Royal Mail start the new year yet again with a Music Giants issue, this time for"the biggest girl group of all time, the Spice Girls, on the 30th anniversary of their formation" (*).
The Spice Girls are global superstars, feminist icons, cultural figureheads and one of the most successful British bands since The Beatles. Between 1996 and 1998, when Spicemania was at its peak, they dominated the airwaves and stormed charts around the world with their inspirational ‘Girl Power!’ ethos and catchy pop hits. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide and scored nine UK number one singles.
* Last year the New York Times ranked the Spice Girls only fourth behind Diana Ross and the Supremes, who had 12 number one hits in first place.
The issue consists - as usual - of a set of stamps and a miniature sheet. The 15 stamps in total are all 1st class, meaning a basic cost of £18.75.
The stamps.
 |
| Set of 10 x 1st class Spice Girls stamps issued 11 January 2024. |
 |
| Miniature sheet of five x 1st class Spice Girls stamps issued 11 January 2024. |
The 41 x 30 mm gummed stamps have been printed in lithography by
International Security Printers in sheets of 50 in horizontal se-tenant
strips of 5, perforated 14.5 x 14.
The 180 x 74 mm self-adhesive miniature sheet contains 26 x 36 mm stamps printed in lithography by International Security Printers perforated 14 x14.
Designed by Supple Studio.
Acknowledgements in stamp order: (1) Spice Girls performing at the BRIT Awards, 1997 © Shutterstock.com; Melanie Chisholm performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1998 © Richard Young/Shutterstock.com; Spice Girls performing during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games © Johannes Eisele/AFP/ Getty Images; Geri Halliwell performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1997 © Dave Benett/Getty Images; Spice Girls performing in San Jose, California, 2007 © Matt Baron/Shutterstock. com;
(2) Emma Bunton performing at Wembley Arena, London, 1998 © Pete Still/Redferns/Getty Images; Spice Girls performing in Istanbul, 1997 © 2024 Spice Girls; Victoria Beckham performing during The Return of the Spice Girls Tour at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 2008 © MJ Kim/Spice Girls LLP via Getty Images; Spice Girls performing in Dublin, 1998 © Dave Hogan/Getty Images; Melanie Brown performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1997 © JMEnternational/Redferns/Getty Images. Under license to Bravado Merchandising. All rights reserved. © 2024 Spice Girls.
MS: Spice Girls, photograph by Christophe Gstalder © Spice Girls/ Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection/Alamy Stock Photo. Under license to Bravado Merchandising. All rights reserved. © 2024 Spice Girls.
Products available
Set of 10 stamps, miniature sheet, first day covers (2), presentation pack, prestige stamp book (PSB), press sheet of 12 minitaure sheets (edition of 200), stamp cards, fan sheets (2), collectors sheets (2), gold stamp set, platinum mini-sheet, framed products, print, stamps & MS each in a special souvenir carrier, limited edition PSB.
Prestige Stamp Book, price £23.70.
As expected the PSB contains all the stamps in the same form as they are otherwise available, plus a pane of King Charles III definitive stamps coded M23L MPIL, with labels showing stills from the videos 2 Become 1 and Viva Forever. (Click on the images to enlarge.)
 |
| Front cover of regular book. |
 |
| Back cover of regular book. |
 |
| Front cover of Limited Edition book. |
Limited Edition PSB has the same stamps but is has different covers and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Limited to 1994 copies, price £49.99.
Collectors sheets
One collectors sheet contains a full set of 10 stamps, the other two sets of stamps from the miniature sheet, both accompanied by pictorial labels of the group, price £13.70 each. Both are self-adhesive making the 'sheet' stamps different to those issued in sheets.
 |
| Spice Girls Collectors sheet of 10 stamps and labels. |
 |
| Spice Girls Collectors sheet of two sets of miniature sheet stamps, with labels. |
Fan Sheets
1. containing two each of the 1997 Brit Award and Istanbul stamps. Size A4, litho with PVA gum. Edition of 5,000 - £7.00.
2. containing one each of the miniature sheet stamps. Size 230 x 190 mm, litho self-adhesive, edition of 5,000 price £7.50.
As usual, the first issue of the year has garnered wide publicity in the general media.
Good start to RM New Year ! . All Spice Girls Stamps on website shown out of stock, notify me when back in stock
ReplyDeleteThey appear to have fixed that now. It looks as if they put up the web pages before they were ready to accept orders.
ReplyDeleteDear God, no!
ReplyDeleteHi Ian
ReplyDeleteAre you able to confirm whether the KCIII definitives in the PSB are M23L (probably, I suspect) or M24L (hopefully, but I suspect not!). Thanks.
Sorry, there are several details I need to add now that I have seen the stamps. M23L it is.
DeleteBBC Breakfast showed pictures of the new stamps today (5th Jan) and then confused everyone by saying they were "out now".
ReplyDeleteFour different face valued barcoded definitives is a first, and likely to be repeated.
ReplyDeleteI think it's brilliant to see the girls recognised in stamp form. I'll be getting the presentation pack for sure, and for those who don't like them - hard cheese and "Spice Up Your Life".
ReplyDeleteAstounding that RM cannot pre plan stamp issues in advance and ensure the printers put the correct year date on the definitives! a new year should start with the actual year date on them. They just don't think or care.
ReplyDeleteThe year code reflects the date of printing rather than the date of issue. If it was a caption, or copyright date, I'm sure it would be 2024 but hey, when did Royal Mail last put explanatory captions on a stamp issue?
DeleteAhh I see thank you Ian a school day every day
ReplyDelete