We don't post a lot about non-U.S. stamp releases for a lot of reasons, the biggest being that if we posted all the stamp releases, that's all this blog would be about. As is, I think we post enough stamps. Still, I can't help but love them and want to share them with you. My current favorites are these nifty new ones for the U.K.'s Royal Mail from one of my favorite artists, Dave McKean, with stories of each written by one of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman.
My favorite illustration is the one for the pixies [or "piskies" if you want to get all culturally correct], but I think my favorite explanation is for the giants:
"If it were not for the giants, Britain would look very different. In the dawn days they feefifofummed across the land, picking up rocks and throwing them at other giants in friendly rivalry, or alone they would break mountains, crush rocks into causeways, leave henges and stone seats to mark their passing.
The giants were big but not bright. They were outsmarted by clever boys named Jack and fell from beanstalks or were tricked to death. They died, but not all of them are dead.
The remaining giants sleep, lost in deep, slow dreams, covered in earth and trees and wild grass. Some have clouds on their shoulders or long men carved on their sides. We see them from the windows of cars and tell each other that from some angles they look almost like people.
Even giants can only sleep for so long. Do not make too much noise the next time you walk in the hills."
You can read all the stories here and buy the stamps here.
Thes are gorgeous - I hope one of my UK friends uses these on mail coming my way!!
Posted by: Okami | June 22, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Planning to order the stamps and matching postcards and then add them to my Orphaned Postcard Project with the hope that some kind UK person will adopt the card, with matching postage and return it to me.
Posted by: Bonnie Jeanne | June 22, 2009 at 06:56 PM
So I got a postcard in the mail the other day with the 'Pixies' stamp and it read 1st day of issue 1st sheet sold in Southport. It's fabulous, but I have no idea who sent it! I can't read the signature and I don't have any friends who live or are traveling through the area. How mysterious...
Posted by: Treehouse Collective | June 23, 2009 at 06:31 PM
These are really spectacular. I just got a letter from the UK that has one of the Fairies stamps - wow.
Posted by: The Missive Maven | June 26, 2009 at 11:45 AM