Norvic Philatelics

London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Definitives - 5 January 2012

Pre-issue publicity images   Actual 1st class stamp compared with 1st class flame Machin.

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Sheet Layout. The layout of the 1st class stamp, in sheets of 50, is shown at left. The upper pane has 13 Paralympic and 12 Olympic stamps; the lower pane has 12 Paralympic and 13 Olympic stamps. The cylinder number is on the lower pane only.  The grid shows 6 positions. The 20g stamp will be issued in sheets of 25, but there will be two versions similar to the 1st class panes shown here.  Both versions of the 20g sheet will have cylinder numbers with the grid showing 12 positions.

The stamps will be available at Post Office Counters from 5 January 2012 through to 30 January 2012, when they will be replaced by the Jubilee Definitive. The Olympic Definitive will be re-introduced at Post Offices on the 27 June 2012 when a Generic Sheet will also be issued.  

Booklets
6 x 1st class stamp booklets will be issued in two different types. One shows the Key Dates for London 2012, the other includes a quote from Seb Coe who leads the London Organising Committee. The stamp arrangement in the two books is different.

The mock-up images show the stamps in a rather weak orange colour, but these pictures from the media release suggest that the colour will be closer to the 'flame' colour used for earlier 1st class Machin definitives.

These pictures show that the booklets are printed in pairs of Booklet 1 & Booklet 2 side-by-side.

 
Scan of the double-pane sheet of 50 x 1st class stamps.  Scan of the two sheets of 25 x 20g stamps.

 

Technical details:
The sheet stamps, designed by Studio Dempsey, are self-adhesive and printed by De La Rue Security Printers in gravure, size 20 x 24mm.  The booklet stamps are printed by Walsall Security Printers.

All stamp and postmark images are copyright 2011/2, Royal Mail, reproduced with permission.

Products available

2 x 1st class, 2 x 20g airmail definitive stamps

2 x 1st class booklets of 6.

First day cover, Presentation Pack, Stamp cards (4).  

Coin Cover, Silver Proof Coin Cover.

In June: Generic Sheet mint

Special Postmarks available on the day of this issue will be shown here; others will be added as they are announced.
These images may not be to scale.

Ref FD1201 - Official Bureau postmark, showing the London Skyline	Ref FD1202 Land's End Penzance, Cornwall official first day of issue postmark	Ref FD1202NP Sennen, Penzance, Cornwall, non-pictorial official first day of issue postmark	Ref L12371 London W2 (available until 4 Jan 13)	Ref L11998 Sporting Disciplines, London W2 (available until 5 Jan 12)
Ref L12368 London E15	Ref L12369 London E20	Ref L12367 London SW1	Ref L12370 London E20	Ref M12372, London Road, Birmingham.