Fancy a new hobby? You could start stamp collecting with the launch of The Who Royal Mail stamps.
Or you could collect them as memorabilia or – to be really radical – stick them on letters to your friends and acquaintances. That’s if you get the basic stamps – there are plenty of collector’s sets to pick from too.
The Royal Mail is marking the 60th anniversary of The Who coming together with a set of postage stamps. It’s not the first time a musical act has been featured on postage stamps. The likes of The Beatles and Bowie (plus many more) have featured on your letters in the past. But this is the first time for The Who.
Eight of the 12 stamps in the collection feature some of the band’s most recognisable album covers, kicking off with My Generation (1965) and followed by Tommy (1969), Who’s Next (1971), Quadrophenia (1973), Who Are You (1978), Face Dances (1981), Endless Wire (2006) and WHO (2019). The other four stamps feature promotional shots and live images of the band.
Of course, if you need a stamp, it’s a solid purchase—as long as you don’t want to see it again. But like many things related to The Who (even the reissued Heinz Baked Beans tin), you probably want to store them away as part of your collection.
Like all these things, there are endless variations of ‘product’ to buy. First, there’s a presentation pack, a ‘fact-packed souvenir containing all eight Special Stamps and the Miniature Sheet, along with images and insights into the rise of rock pioneers The Who.’ It’s pictured at the top of the page and sells for around £22.
Beyond that, there are various framed editions of the stamps, as well as the Limited Edition Prestige Stamp Book (the one with the little case), which sells for £49.99.
Looking for something a touch cheaper? The Who Special Stamp Book features the four First Class stamps from The Who issue in a ‘highly collectible keepsake’ for around £6.
There are plenty of first-day covers, too, with prices varying depending on your choice but generally between £5 and £18.
A set of postcards costs around a fiver, or you can buy loads of stamps in bulk—you can pre-order for that, too.
Much more besides – you probably want to have a look at the Royal Mail site for the full set of offers on pre-order if you are a fan. All limited editions, of course, so don’t hang around.
Find out more at the Royal Mail website
