Norvic Philatelics

Hong Kong 2004 Stamp Expo Royal Mail Smilers Sheet - 30 January 2004

No warning from Royal Mail for this surprise issue
A brief paragraph in the January Philatelic Bulletin announced that ";A new Smilers sheet for the Hong King Stamp Expo (30 January - 3 February) is now available. Printed by Walsall, it contains 20 1st class 'Hello' stamps with labels bearing the Hong Kong exhibition logo."

This sheet is significant for several reasons. This is the first time a commemorative Smilers sheet has been produced by Royal Mail. Unlike the 'Stampex London' sheets available in 2003, which were produced for the Philatelic Traders Society, the Hong Kong Stamp Expo sheets have been produced by Royal Mail and are available from the philatelic bureau. We understand that it was also on sale at the Royal Mail stand at the Expo in Hong Kong.
It is also the first time the 'Hello' stamp has been printed by Walsall Security Print, the original sheet stamp and the original Smilers version being printed by The House of Questa, and the self-adhesive booklet version by De La Rue.

Click on the images for a larger version.


Norvic Exclusive First Day Covers

Illustrated 'Year of the Monkey' Chinatown London postmark We have produced an exclusive cover for this issue, shown above. Covers are available with either a single stamp or the strip with 5 different labels.
Prices: single stamp on Norvic cover - £3.95. Strip of 5 on Norvic cover - Sold out

Mint sheet - £8.50

There were no PO FDCs for this stamp. 


This page created 10 March 2004 (17.1.05)
2003
2004 stamp issues

13 January Classic Steam Locomotives 30 January Hong Kong Stamp Expo 2004 Smilers Sheet 3 February Occasions/Greetings stamps and Smilers sheet 26 February Lord of the Rings 16 March Letters by Night Prestige Book (TPOs)
A British Journey - Northern Ireland
1 April New definitives, including airmail postcard book of stamps 6 April Centenary of the Entente Cordiale 13 April Ocean Liners 11 May 40p Country definitives 25 May Royal Horticultural Society
15 June British Journey - Wales 29 July Rule Britannia Smilers Sheet 10 August Royal Society of Arts 16 September Woodland Animals 5 October Scottish Parliament Building
12 October Crimean War 2 November Father Christmas
HOME