In response to public interest and in support of significant national activity, Royal Mail issued the first in a series of three miniature sheets to align with Remembrance Day in 2006. The third sheet in the series will be issued on the 6th November 2008, and there will also be a Commemorative Generic Sheet. The three 1st class Poppy stamps from 2006-08 will also be issued se-tenant in normal sheets. This is apparently in response to criticism that the Poppy stamps were not available for ordinary social correspondence, each one requiring the additional purchase of 4 airmail stamps in previous years.
The Miniature sheet features another new special Poppy stamp. In the new design faces of soldiers are superimposed on the single poppy, and the background of the sheet shows rows of war graves. The miniature sheet also includes a block four 81p country definitives, one for each of the countries of the UK.
The three poppy stamps from 2006, 2007 & 2008 will also be
issued se-tenant in ordinary sheets and be available at all post
offices in sheets of 30 stamps, 10 sets of 3.
A generic sheet consisting of 20 x 1st class poppy stamps will also be available.
The border incorporates a verse from the poem "For the Fallen" by
Laurence Binyon.
"They went with songs to the battle, they were young. Straight of
limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted:
They fell with their faces to the foe."
The labels show images of trench art and souvenirs from the front:
- whistle carried by 2nd Lt Montague Moore, VC, 15th Batt, Hampshire
Regiment
- decorated shell case by Bombardier T E Knights of the RFA
- football used by Capt
William Percy Nevill, East Surrey Regiment
- a picture frame carved from Army Ration Biscuits by Sgt M Herring,
RASC
Technical details:
The miniature sheet is designed by Hat Trick design and printed
by De La Rue Security Print in lithography. The background photo is
from the Imperial War Museum collection. The Poppy stamp is perforated
14½x14 and the definitives 15x14. The sheet measures 124 x 71mm.
The sheets of 30 se-tenant Poppy stamps are also printed by De
La Rue Security Print in lithography. The stamps are 35 x 27mm. The Generic
Sheet is printed by Cartor Security Printing in lithography, size
297 x 210mm (A4).
Stamp and postmark images are Copyright 2008 by Royal Mail; other
images are copyright Norvic Philatelics.
Norvic Philatelics limited edition First Day Covers for this
issue:
Please note that the postmarks shown have been digitally applied to
some images and may be a slightly different size and in slightly
different positions.
Miniature sheet on Norvic 'Poppies' first day cover - Price
£8.95 (ALL SOLD)
Strip of 3 Poppy stamps on Norvic 'Peace Rose' first day cover - Price
£4.95 (postmark L11170) - 12 produced only
Set of 4 Norvic first day covers showing Commonwealth War Graves in
Western Europe carrying a complete set of Generic Smilers stamps
- Price £18.50 (postmark L11164) - 12 produced only
Products issued:
Mint sheet
Generic Smilers Sheet
Mint strip of 3 Poppies
Min Sheet on Royal Mail FDC
Set of three Poppy stamps on Royal Mail FDC
A set of 6 stamp cards (PHQs) one for each MS and one for each Poppy
stamp
Special postmarks available for the First Day of Issue are shown here. These cannot be obtained after 6 November.
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| Ref FD829 Official Bureau FDI postmark "They Fell with their faces to The Foe" |
Ref FD830 Official London SW1 FDI postmark "Guns Fall Silent". |
Ref FD830N Official London SW1 FDI non-pictorial postmark |
Ref L11161 Remembering Our Glorious Dead, London SW1 |
Ref L11162 Lest We Forget - The Poppy, Shirley, Surrey |
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| Ref L11164 At the going down of the sun and in the morning We Will Remember Them London SW1 |
Ref L11165 90th Anniversary of the End of WW1 We Will Remember Them London SW1 |
Ref L11168 90th Anniversary of the Armistice 1918, Parliament Square, London SW1 |
Ref L11167 90th Anniversary of the Armistice 1918, Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1 |
Ref L11170 90th Anniversary of the Armistice 1918, PEACE, Whitehall London SW1 |
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| Ref L11169 90th Anniversary of the Armistice 1918, The Mall, London SW1 |
Ref M11180 Monument Road, Birmingham |
Ref N11185 The Western Front Association, Stockport |
Ref L11160 Heroes Campaign, Victoria Cross, Hyde Park, London SW |
Ref L11163 Armistice 1918 - The Cenotaph, London SW1 |
| A selection of postmarks is also available for Armistice Day, 11 November - click here | ||||
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