Blackadder
A set of stamps issued on May 17 pays tribute to the Blackadder series of television sitcoms, on their 40th anniversary.
Created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, co-written by Ben Elton and produced by John Lloyd, the four series were originally aired on BBC television from 1983-89, becoming one of the most popular British comedies ever.
Each series featured the scheming anti-hero, Edmund Blackadder (played by Atkinson), and his brainless dogsbody, Baldrick (played by Tony Robinson), with a strong supporting cast including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tim McInnerny and Miranda Richardson, and guest appearances from the likes of Peter Cook, Brian Blessed, Rik Mayall and Robbie Coltrane.
Yet each was set in a different historical period: The Black Adder at the end of the Wars of the Roses, Blackadder II in the Elizabethan era, Blackadder The Third in the Regency period, and Blackadder Goes Forth during World War I.
A set of eight conventionally gummed stamps in counter sheets reproduces two stills from each series, available as horizontally se-tenant pairs, while a self-adhesive miniature sheet of four portrays each succesive incarnation of Edmund Blackadder, as if in a picture gallery.
Designed by True North, the issue was printed in litho by Cartor Security Printers.
£2.00 THE BLACK ADDER
A scene from episode 3, featuring Rowan Atkinson as Prince Edmund and Brian Blessed as his father King Richard IV.
£2.00 THE BLACK ADDER
A scene from episode 2, featuring Atkinson as Edmund, Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy and Tony Robinson as Baldrick.
£2.20 BLACKADDER II
A scene from episode 1, featuring Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth I and Patsy Byrne as her former nanny Nursie.
£2.20 BLACKADDER II
A scene from episode 4, featuring Atkinson as Lord Blackadder, McInnerny as Percy and Robinson as Baldrick.
2nd class BLACKADDER THE THIRD
A scene from episode 3, featuring Hugh Laurie as Prince George, Robinson as Baldrick and Atkinson as the Prince’s butler Blackadder.
2nd class BLACKADDER THE THIRD
A scene from episode 6, featuring Atkinson as Blackadder and Stephen Fry as the Duke of Wellington.
1st class BLACKADDER GOES FORTH
A scene from episode 6, featuring McInnerny as Captain Darling, Laurie as Lieutenant George, Atkinson as Captain Blackadder and Robinson as Private Baldrick.
1st class BLACKADDER GOES FORTH
A scene from episode 6, featuring Fry as General Melchett, Atkinson as Blackadder, McInnerny as Darling and Robinson as Baldrick.
MINIATURE SHEET
£2.20 THE BLACK ADDER
The self-styled Black Adder is Prince Edmund, the accidental murderer of Richard III and younger son of King Richard IV. Snivelling and weak, he is constantly overlooked by his father, who can never remember his name.
Robinson as Private Baldrick.
1st class BLACKADDER II
A rakish nobleman at the court of the capricious Queen Elizabeth I, Lord Edmund Blackadder is sharp-tongued and scheming, but his crafty and ambitious nature has a tendency to land him in trouble.
Robinson as Private Baldrick.
£2.20 BLACKADDER THE THIRD
Head butler to George, the foppish Prince Regent, Edmund Blackadder is possessed of a wicked wit and a Machiavellian mind, and will try anything to clamber up the social ladder.
Robinson as Private Baldrick.
1st class BLACKADDER GOES FORTH
World-weary soldier Captain Edmund Blackadder is simply trying to preserve his life and his sanity in the muddy trenches of World War I, his dry humour becoming ever blacker as his chances of survival grow slimmer.
Robinson as Private Baldrick.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS
The presentation pack, written by television and film critic Tom Huddleston, recaps each of the four series of Blackadder.
A press sheet of 18 uncut miniature sheets is offered in a limited edition of 200, along with the usual first day covers and stamp cards.
PRICES
Set of 8 stamps £12.10
Miniature sheet £6.60
Presentation pack £19.60
Press sheet £118.80
First day cover (stamps) £15.20
First day cover (mini sheet) £8.60
Stamp cards £5.85
VERDICT
COMMEMORATIVE WORTH 2/5
Royal Mail remains too obsessed with television shows, and this is the sixth to be commemorated in as many years
QUALITY OF DESIGN 1/5
A hazard of reproducing ageing film stills is that the images are lower quality than would usually be considered
WOW FACTOR 2/5
Scenes from the Blackadder series will be instantly recognisable to many, if not especially eye-catching
