Until now, with conventionally gummed Smilers stamps, the labels have been attached by perforations. In self-adhesive sheets, the stamps are all separate and the labels would, therefore, also be separate.
Self-adhesive sheet of 20 stamps with semi-perforated adjoined labels
The robin cartoon stamps were were first issued for Christmas 2001. Now the design is used for the first self-adhesive Smilers TM stamps. As is usual when stamps are made available for personalisation, Royal Mail has produced a sheet for collectors, which is sold at a premium over face value.
Click here for larger picture (64k).
Until now, with conventionally gummed Smilers stamps, the labels have been attached by perforations. In self-adhesive sheets, the stamps are all separate and the labels would, therefore, also be separate.
Contrary to what we originally thought, there are die-cut 'perforations' between the stamp and label, but these are interrupted to ensure that the labels do not automatically separate from the stamps - See right
Technical details:
Sheets - following the take-over of the House of Questa these are printed by De La Rue in litho as are all Personalised sheets. The original stamps were printed by De La Rue in gravure.
Postmark images are taken from Royal Mail's Postmark Bulletin, and are Copyright 2003 by Royal Mail.
| These postmarks were available for use on the day of issue. | ||
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| Ref W8738 Bethlehem, Llandeilo |
Ref E8763 Winter Robins, Christmas Common, Watlington |
Ref F8768 63rd Anniversary of RAF Coltishall [Norfolk], BFPS 2745 |
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This page updated 6 October 2003 [7.2.05]
| 14 January Birds of Prey | 21 January Flowers Greetings Stamps Smilers Sheet | 4 February Occasions/Greetings stamps and Smilers sheet | 25 February Medical Science - DNA & Genome | 4 March Hello SA booklet & Wales 1st reprint |
| 25 March Fun Fruit & Vegetables | 27 March New definitives, SA airmail booklets of 40gr stamps | 29 April Extreme Endeavours | 6 May 34p definitives | 20 May Wilding II miniature sheet |
| 28 May Wales 2nd class, 1st class gold reprints | 2 June - 50th Anniversary of the Coronation | 17 June Prince William of Wales | 1 July High Value Definitive reprints | 15 July British Journey - Scotland |
| 29 July Cartoons Smilers Sheet | 12 August Pub Signs - Europa | 18 September Transports of Delight - toys | 30 September - Christmas Robin Smilers Sheet | 7 October 250th Anniv. of British Museum |
| 13 October Reprints of Country Stamps | 4 November Christmas: Ice Sculptures | 18 December England World Cup - Rugby Winners | ||