First Class to Bash Street

Back in 2012 Royal Mail released a set of stamps with British comic covers on them. This was a very nice set and as far as I was aware the only time a British comic set had been made.

The 2012 stamps.

However, back in 1993 Royal Mail issued 'Greetings Stamps', a set of ten stamps that featured illustrations of famous characters including Rupert the Bear, William (from the William books) and Wilfred and Teacher, from The Bash Street Kids!

Yes, Wilfred and Teacher got first class treatment with this stamp, which features Wilfred teasing Teacher with an apple. Artwork is by David Sutherland. I'm not sure if British comics or characters have featured on any other stamps, these are the only two occasions I am aware of but if you do know of any more please leave a comment in the comments section below.

The postcard accompanying the stamp. The actual stamp can be seen at the top of this post.

Dennis the Menace creates British Stamps!

I've only just recieved the above comic, Beano issue #3628, and was intrested to see that the Dennis the Menace comic strip was all about stamps, to help advertise the Royal Mail's '75 Years of British Comics' collection. (For the cover, it would have been better if they'd used Walter instead of Curly, because Curly is supposed to be a menace - and stamp collecting doesn't sound very menacing to me!) I wonder if a few of the other comics featured in the collection were still around, would they have done the same thing? The Dandy didn't, but I'm pretty sure Buster would have!

75 Years Of Comics - Stamps out now!

As I'm sure you've read on blogs elsewhere, or even seen them in your local post office, The Royal Mail has issued a collection of 10 stamps, each illustrated with a well known comic character (Some collection's even come with a free mini Dandy). The stamps were dsigned by The Chase, and are made to celebrate 75 years of British comics, as The Dandy was launched in 1937 (there were many different title's before that of course, but The Dandy is considered the first modern style comic). You can also take the British Comics Quiz - in which you can find out which comic character you are! (I'm a mix between Buster and Desperate Dan!)To take it, simply go to The Royal Mail stamps page on facebook and click 'Comics Quiz' , or click here:

https://www.facebook.com/RoyalMailStamps/app_362233747140637

You can purchase them in the shops, or online:

http://www.royalmail.com/personal/comic-stamps-and-collectibles?sic_cid=PPC120312COMICS

An article from The Sun:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4204773/Comic-book-stamps-are-just-Dandy.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=News&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17421394

The Mirror:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dennis-the-menace-roy-of-the-rovers-and-desperate-765816