2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the first Carry On film Carry on Sergeant and Hammer Film's iconic Dracula. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s both Carry On and Hammer Horror films were to form a staple diet of British cinema audiences going on to influence future film and TV productions, both at home and abroad, and in the case of Hammer Films, music and fashion too.
 |
|
||
|
Set of 6 stamps: 56p - The Curse of Frankenstein; |
|||
| Acknowledgements: Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein and The Mummy © Hammer Film Productions Ltd 2008, Licensed by Coolabi; Carry On Sergeant, Carry On Cleo and Carry On Screaming courtesy of Canal+ Image UK Ltd | |||
1st Class - Carry on Sergeant
The very first Carry On film released in 1958 followed the adventures
of a hapless group of
National Servicemen as they face the culture shock of Army life.
Starring Bob Monkhouse,
Kenneth Connor, Bill Owen, Shirley Eaton and William Hartnell.
48p (World wide basic surface rate) - Dracula
Released in 1958 Dracula starred Christopher Lee as the undead blood
sucking count with Peter
Cushing as his nemeses Van Helsing.
50p (European standard rate) - Carry On Cleo
Ancient Briton Henghist Pod (Kenneth Connor) accidentally becomes
Caesar's (Kenneth Williams)
bodyguard and joins him on a trip to the court of Cleopatra (Amanda
Barrie). Sid James is Mark
Anthony and the film also features Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Jim
Dale.
56p (Basic airmail to 10gm) - The Curse of Frankenstein
Released in 1957, this retelling of Mary Shelley's classic story was
one of the first films to do so
in full gory colour. Peter Cushing played Victor Frankenstein and
Christopher Lee was the
creature, Hazel court was the love interest.
72p (Europe to 40gm) - Carry On Screaming
A pastiche on the then popular Hammer Horrors Carry on Screaming
follows the adventures of
a pair of Victorian detectives (Harry H Corbet and Jim Dale) as they
investigate a suspicious
showroom dummy factory run by Fenella Fielding and Kenneth Williams.
81p (Rest of World to 20 gm) - The Mummy
An Archaeologist (Peter Cushing) is pursued by the Mummy of Kharis
(Christopher Lee) avenging
the desecration of the tomb of his lover who turns out to be the image
of Cushing's present day
fiancé played by Yvonne Furneux.
The Centenary of the Cinema was celebrated in 1996 with a set of 5 stamps, the only film featured being Lady Hamilton (SG 1920-4). The following year the Europa theme was 'Tales & Legends' and the British stamps featured Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, and The Hound of the Baskervilles (SG 1980-3). 1985 was British Film Year which brought a set of 5 stamps with photos of Peter Sellers, David Niven, Alfred Hitchcock and Vivien Leigh (SG 1298-1302). Chaplin was also featured on the 1999 Entertainers stamp (SG 2095).
In addition to the usual PHQ cards, Royal Mail has produced what it calls a 'Postcard and Stamp Set'. This special pack of cards shows the stamps on a 'brick wall' background (see below right), and the cards measure 160 x 115mm, against the 148 x 104mm size of PHQ cards. The new cards are not postal stationery items. In fact the stamps are not even in the same packet as the cards! The cards are contained in a packet which appears to be designed for 'rack' selling, and on the reverse is the reminder: "REMEMBER TO COLLECT YOUR STAMPS AT THE COUNTER". The 3 x 1st class and 3 x 56p stamps are contained in another cellophane packet. We have these cards - without the stamps - at the same price as the PHQ cards as a pre-issue price only.
Designed by Emwood, the stamps are printed in litho by Walsall Security Printers Ltd. The stamps are 41mm x 30mm and are in sheets of 25/50. All images are by kind permission of Royal Mail, Copyright 2008, and this website are copyright Norvic Philatelics 2008.
As usual Royal Mail will produce a first day cover, presentation pack and stamp cards. There will also be a retail stamp book with 6 x 1st class Machin definitives and a 'Carry on Collecting' advertisement, and the special 'Postcard and stamp set' described above (see right).
Products issued:
Mint 
Presentation Pack see right
Royal Mail FDCs see below left
Set of 6 Stamp Cards
Set of 6 special postcards see
above right
Mint booklet
Special Postmarks
Postmarks available for the day of issue are shown here, these
may not be to scale. These postmarks cannot be obtained after the
date of issue.
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| Ref FD815 Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark |
Ref FD816 Bray, Maidenhead Official Postmark |
Ref FD816NP Similar to above Official non-pictorial postmark, Bray Maidenhead |
Ref L10989 Swain's Lane, Highgate, London N6 |
Ref L10988 Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Bucks |
|
|
|
|
|
| Ref M10994 The Flicks, Cheltenham, Gloucester |
Ref M10993 James Road, Birmingham |
Ref L10985 Stoughton, Guildford, Surrey |
Ref W10997 Sidmouth (Devon) |
Ref N10996 Woolton Picture House, Liverpool's Oldest Remaining Independent Cinema |
|
|
|
|
Notes: L10989: Location of Highgate Cemetary; L10985: 'Carry On Sergeant' was filmed at Stoughton Barracks; L10986: HQ of Associated-British Pathé film company; |
| Ref L10987 Bray, Maidenhead, Berkshire |
Ref L10986 Wardour Street, London W1 |
Ref L10983 Shepperton, Surrey |
Ref L10984 Elstree, Hertfordshire |
If you wish to be told when this page is updated, please use the ChangeDetection box at the top of this page.
If you have any questions about these stamps or FDCs please email us. NB: unless the office is closed (see home page) emails should be acknowledged in 1-2 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement please email us from a different address (eg hotmail, gmail).
This page updated 28 May 2008