The Royal Mail has released a lovely set of Pre-Raphaelite stamps in time for the holiday season. The collection was chosen by designer Andrew Ross, who examined stained glass from churches throughout England in order to compile the artwork for the set of stamps. The final designs were taken from churches in Cumbria, Norfolk, Somerset, East Sussex and Wiltshire.The angel with the mandolin (middle) was designed by William Morris, while the Wise Man stamp (bottom middle) is from some stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones. The art for the 1st, 56p and £1.35 stamps are from stained glass created by Henry Holiday, who worked with Edward Burne-Jones in his studios.
"We are extremely privileged to have access to such a rich history of beautiful stained glass designs in churches and other buildings around the UK," said Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail.
"These precious images of the nativity have a timeless appeal and are a wonderful way of telling the story of Christmas here and around the world."
It appears that the stamps already have a following - Wales online reports that a number of the Pre Raphaelite stamps were stolen before they were made available to the general public. As a result, "ANYONE offered Royal Mail’s newest commemorative Christmas stamps on the cheap is being asked to contact police after a new delivery was stolen in a burglary." The thieves weren't just desperate romantics, though - they also stole cash, phone cards and cigarettes.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Pre-Raphaelite Christmas Stamps Released by Royal Mail
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9 comments:
OMG! Margaret, these are exquisite....so beautiful, I'd buy myself a whole set and frame them up if I was there :) Happy weekend to you and the family...hugs/M
I know - I wish we had them in Canada! So pretty.
Terrific designs - I hadn't heard about these, so thanks.
Those are fantastic! They make a great extra keepsake of the holiday season. The Christmas stamps here are usually either ugly or just plain boring...LOL! Hope you & yours are doing well there, Margaret. :o)
These are lovely! Andrew Ross did a marvelous job of compiling goregous images. Wish we had them here in the US!
Nancy
I haven't thought about stained glass windows very much since studying that art form as an undergraduate (about 100 years ago). Then recently the students and I were interested in stained glass at the LSE, apparently designed by George Bernard Shaw
http://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com/2009/11/george-bernard-shaw-fabian-society-and.html
It may be an expensive, time consuming and fragile art form for a domestic or public building, but stained glass is absolutely perfect for stamps. The colours and shapes are blissfully crisp.
Hia Margaret congratulations on your new arrival. She looks so sweet.
The stamps are lovely. Thank you for visiting my blog.
The Pre-Raphaelite stamps are lovely aren'y they? I have them for my cards - it's wonderful to have nice stamps at last, the last few years have been awful designs. Uninspiring to say the least. Hope you and your little one are doing well. It's a whole new world with a baby:)
Hi Margaret!
Those stamps are so pretty! Hope you and the new little one are doing well. I still can't believe you are a Mum (I know you are trying to get used to it, too! ) Lots of hugs, Bebe :)
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