It’s a set of super-spy stamps that is sure to sell out soon.
Bond… James Bond… is now part of Britain’s Royal Mail.
Earlier this week the queen’s postal service issued a set of stamps commemorating the fictional spy and his creator, Ian Fleming.
Actress Samantha Bond, who played secretary Miss Moneypenny in Pierce Brosnan’s four Bond films, unveiled the new stamps while posing for the media next to the secret agent’s favorite car—-an Aston Martin DB6.
The six stamps feature the original cover artwork of Bond classics including “Dr. No,””Goldfinger,””Diamonds Are Forever” and “From Russia With Love” and are available in varying denominations.
In addition to the stamps, several events are planned throughout the area to commemorate what would have been Fleming’s 100th birthday. Fleming introduced James Bond in the 1953 book “Casino Royale.” The character soon became a fan favorite and went on to appear in 13 more books and dozens of films before Fleming’s death in 1968.
In London, a James Bond exhibition is due to open at the city’s Imperial War Museum in April. Bond fans can also look forward to a new 007 adventure when Sebastian Faulks’ new book, “Devil May Care,” is released on May 28th – Fleming’s birthday.
Lucky for Bond fans the price of the new spy stamps won’t be nearly as much as the “Inverted Jenny” stamp, which recently sold for more than $825,000.
The rare 1918 24-cent stamp, depicting an upside-down Curtis JN-4 biplane known as “Jenny,” is considered one of the most famously flawed stamps in history. It was sold privately a couple of weeks ago to a New York man (reportedly an executive on Wall Street) who did not want to be identified.
The mint condition red, white and blue stamp has been dubbed the “Rolls-Royce of air mail stamps.” It is one of the finest known surviving stamps from the original sheet of 100 misprints. Another “Inverted Jenny” sold for $977,500 at an auction held a few months ago.
Stamp experts say the price for the misprinted “Inverted Jennys” is astronomical because they are part of a set in which fewer than five have never been affixed with adhesive to a stamp album or an envelope.
A single stamp for the same price as a mansion and a few cars… hmmm… now that’s a serious collector.
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