THE British government is paying tribute to the career of Pink Floyd this year. On July 7, the Royal Mail will issue an assortment of stamps that feature the band’s iconic artwork and live performances. The date is the 10th anniversary of founding guitarist Syd Barrett‘s death.
Calling Pink Floyd “one of the most influential and successful British bands of all time,” the Royal Mail worked with Pink Floyd to create stamps depicting the covers of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Atom Heart Mother, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Endless River – each with a “vinyl breakout.” Four stamps feature them in concert at various stages in their career: The UFO Club in 1966, 1973’s Dark Side of the Moon tour, 1981’s The Wall tour and 1994’s The Division Bell tour.
Available for pre-order are such collectibles as a souvenir cover dedicated to Barrett, personalized First Day Covers with a special handstamp in the shape of a guitar pick, a Dark Side of the Moon Maxi-Sheet, framed stamps, and several bundles of their offerings. You can view everything they have at their website.
Governments have long been putting rockers’ images on stamps, most famously in 1992, when the U.S. Postal Service created a national poll to determine whether a young or old Elvis Presley should be portrayed on a commemorative stamp. Nearly 1.2 million ballots were cast, with the young Elvis winning the vote, and the stamp was dedicated on Jan. 8, 1993, which would have been Elvis’ 58th birthday. Other artists to be featured on stamps across the world are Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Rush.
