I think we can assume that there will be just the two sheets in the squaring format (rather than the Olympic format used for Andy Murray), with a presentation pack and first day covers. Considering the popularity of the subject Royal Mail might produce stamp cards - not that most collectors will want them, but they may appeal to cricket fans and cricket-thematic stamp collectors.
The third Music Giants issue will be 3 September and I would expect this to consist of a set of 6 self-adhesive stamps, a miniature sheet, retail booklet, presentation pack, two first day covers as before. There should also be some framed products or prints aimed outside the philatelic market.
In our comments, Marcooni has written that "Elton John would be a worthy candidate for Music Giants III. Rocketman movie is out on Blu-ray in September."
C has just written:
Just received my advice note from RM for the next stamp issue on 03/09/2019 - Music Giants III. Issue includes Set of Stamps, MS and a Booklet of 6x 1st (UB423).Music Giants 1 & II - Pink Floyd (2016) and David Bowie (2017)
UPDATE 6 August - Royal Mail have today told us that there will be no pre-sale or early promotion of this stamp issue. So you can expect to find details only on the 3 September - unless, of course, the usual chaotic system for Post Office branches applies and you are permitted to see them by your friendly postmaster.
News of September's Royal Navy set will be released on or about 22 August through cover producers, but not until around 12 September for the rest of us, although the August Bulletin does mention that the Framed Print and Stamp will be produced for Mary Rose & HMS Victory.
The October 'TBA' issue will be issued on 10th and details will be released on 1st.
And to those who think that the Cricket MS are on eBay (petermk), those are just pictures taken from the news sites. Royal Mail have not yet published their pictures.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Royal Mail surprised everyone with an issue featuring Elgar, Holst, Purcell, Byrd and Tallis? No, I don’t suppose they will.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the Beatles set of six stamps from January 2007 isn't considered to be part of the Music Giants series? And there's also the set of 10 Classic Album Covers issue from January 2010.
ReplyDeleteWell they fit with the theme but weren't named as such.... Notice that Pick Floyd and D Bowie are both in Classic Album Covers and got their own Music Giants set. Classic Album Covers also contains Led Zeppelin (4th album) who released their first and second albums in 1969... clue there?
ReplyDeleteTo White Knight: Royal Mail did issue a set of Classical Composers (Handel, Holst, Delius & Elgar) stamps in May 1985.
ReplyDeleteIf they are advertising 'giants,' I will be quite annoyed if there is no place for Long John Baldry (6ft 7in), Mick Fleetwood (6ft 6in) and other similarly tall individuals...
ReplyDeleteElton John would be a worthy candidate for Music Giants III. Rocketman movie is out on Blu-ray in September.
ReplyDeleteGood point: these issues need something to hang on to for non-philatelic sales purposes.
DeleteHe's also on his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour (Final Tour) so it would be quite apt.
DeleteTrue, but that was 34 years ago. And only one stamp each.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who works at the Royal Mails design dept. and he told me the next Music Giant is going to be Cliff Richard.
ReplyDeleteHe was telling porkies. It isn't. I'd be interested to know where this 'design department' is as Royal Mail don't design any stamps.
DeleteIt this a slippery slope I see before me?
DeleteWhen you start denying rumours, it will only tend to encourage (potentially) hundreds of further suggestions, and each denial will serve to narrow down the pool of possibilities (and if any does not receive a stock denial response, that will presumably speak volumes).
2019 marks the 50th Anniversary of the first & second Led Zeppelin albums.
ReplyDeleteDoes that mean that you know, Ian ?
ReplyDeleteAs you can probably appreciate, cover producers and other dealers are always made aware of the subject some time in advance - cover producers earlier than the rest of us - so that they can negotiate with the artists' agents in order to use images for their covers and/or sponsored handstamps.
DeleteBut these in particular are subjects which we must keep the embargo, or else will be excluded from receiving ANY information in advance. I know what all the TBAs are, but you won't know until they are revealed by Royal Mail or the cover producers and Commonwealth Stamps Opinion blog.
Spoke to RM last Tuesday re Cricket issue was told 2x First Day Covers, 2x miniature sheets, no mention on the lady's info sheet about a presentation pack. Did ask if any issues would be held back swiftly told no you get a respite in December!!!! On asking was given Forest 13/08/19, Cricket on or about 22/08/19, Music giants (big Issue) no info avail, Navy ships both September. A blockbuster in October, Christmas about 5/11/19 and then said December TBA was now on 26/11/19 Apollo, my response was "does the Royal Mail not understand Austerity" reply " was the more people that complain, people will look into it". Wow
DeleteIan, not sure who you spoke to at Royal Mail but the Royal Navy issue details are on the back page of the Bulletin Book received today, 8 stamps, presentation pack, FDC and a stamp book. These issue's are getting ridiculous, there is no incentive to collect GB stamps other than to fill Royal Mail's own pocket.Can you or someone in your position talk to these guys as to why such high volumes are deemed necessary, two of my family have now quit collecting and I will have to really think hard and long, enjoyment is now frustration.
ReplyDeleteMy Bulletin is still to arrive. However, what you describe is purely the bald outline, without values, ships featured, etc. There will also be stamp cards, a framed stamp set, and prints of two of the older depicted ships.
DeleteI'm not going to complain to Royal Mail about either the quantity of new issues, the number of stamps included in each issue, or the high values and lack of 2nd class stamps. That ship has sailed, if you'll pardon the analogy. Decisions are made - until decisions are changed - and no amount of discussion or argument will alter that.
Royal Mail have said quite clearly that they do not expect these days that everybody will collect everything. They have increased their income and - allegedly - reduced the costs for collectors (so it could have been much worse) by marketing more 'associated products' outside the philatelic market.
There must be another Star Wars set coming to mark the last movie, they have already released a stamp set for the previous 2 movies, could be the set that is scheduled for late November, mind you I'm only speculating, the October issue could be related to the Open University.
ReplyDeleteNot another Star Wars issue! (But, alas, this seems a perspicacious commentary.)
DeleteSince Royal Mail is clearly so in thrall to the Walt Disney Company (owners of the Star Wars and Marvel franchises), it can surely only be a matter of time before Her Majesty's silhouette is replaced with Mickey Mouse ears!
Music Giants could be something to do with the Mercury Prize Award's which are announced in September. Could be previous winners, Coldplay etc etc
ReplyDeleteit will probably be some cheap lithographed product not even printed in this country and not commemmorating any anniversary
ReplyDeleteOf course they will be lithographed because that is more suited to short runs than photogravure. But with today's litho being of much higher quality than 30 years ago, it's very difficult to see the difference without close examination of the dots etc, so I think your disparaging comments are uncalledfor.
DeleteGiven that all our commemorative stamps are printed in France because that is where the litho plant of Royal Mail's print partner is, this will come as no surprise. ISP Walsall's UK plant only produces gravure. Do you know of a suitable security printer in the UK using litho?
We did have a very good lithographic stamp printer some years ago who went by the name of 'The House of Questa'. They produced some very fine quality stamps but sadly they have long gone.
DeleteAs reported in yesterday's (25 August) Daily Mail - it's Elton John. They reported 4 stamps featuring 4 stages of his career. No mention of any other values, the obligatory miniature sheet, Prestige booklet, etc etc etc.
ReplyDeleteMy local postmaster showed me a page of 4 different Elton John 1st Class stamps today, and said they will be on sale Tues 3rd Sept.
Delete