CommanderBond.net
  1. On Her Majesty's Postal Service

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-01-07

    Back in early October, CommanderBond.net was the first James Bond website to report that Royal Mail would be taking part in the Ian Fleming centenary celebrations with the issuing of a series of James Bond stamps on 8 January 2008.

    As mentioned previously, six stamps will be issued, each featuring a different 007 novel from Fleming:

    • 1st – Casino Royale
    • 1st – Dr. No
    • 54p – Goldfinger
    • 54p – Diamonds Are Forever
    • 78p – For Your Eyes Only
    • 78p – From Russia With Love

    Furthermore, a miniature sheet, prestige stamp booklet, presentation pack, press sheet and first day covers will also be issued to celebrate the centenary of Fleming’s birth. Further details follow in the official press release:

    ON HER MAJESTY’S POSTAL SERVICE

    JAMES BOND NOVELS FEATURE ON FIRST ROYAL MAIL STAMPS OF 2008

    Royal Mail is marking the centenary of the birth of Bond creator Ian Fleming with six stamps issued on 8 January and featuring different editions of six of his most famous novels.

    Stamp Cards

    Stamp Cards

    Using the long landscape format, designers A2 Design were able to show four editions of each book: beginning with the Jonathan Cape first edition, the UK paperback Pan edition, the US Jove paperback edition and the most recent Penguin paperback edition. Fleming himself was responsible for the design of the Casino Royale & From Russia with Love covers.

    The two 1st Class stamps feature Fleming’s first novel Casino Royale (1953) and Dr No, the first novel of the Bond series to be filmed.

    Miniature Sheet

    Miniature Sheet

    The 54p stamps reveal the covers of Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever, while the final 78p pairing features For Your Eyes Only and From Russia with Love.

    May 28th 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ian Fleming – and the new stamps are the first event in a whole year of celebrations including new exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and the Fleming Collection, and the widely-anticipated new Bond book Devil May Care written by Sebastian Faulks.

    First Day Cover Miniature Sheet

    First Day Cover Miniature Sheet

    Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd said: “It is a privilege for Ian Fleming’s novels to be celebrated by the Royal Mail Special Stamps’ programme and we couldn’t ask for a better start to his Centenary year. James Bond once again in the service of his queen and country: the first of many new adventures in 2008”

    Accompanying the Ian Fleming’s James Bond issue is a Prestige Stamp Book, written by novelist, film critic and Bond expert Kim Newman. The volume illustrates Fleming’s own life and draws comparison with the career of his most famous creation (for stamp pane details see Notes to Editors).

    Presentation Pack

    Presentation Pack

    Royal Mail is also issuing a Miniature Sheet the background of which features a page from one of Fleming’s original notebooks.

    Julietta Edgar, Head of Royal Mail Special Stamps said: “Fictional heroes don’t come much more famous than James Bond, so it’s entirely appropriate that we start our 2008 special stamp programme by honouring his creator, Ian Fleming.

    First Day Cover Envelope

    First Day Cover Envelope

    “Using the long landscape format has also given us the chance to display the fantastic variety of artistic styles used on the different editions over the decades.

    Press Sheet

    Press Sheet

    It’s hard to believe that Bond has been with us for more than 50 years, but just like Royal Mail’s special stamps, he’s become part of the British way of life. And his latest adventure? Appearing on millions of items of post every day!”

    Stamp Technical Details:

    Value Description
    1st – First class inland letter rate Casino Royale
    1st – First class inland letter rate Dr No
    54p – Basic airmail rate up to 10gm Goldfinger
    54p – Basic airmail rate up to 10gm Diamonds Are Forever
    78p – Rest of World airmail up to 20gm For Your Eyes Only
    78p – Rest of World airmail up to 20gm From Russia with Love

    Casino Royale, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only Dr. No, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love

    Left: Casino Royale, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only
    Right: Dr. No, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love

    Feature Type/Detail
    Number of stamps Six
    Design A2
    Photography Kevin Summers
    Acknowledgements James Bond, 007 and Ian Fleming are trademarks of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, used under licence from Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. The James Bond novels by Ian Fleming are copyright © Glidrose Productions Ltd 1952-1966. Jonathan Cape editions, Casino Royale and From Russia with Love cover illustration concept devised by Ian Fleming, Dr No and Diamonds are Forever illustration by Pat Marriott. Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only and From Russia with Love illustration by Richard Chopping; Pan editions, artists unknown; Jove editions, illustration by Barnett Plotkin, Jove an imprint of Penguin (USA) Inc; Penguin editions cover design by Roseanne Serra and Richie Fahey, photo-illustration © Richie Fahey, Penguin (USA) Inc
    Stamp Format Long Landscape
    Stamp Size 60mm x 21mm
    Printer De la Rue Security Printers
    Print Process Lithography
    Number per Sheet 24/48
    Perforations 14.5 x 14.5
    Phosphor Bars as appropriate
    Gum PVA

