Norvic Philatelics - GB New Stamps and Special Postmarks
Magical Realms - 8 March 2011
From the legendary tales of King Arthur and
his court magician Merlin to the million selling books of Sir Terry
Pratchett and JK Rowling the British have always enjoyed an epic tale of
magical adventure. This issue salutes some of the heroes and villains that
have enchanted generations of readers.
The stamps in detail
1st Class – Rincewind
Rincewind is the central character in many of Terry Pratchett’s
Discworld novels. A failed student at the Unseen University for wizards in
Ankh-Morpork, he is reputed for being able to solve minor problems by
turning them into major disasters, usually by running away.
1st Class – Nanny Ogg
Gytha Ogg is a witch from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. She is
a member of the Lancre coven. Her singing voice, when echoed by a half
filled bathtub, causes birds to fall from the sky and goat milk to turn into
yoghurt while still in the goat.
1st Class – Dumbledore
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is the headmaster of the
Wizarding school Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is the
founder and leader of the ‘Order of the Phoenix’, an organisation dedicated
to fighting Lord Voldemort.
1st Class – Voldemort
Lord Voldemort is the main antagonist in the Harry Potter novel
series written by JK Rowling. Voldemort first appeared in Harry Potter
and the Philosopher’s Stone, which was released in 1997 and then either in
person or in flashbacks in each book in the series, except the third, Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where he was only mentioned.
60p – Merlin
Merlin is a legendary wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The
standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s
Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation
of previous historical and legendary figures.
60p – Morgan le Fay
Morgan le Fay, alternatively known as Morgane, Morgaine, Morgana and
other variants, is a powerful sorceress in the Arthurian legend. Early works
featuring Morgan do not elaborate her character beyond her role as a fay or
magician. She became much more prominent in the later cyclical prose works
as an antagonist to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.
97p – Aslan
Aslan, the ‘Great Lion’, is the central character in The Chronicles
of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis. He is the eponymous lion of The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe, and his role in Narnia is developed throughout the
remaining books. He is the only character to appear in all seven books of
the series.
97p – The White Queen
Jadis, commonly known during her rule of Narnia as the White Witch,
is the main villain of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first
published book in C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series. She is the witch
who froze Narnia in the Hundred Years Winter.
Technical details:
The 35 x 35mm stamps are designed by So Design Consultants and printed in
gravure by De La Rue Security Print, perf 14.5 x 14.5, with all over
phosphor in sheets of 30/60. Unusually,
these
are vertical se-tenant pairs.
Acknowledgements: Rincewind
and Nanny Ogg illustrations by
Howard Swindell; Discworld® characters © Terry Pratchett. Harry
Potter characters™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry
Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s10). Merlin
and Morgan le Fay illustrations
by Howard Swindell. Narnia
characters © DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. and WALDEN MEDIA, LLC. All rights
reserved. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, NARNIA, and all book titles,
characters and locales
original thereto are trademarks of C.S. Lewis Pte Ltd. and are used with
permission. All images copyright Royal Mail ©2011.
Products issued
Set of 8 stamps mint
Presentation Pack
Set of 8 stamp cards
First Day Cover
Special first day of issue postmarks are shown here. These cannot
be obtained the date of issue; more may be added. Not
to scale.
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Ref FD1109
Philatelic Bureau Official First Day postmark. |
Ref FD1110
Official Merlin's Bridge, Haverfordwest First Day postmark. |
Ref FD1110N
Merlin's Bridge, Haverfordwest non-pictorial FD postmark |
Ref L12067
Magical Realms Bishop's Stortford
|
Ref L12068
Magical Realms, Amesbury, Salisbury |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Ref M12069 Magical Realms, Arthur Road,
Birmingham |
Ref W12071 Magical Heroes & Villains (!) Glastonbury,
Somerset |
Ref L12076 Heroes & Villains,
Farnborough, Hants. |
Ref L12077 Magical Realms, Merlin Street,
London WC1X |
|
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This page updated 16 March 2011 (phosphor
corrected)
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