/WireImage/Getty Images; AC/DC performing during the Power Trip music festival, Indio, California, USA, 2023, photo © Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Power Trip;
£2.00 AC/DC filming the ‘Thunderstruck’ music video, Brixton Academy, London, UK, 1990, photo © Steve Rapport/Getty Images; AC/DC performing during the Fly on the Wall Tour, London, UK, 1986, photo © George Bodnar Archive/IconicPix; AC/DC performing during the Black Ice Tour, London, UK, 2009, photo © Awais Butt/IconicPix; AC/DC performing in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1978, photo © Ron Pownall/Getty Images. © 2025 Leidseplein Presse B.V. Under License to Perryscope Productions LLC.
Miniature Sheet
The Miniature Sheet features an additional four 1st class stamps which immortalises the legacy of four iconic AC/DC studio albums:
• High Voltage – AC/DC’s explosive debut, packed with raw riffs and rock anthems
• Highway to Hell – The ultimate hard rock masterpiece that put AC/DC on the global map
• Back in Black – A tribute to resilience and rock perfection. The biggest-selling rock album of all
time, this record redefined the genre and introduced Brian Johnson’s iconic voice.
• Power Up – AC/DC’s triumphant return in 2020. A modern classic filled with the high-voltage
energy fans love, proving that AC/DC remains the ultimate powerhouse in rock.
AC/DC album covers, albums and background artwork © 2025 Leidseplein Presse B.V. Under License to Perryscope Productions LLC. Photography of vinyls and Back in Black album cover by John Ross
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2025.
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| Miniature sheet of four special stamps honouring the band AC/DC issued 18 February 2025. |
Technical details
The 50 x 30 mm stamps are printed in litho on gummed paper by Cartor Security Printers in sheets of 60 (30 se-tenant pairs), perforated 14 x 14. The 192 x 74 mm miniature sheet has four stamps 38 x 31 mm printed in litho on self-adhesive paper.
Special Stamp Book - Back in Black (ie, not a retail booklet)
"A special stamp book celebrating the legacy of one of the greatest albums in rock history. Released in 1980 as a heartfelt tribute to the late Bon Scott, Back in Black has sold over 50 million copies worldwide and stands as the best-selling rock album of all time. This booklet includes four 1st Class Back in Black stamps which appear in the AC/DC miniature sheet within a specially designed booklet inspired by the iconic record sleeve artwork. These stamps are printed in gravure, whereas the stamps in the miniature sheet are litho." Unlike the similar booklet for The Who, C1 cylinder numbers have been found on these booklets.
This is an unbelievably poor booklet, and one can see why it is not on retail sale. Even the Royal Mail logo and the crown is in black. Obviously not intended for postal use as postmarks would be impossible to detect increasing the likelihood that any so used on a letter would be subsequently cancelled with a pen!
Prestige Stamp Book
In this booklet, priced a £26, the stamps are printed in the same way as the sheet and miniature sheet stamps. The definitive pane is also printed on self-adhesive paper and includes 5p, 50p, £1 and 1st class stamps. They are coded MPIL M24L - so we still don't have any 2025 printings. There is also a limited edition (3,000) book which is priced at £49.99.
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| AC/DC prestige stamp book issued 18 February 2025 |
Fan sheets and Collectors Sheet
Two Fan Sheets (3,000 each) and a Collectors Sheet (print-run not revealed) are also available. The A4 Collectors sheet of 8 stamps is printed on self-adhesive paper with labels showing different versions of the AC/DC logo. (Price £15.80)
One Fan Sheet celebrates the Back in Black album (with four Back in Black stamps) and the other features a collage of iconic albums, with all four album cover stamps from the miniature sheet. These too are self-adhesive and priced at £7.50 each.
Full range of products
Stamp set, miniature sheet, presentation, first day covers (3 including PSB pane), stamp cards, press sheet of 8 miniature sheets, Special (non-retail) Book, Prestige Stamp Book, Collectors Sheet, Fan Sheets, Medal Covers, Souvenir Carriers (2 - stamps and MS), Limited Edition (1975) Platinum MS, framed products.
These should be on Royal Mail's website by the time this is published.
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