A long year and Deep Pockets

If you are a main stream collector and have a regular order for everything, then to date it has been a long year, and if your name is Royal Mail a profitable one.

So far I have counted 39 individual stamp releases (not products, as Presentation Packs etc are not listed).

Lets go through them:

8th January:

This first issue of the year 6 stamps to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Ian Fleming.

A Miniature Sheet was also issued on the same day it contained one of each stamp. Then to finish we have a Prestige Book entitled 'Ian Fleming's James Bond.

Total 3
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15th January

Just seven days later Royal Mail issued another Love Booklet 4 x 1st class Machins and two love stamps. These booklets are printed by Walsall Security Print in Gravure and are self-adhesive.

Not satisfied with this we also see a new Smilers Sheet with circular labels and a generic sheet. issued on the same day.

Total 6
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5 February 2008

A set of 6 stamps depicting Working Dogs, values ranged from 1st class, 46p, 48p, 54, 69p and 78p

Total 7
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28 February 2008

The Houses of Lancaster and York. There was a set of 6 stamps and Miniature Sheet issued. Sheet values 2 x 1st 2x 54p, and 2 x 69p. The Miniature Sheet features the life and times of the age, with four historic events. Values are 2 x 1st class and 2 x 78p.

On the same date ( we are now only 8 weeks into the year) for booklet fans a nice promotional Greetings Stamp Booklet which features the six most popular 1st class greetings stamps from the previous booklets issued in 2005 /2006.

Total issues 10
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11 March 2008.

A slight rest of 10 days or so 'Glorious Northern Ireland'. A Miniature Sheet (4 stamps) 1st. Class - Carrickfergus Castle, 1st. Class - Giant's Causeway, 78p - St. Patrick & 78p - Queen's Bridge and Friendship Beacon and a Smilers Sheet (20 1st class) were issued.

Total 12
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13 March 2008.

S.O.S - Rescue at Sea 6 stamps issued, 1st. class - Barra Island, Outer Hebrides; 46p - Appledore, Devon ; 48p - Portland, Dorset ; 54p - St. Ives, Cornwall ; 69p - Selsey, Dorset & 78p - Tenby

Total 13
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1 April 2008.

New Machin Definitives & Country Stamps

New Country Stamps valued 50p and 81p were be issued for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in the existing designs. Printed by De La Rue

Machins: 9p, 15p, 56, and 81p. The 9p stamp was printed with a new cylinder and there were differences compared with the previously issued stamp - namely the ' 9p' is slightly more rounded and the image of the Queen's head is much clearer.

Also on 1st April the Centenary of the Territorial Army was commemorated with a new type of Royal Mail product Commemorative Sheet consists of 10 x 1st class Union Flag stamps and commemorative labels. These sheets will be sold for £13.50 a premium over face value.

Total 15
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15 April 2008.

Two weeks respite before the next issue (very nice of RM to give us a short break) 10 x 1st class stamps depicting Action for Species 2 - Insects .

Total 16
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13 May 2008

British Cathedrals: a set of 6 stamps. The stamps featured several Cathedrals : 1st. class - Lichfield, 48p - Belfast , 50p - Gloucester, 56p - St. David's, Wales , 72p - Westminster & 81p - St. Magnus, Orkney, Scotland .

A Miniature Sheet was also issued on the same day, a se-tenant block of 4 stamps showing the interior of St. Paul's Cathedral.

We mentioned this booklet recently, also issued on 13th May. 'Ice Cream' Greetings Retail Booklet

Total 19
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10 June 2008

Classic Carry On & Hammer Films, 6 x stamps : - 1st. class - Carry On Sergeant, 48p - Dracula, 50p - Carry On Cleo, 56p - The Curse of Frankenstein, 72p - Carry On Screaming & 81p - The Mummy.

There was also a Retail Booklet with 6 x 1st class Machin definitives and a 'Carry On Collecting' advertisement.

Total 21
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17 July 2008

Air Displays : A set of 6 stamps and a Smilers Sheet. The Stamps : 1st. class - Red Arrows ; 48p - RAF Falcons ; 50p - Red Arrows display ; 56p - Avro Flypast ; 72p - Parachute display & 81p Air Race.

The Smilers Sheets featured the 1st. class stamp and is entitled ' 100 years of Aviation '

Total 23 issues
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24 July 2008

It had to come! Commemorative business Sheet - 1908 London Olympic Games 10 X 1st. Class Flag stamps with commemorative labels. This sheet went on sale for a staggering £13.50. £1.35 per stamp!

4 August 2008

Beijing 2008 Olympic Expo Smilers Sheet. 20 x 'Hello' 1st class stamp, printed by Cartor in Litho.

Total 24
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22 August 2008

Olympic Games Handover Miniature Sheet of the Olympic Flag from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to London for the 2012 games. 4 x 1st class stamps. This was a joint issue with China Post.

Total 25
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18 September 2008

Losing count now! Military Uniforms - RAF a set of 6 stamps and a Prestige Book.

Total 27
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29 September 2008.

Next week we see two more issues Country Definitives Miniature Sheet .There will also be a Prestige Book issued.

Thats not all, 29 September will be the day for the next Glorious UK - Smilers Sheet. A total of 20 stamps. 5 x 1st class stamps from each of the four countries together with labels showing scenes in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland & England.

Total 30
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14 October 2008

6 new staps to commemorate Women of Distinction. 1st. class - Millicent Garrett Fawcett , 48p - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson , 50p - Marie Stopes , 56p - Eleanor Rathbone , 72p - Claudia Jones & 81p - Barbara Castle. What! no Maggie Thatcher??

Total 31
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4 November 2008

As per usual we come to the Christmas Issue. a set of 6 stamps, a Miniature Sheet and a Smilers Sheet to be issued, not to mention the 1st class booklets, 2nd class booklets to name another 2.

Total 36
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6 November 2008

We have still got time for a few more so lets finish off with a bang 'Lest We Forget' to commemorate the 90th Annivserary of the end of the First World War. There will be a Miniature Sheet and Smilers Sheet issued also in addition to all this, the Poppy stamps which were issued over the last three years will also be issued se-tenant in ordinary sheets.

Have I forgotten anything, are there any more issues lurking in the shadows that I have not heard about, if not then we have it.

A grand total 39 issues in 12 months.
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