18 February 2020
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Royal Mail has released ten new stamps to celebrate James Bond films over the decades – and the release of the 25th Bond movie No Time To Die
Featuring the six actors who have played Bond over the years, the stamps take inspiration from the classic opening title sequences familiar to millions of film goers the world over.
As an extra treat for Bond fans, a mini sheet featuring four further stamps also forms part of the issue, celebrating some of the best known Q Branch vehicles. These include hidden features that are revealed when using a UV light – and also feature a special 007 perforation.
Iconic films
The first stamp (1st class) features the sixth Bond (Daniel Craig), who joined the film franchise in 2006 as the producers turned to Ian Fleming’s first novel to re-imagine a harder-edged 007 in Casino Royale.
Next, we move to the 1990s, with another 1st class value, this time featuring the 1995 Bond classic Goldeneye where a new Bond (Pierce Brosnan) and a female M (Judi Dench) take the stage as a former agent, 006, threatens the world with a terrifying space weapon, GoldenEye.
Timothy Dalton takes on the Bond mantle as shown on stamp three (1st) in the thrilling, lightning-paced adventure The Living Daylights (1987).
Back to the 60s and 70s
The first of the £1.60 values showcases the 1973 movie Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s first film as James Bond. In this adventure, inspired by Ian Fleming’s work, 007 travels to Harlem, New Orleans and the Caribbean to investigate the mysterious Dr Kananga, known as Mr Big. Bond saves the day during a voodoo ritual and the stunt team sets a world record for a speedboat jump.
The penultimate stamp shows the 1969 Bond classic On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, as film-makers unveiled a new Bond (George Lazenby) and the adventurous Tracy Di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg) in a story that saw Bond marry.
The final stamp takes us back to 1964 and the release of Goldfinger, the third film starring Sean Connery. The story sees Bond track gold smuggler, Auric Goldfinger, dodging death in the form of Oddjob, as well as a terrifying laser beam. Bond, with the help of Pussy Galore, foils a bid to render Fort Knox worthless.
Secrets of the James Bond miniature sheet
See the hidden features that are revealed when using a UV light… perforation.
The mini sheet stamps also feature a special 007.
James Bond stamp details
Issue date: 17 March 2020
Design: Interabang
Format: Landscape
Stamp size: 60mm x 30mm
Printer: International Security Printers
Print process: Lithography
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Gum: PVA
1st: Casino Royale
1st: Goldeneye
1st: The Living Daylights
£1.55: Live and Let Die
£1.55: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
£1.55: Goldfinger
QUICK LINK: Inverted booklet discovered