    The Ian Fleming’s James Bond Miniature Sheet technical details:

    Feature Type/Detail
    Number of stamps Six
    Design A2
    Photography Kevin Summers
    Sheet Size 190mm x 67mm
    Stamp Size 60mm x 21mm
    Printer De la Rue Security Printers
    Print Process Lithography
    Number per Sheet Six
    Perforations 14.5 x 14.5
    Phosphor Bars as appropriate
    Gum PVA

    Product Portfolio:

    Miniature Sheet
    Price £3.32

    The miniature sheet is made up of the six James Bond stamps. The border design features a page from Ian Fleming’s notebook.

    Presentation Pack No 407: – Ian Fleming’s James Bond
    Price: £3.85

    The fully illustrated presentation pack contains the six James Bond stamps. The pack has been designed as a fold out poster featuring artwork by film poster artist Mike Bell illustrating Fleming’s life as a journalist, writer, gambler, romantic and intelligence operative and on the other side comparative timelines for Fleming and Bond by cult novelist and film critic Kim Newman. The pack was designed by GBH and printed by Walsall Security Printers.

    Prestige Stamp Book
    Price: £7.40

    Prestige Stamp Booklet Cover 
    Prestige Stamp Booklet (Pane 1) 
    Prestige Stamp Booklet (Pane 2)

    Prestige Stamp Booklet Cover, Pane 1 and 2

    The prestige stamp book features a biography of Ian Fleming written by novelist and critic Kim Newman, comparing Fleming’s life to the career of his great creation according to the novels in the James Bond series. There are four stamp panes.

    Two panes feature the James Bond stamps – one with Casino Royale, Goldfinger and For Your Eyes Only and the other Dr No, Diamonds are Forever and From Russia with Love.

    Prestige Stamp Booklet (Pane 3) 
    Prestige Stamp Booklet (Pane 4)

    Prestige Stamp Booklet Pane 3 and 4

    The third pane pays homage to Fleming and Bond’s wartime service in Royal Navy Intelligence with two Union Jack and two White Ensign stamps from the Flags and Ensigns issues (2001).

    A four pane of machin definitives features a central label featuring a gold typewriter, surrounded by eight 1st Class gold machins.

    The book and all stamp panes are printed in litho De la Rue Security printers.

    UK First Day Cover Envelope
    Price: 30p.

    The First Day Cover Envelope was designed by GBH. The envelope is printed by Dobson and Crowther Ltd. The filler card designed by GBH and features Mike Bell’s film poster style artwork illustrating Fleming’s life. It is printed by Fulmar Colour Printing Company Ltd.

    Serviced First Day Covers of the sheet stamps, the miniature sheet, and the machin pane of the prestige stamp book are available from Royal Mail Tallents House.

    Stamps Cards
    Price: £2.10

    Set of seven available, including one of each stamp and the mini sheet.

    Press Sheet
    Price: £53.75

    A limited edition press sheet is available featuring 12 uncut miniature sheets.

    Postmarks

    Two different pictorial ‘first day of issue postmarks’ are available for every new stamp issue (click here to view).

    Unstamped Royal Mail First Day Cover envelopes (price 30p) will be available from Post Office® branches and philatelic outlets approximately one week before issue. Collectors who hand in or post covers at main Post Office® branches will receive the pictorial LONDON SE1 first day postmark.

    Alternatively, collectors may send stamped covers for the first day of issue to Royal Mail, Tallents House, 21 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9PB, quoting reference FD08 01 (Tallents House) or to any Special Handstamp Centre quoting reference FD08 02 (LONDON SE1 pictorial postmark) FD08 02NP (non-pictorial). All products may also be purchased online. Visit: www.royalmail.com/stamps


    Keep your eyes on the CBn main page for all the latest news on the Ian Fleming centenary events taking place throughout 2008. To keep track of all the upcoming 007 releases, events, television shows, and more–just keep your eyes on the CBn Calendar, located on the right panel of our main page.