The Royal Mail stamp programme for 2024 can now be published and all those who contributed to our competition can now see how accurate their predictions were.
As has been widely discussed already, The Spice Girls are up first (although not with the stamp shown alongside which was suggested by a reader a couple of years ago), with a second Music Giants issue, for The Who, in the autumn.
The subjects as listed below are as Royal Mail provided them to us in autumn 2023. I have added (in brackets) associated anniversaries which may or may not be the reason behind the issue.
This year only five of the five of the stamp issues is media/entertainment related, leaving 10 (including Christmas) more directly relevant.
This programme has been made public at the same time as the Spice Girls stamps which are on a separate post.
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11th January |
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1st February |
 |
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20th February |
Vikings: 40 years since the opening of the Jorvik Centre in York. |
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12th March |
 Dinosaurs |
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? April |
New Definitives for tariff change - possible, and likely to be airmail only |
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16th April |
 |
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16th May |
 |
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6th June |
 |
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20th June |
 |
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25th July |
Dungeons and Dragons §§§ |
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13th August |
 |
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3rd September |
Porridge (TV programme which first aired in 1974) |
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26th September |
Spiders |
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17th October |
Music Giants X: The Who § |
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5th November |
Christmas |
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30th November |
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The indicators § show how many competition participants predicted he particular issue/subject in some way. Everybody included Christmas of course.
My first reaction was that the subjects looked more interesting than in many recent years. It remains to be seen just why the Dinosaurs, Dogs, Spiders and Tower of London sets are included and any events or anniversaries that they are associated with.
Various Royal Houses were covered in the past, and 2017's Ancient Britain covered the pre-historic period, so The Vikings may be another in a series. Similarly the Tower of London probably continues the Royal Palaces series.
Porridge is likely to be in similar style to Only Fools and Horses or Blackadder.
Time will tell; hopefully when the official announcement is made there will be more flesh on these bare bones.
2023 was my last year of collecting British stamps. I see no reason to change my mind. Why celebrate 170th anniversary and 40th anniversary? So many issues.
ReplyDeleteWith the Empire apparently something to be ashamed of and Churchill allegedly a racist I'm rather surprised at two of what really were the most relevant issues.
ReplyDeleteNot much chance though of the April issue being recess printed again.
Really surprised that the RNLI Bi-Centenary has been ignored
ReplyDeleteTrevor I am also very disappointed.
DeleteAlso missing
DeleteBi-Centenary of the National Gallery opening to the public
75th Anniversary of NATO
Both worthy subjects, its also the 50 years since ABBA (definitely worldwide music giants) won the Eurovision song contest. A somewhat more enduring appeal for their music than the Spice Girls I would suggest ! I suppose we should be thankful that the 20th Anniversary of Facebook isn't featured (however thinking a bit more about that, it might open up stamps and stamp collecting to a whole new demographic, so possibly an opportunity missed, maybe its Silver Jubilee would be more appropriate?)
Ah, but let's remember this is British subjects we are marking - not Swedish.
DeleteWhen ABBA won Eurovision it was hosted in Brighton (giving a British connection less spurious than some trotted out in recent years for other 'popular culture' issues), the previous year's winners Luxembourg unwilling to host for a second successive year and so the UK stepped into the breach (as indeed we did in 2023, when again Sweden won!).
DeleteJersey Post are celebrating 200 years of RNLI, alongside their regions or parishes as they call them and other landmarks, some of Isle of Man, Jersey and Gurnsey's stamps are good a d well designed and lower priced than the UK and with less new issues each year are cheaper to collect.
DeleteThis year's programme seems much, much better than usual. The 2024 stamps contain nothing offensive and will appeal to a variety of people's interests. And they do not have to commemorate arcane anniversaries. The absence of sycophantic, dull royalty issues is refreshing. I shall not buy the Music Giants stamps myself, but many people who like the groups on them will. Perhaps a future issue may have classical music giants like Purcell, Arne, Elgar &c. I use stamps rather than collect them so shall hope for plenty of 2nd class NVIs for every-day purposes.
ReplyDeleteComment by White Knight - Presumably the Dinosaurs issue is a comment on how those who manage RM view stamp collectors and the Dogs issue will feature poodles to celebrate those on the Stamp Committee who choose the featured subjects.
