Making the most of a small canvas to communicate seismic world events
Royal Mail
D-Day anniversary stamps
Royal Mail
Music Giants – Queen
Working with Royal Mail to immortalise rock’s most regal four-piece.
Queen are, without doubt, one of rock’s most enduring and iconic bands. Loved by fans all over the globe, boasting the UK’s best-selling album of all time amongst their record-breaking back catalogue and responsible for some of history’s most legendary live performances, they are genuine rock royalty. Our clients Royal Mail invited us to help celebrate Queen’s meteoric career with a Special Stamp issue, only the third ever band to be honoured in this way following The Beatles in 2007 and Pink Floyd in 2016. Delving into the band’s archives, we unearthed live performance photography, candid back-stage shots and fascinating ephemera. Our work included a set of live performance stamps, a definitive stamp (featuring an iconic band line-up shot in 1974 by Johnny Dewe-Matthews), Presentation Pack, First Day Cover, Coin Covers, Prestige Stamp Book and hand-stamps. All in all, a show-stopping project.
Brian May“It’s hard to put into words what I feel when looking at these beautiful stamps… we have become a national institution! And nothing brings this home more than this incredible tribute from Royal Mail.”
Roger Taylor“What an honour. We must be really part of the furniture now! Thanks Royal Mail for stamping on us!”
Good Morning America“We are the Stamp-ions!”
New York Times“Rock band Queen get postage stamp of approval.”
ITV“Royal Mail will rock you with new stamps to celebrate Queen.”
Catharine Brandy,“It’s been a great experience to work with Baxter & Bailey on this project. Their talent, and enthusiasm about Queen, resulted in designs that truly capture the energy and style of such a unique band.”
Design Manager, Stamps & Collectibles,
Royal Mail
Impact
The Queen Special Stamp issue and a wide range of associated products launched to the public on the 9th July 2020, to the delight of fans around the world. The release generated news coverage in print, broadcast and online across all major news channels and outlets.
Acknowledgements
It’s not often that you’re asked to work with both rock royalty and actual royalty within a single project. So huge thanks to Catharine and Bob at Royal Mail for inviting us to work on this thrilling (and rocking) brief.
