UPDATE same day - I've been told officially that this message in the Postmark Bulletin is an error. It's a pity communications are so difficult within Royal Mail.
There has been speculation among collectors and dealers since Royal Mail made their stamp programme for 2021 public that there was a gaping hole in June that would almost certainly be filled. The only question was how expensive the plug would be.
This was what they first sent to dealers in October last year:
A later version, and the official list showed Music Giants V on 28 May and Dennis and Gnasher on 1 July, so actually quite close and we foolishly thought that maybe there would be a June break.
But this note has appeared in the May Postmark Bulletin, which can't be about Dennis as the postmarks for that will almost certainly be published near the end of June (or in the same June edition).
UPDATE same day - I've been told officially that this is an error; the Bulletin will be published on the last Friday in May, as usual.
It's a pity comms are so difficult within Royal Mail.
So the Bulletin will be published about 2 weeks late, on 10 June, (or not) meaning a stamp issue on that date or within a week afterwards.
Dealers have been told nothing yet - and by nothing I mean, we haven't even been told about this delay. I didn't read it in the Bulletin, it took a customer to point it out, as it doesn't actually get any special highlighting - it is just included with two other Special Announcements which have been published for the last few months.
HM Queen's official 95th birthday?
ReplyDeletePossibly a late replacement for Prince Philip's 100th birthday?
DeleteA miniature sheet with the Machin pane sent used with the £5 coin? Who can say?
ReplyDeleteI would guess the spot had been held for the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday (10th June), but not announced publicly due to his possible death (which, of course, did happen). So now I’d hazard a guess at a memoriam issue to him instead.
ReplyDeletePossibility of a commeration for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
ReplyDeleteI think The Queen's 95th Birthday is a good shout for June. I'm thinking that the 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup (the first matches were played in 1871) is a very good contender for the September issue, although perhaps it may be too similar to the Rugby Union issue in October.
ReplyDeleteIt seems likely that the original June TBC would have been for Prince Philip's 100th birthday on 10th June. Maybe it is too much of a coincidence that publication has been delayed until ... wait for it ... 10th June.
ReplyDeleteSo my guess is that this will be a Prince Philip mourning issue. Since there has been little or no time in which to design new stamps, I might guess that these will be exactly the same designs as the stamps originally meant for the 100th birthday but hastily reprinted with a black border.
I'm not sure. But I think a Royal mourning issue may be a purple border. Looking back to the Princess of Wales issue, that had a purple boarder of the original birthday stamps.
DeleteThe Queen Mother commemoration had a black border. Anyway, it's moot for the time being as there is some doubt....
DeleteIf Frank would like to email or phone I will explain why his comment was deleted. (There was nothing offensive!)
ReplyDeleteI suspect that Craig L may be right. Perhaps the stamps could already by printed - suitable for a 100th birthday issue or a memorial of his life. This would then just need an appropriate presentation pack and a first day cover insert card.
ReplyDeleteDetails of the Paul McCartney stamps have been published very early. Are the Royal Mail planning to produce a memorial issue for Prince Philip on 10th June, which would have been his 100th birthday ?
ReplyDelete