ReplyDeleteA set of stamps for Dungeons & Dragons is also being issued by the US Postal Service this year, and is listed as being for 50th anniversary of the game.
ReplyDeleteSpice Girls, really ??? Should have been Status Quo who have once again been overlooked, been going for over 50 years and would have been more deserving.
ReplyDeleteRobert
DeleteI think also Nine Below Zero Band should be on Stamps they have played with Status Quo, The Who, Brian May, Eric Clapton,and lots more in their 47 years they have been around, RW
Peppa Pig? Why? Is it necessary to have two Musical Giants issues. Why not celebrate our wealth of architectural gems. OK, so we've got the Tower of London. In my neck of the woods we have such gems as Chatsworth House and Hardwick Hall. There are plenty more worthy of celebration. How about our former car industry? Austin, Morris, Sunbeam, Hillman, Standard, Triumph etc. etc. What about the houses before the Tudors? I suggested this to Royal Mail but the excuse was that there wasn't any reliable illustrations to use. I don't think there was any cameras before Queen Victoria so how does Royal Mail know that the paintings are accurate? Some could be I admit.
ReplyDeletei wouldn't be surprised if the Centenary of Commemorative Stamps was just a miniature sheet like the David Gentleman one was. If so let's hope the depicted stamps are to scale this time. Maybe 1924 British Empire Exhibition, 1949 UPU, 1974 fire engine, 1999 Prince Edward wedding, the only one of that generation to survive.
ReplyDeleteJust a miniature sheet is of course what happened for the most significant event of last year and so likely for the second most significant philatelic anniversary.
I don't understand why there is no commemoration of the British Empire Exhibition centenary directly rather than through the Centenary of Commemorative Stamps issue.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it may be because use of the word Empire is less acceptable nowadays.
DeleteTwo music "giants" seems excessive to me too, and we've had Peppa Pig recently as well (alhtough I will probably enjoy those stamps). I think we would be better served by some definitives with scenes of Britain on them now, the current KCIII head is pretty ghastly. I really liked the A-Z of Britain a few years back, something nice like that for regular mail would be good. I'd like to see more of the issues we do have actually used by people. For non-philatelistics it appears that booklets are the most used mode of getting stamps, so perhaps some booklets with commemoratives to fit would be good. It's a shame again we haven't got the German stamp barcode size as these even enable commemoratives to have a code and are much less intrusive than the ugly thing on our stamps.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a lot of non-definitives in booklets. My understanding is that supermarkets didn't like the mixed content books (2 x special, 4 x definitive) which were allegedly produced to make people more aware of the special issues that were around. But they weren't on automatic distribution to POs, only when they replenished stocks, so that didn't work.
DeleteThe earlier gummed greetings books were good but they were what they were.
I personally will not be buying The Spice Girls issue despite being a 90s kid or Peppa Pig which seems aimed at young children who rarely collect stamps. Thought they'd wait til 2026 for the Spice Girls to mark 20 years since their first hit. The Who I understand how about The Kinks though. Dinosaurs will appeal to different ages and could be good although has been done before. What will the 100 years of commemorative stamps be like? The Vikings appeal to me 40 years of Yorvic in York I went there on a school trip nice to see a link to a Northern city rather than London. Noticed there are no TBA entries like previous years. As for Churchill I have the Prime minister stamp set from 2014 and he's been on coins and banknotes too he has appeal but prehaps a bit of a safe and dull bet and he is view has been re-appraised he did order police ages soon at a working class strike and messed up an operation in WW2 but he was the right person for the time. He also for saw a united States of Europe but Clement Atlee was a better PM in my my view.
ReplyDelete4 years ago I sent a letter to a penfriend in the US, with an Iron Man stamp, Shaun the Sheep, and Machins to make up the rest of the postage. She showed her young children the envelope, and her 3 year old wanted the Iron Man stamp. Her children are at least aware of postage stamps. Perhaps I will use a Peppa Pig stamp on a letter to her later in the year. I've only seen one episode of Peppa Pig, and only because it features a letter being sent through the post! Unfortunately, I can't use Spiders on mail to her (Spiderman excepted).
DeleteIt has been a while since I mentioned to someone that I collect stamps - and the response was that it was a children's hobby (as is penpalling). Before I was a teenager, I was getting SG (or WHSmiths) packets of thematic stamps, and put them in my worldbuilder albums (was quite happy some still had gum on, so licked that rather than using horrible-tasting stamp hinges). I was also lucky I saw nice stamps on post to the family home, mainly from an uncle who lived in Australia.
My order advice note for meteorological issue on 1st Feb arrived today. A cost of £12.40 I work that out at 2 x 2nd, 2 x 1st, 2 x £2.00, & 2 x £2.20 .
ReplyDeleteI infer that the issue is just a miniature sheet then. Useful though.
DeleteI don't think we have ever had a miniature sheet with 8 stamps in (although I could be wrong).
DeleteThink a set of 8 stamps, and NO miniature sheet and you will be nearer the mark.
No mention of a miniature sheet on my advice note, just the set of stamps
DeleteAdvice note from RM shows a set of stamps from Weather Forecasting issued 01/02/2024 at £12.40. (Looks like 2x 2nd, 2x 1st, 2x £2 & £2.20.) No MS.
ReplyDeleteEarly notification of a PSB being issued on 20/06/2024 - Red Arrows. https://ericarthurstally.co.uk/prestige-books/cy-series/
ReplyDeleteAwesome
DeleteRM advice note received for Viking Britain shows set of stamps at a cost of £12.90. Works out 2x 1st, 2x £1, 2x £2 & 2x £2.20. No MS.
ReplyDeleteCSO has a preview of the 2x1st from this issue
DeleteRM Advice note for The Age of the Dinosaurs issued 12/03/2024 shows a set of stamps at £13 and a £5 MS
ReplyDeleteRM advice note for 100 years Commemorative Stamps issued 16/04/2024 shows a set priced at £13.50. No MS. So looks like 10x 1st.
ReplyDeleteRM advice note for Peppa Pig 16/05/2024 : Set £13.40, MS £6.70
ReplyDeleteRM Advice note Dogs 06/06/2024 : Set £11 (10 stamps - 5x 2nd 5x 1st).
ReplyDeleteRM Advice note for 'Red Arrows 60 Seasons' 20/06/2024 : Set £13.40 (4x 1st & 4x £2), MS £7.70, PSB (YB119) £26.75. Costly enough without any extra items being produced.
ReplyDeletePresentation pack £22 ??
ReplyDeleteRM Advice note for Dungeons & Dragons 25/07/2024 : Set £15.40, MS £8.10, Presentation Pack £24.40, PSB (YB120) £27.40
ReplyDeleteThat looks like 4 x 1st, and 4 x £2.50, and 6 1st for the miniature sheet...
DeleteRM Advice note for Tower of London 13/08/2024 : Set £11.70, MS £7.70. Also listed as a separate Stamp : Union Flag Stamp (AS12111 - (£1.35)) + FDC (AF522)
ReplyDeleteDoes that look like: 2 x 1st, 2 x £2, and 2 x £2.50 for the set & MS 2 x 1st, and 2 x £2.00 ?
DeleteRM Advice note for Porridge 03/09/2024 : Set 13.40 (4x 1st & 4x £2). No MS.
ReplyDeleteThere is also a Smilers sheet
ReplyDeleteRM Advice note for Spiders 26/09/2024 : Set £11 (5x 2nd, 5x 1st).
ReplyDeleteFollowing an email from Buckingham Covers, there appears to be a Tariff change on 01/10/2024, with the prices taking effect from 07/10/2024. The stamp advertised is a £2.80 Definitive International Letters 100g worldwide. What other stamps / rates are included is uncertain at this time.
ReplyDeleteRM Advice note for The Who 17/10/2024: Set £14.60, MS £7.30, PSB £27.55. RM are also issuing a £6.60 The Who Stamp Book (UB466), containing 4x 1st.
ReplyDeleteRM Advice note for Winston Churchill 30/11/2024: Set £11 (8 stamps), PSB £22.25 (YB124).
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris: I've just posted about Christmas and Wales. I'd better draft something on Churchill ready for when the stamps are dropped onto the RM shop :-(
DeleteRM first advice note for 2025 has arrived and their not giving much away. Described as 'January Special Issue 2025'. Set of stamps £12.60 , MS £8.60 & Presentation Pack £20.10
ReplyDeleteThe MS is £6.60 (otherwise the PP could not be as little as £20.10)
Delete