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Sherlock Holmes is to to be celebrated with a new set of stamps – and some will feature hidden storyline details to the much-loved BBC TV show Sherlock.
If you’re considering becoming a stamp collector for the first time ever, we feel you.
What’s more, the hidden info is only revealed when UV light is shone over the stamps – which are of course emblazoned with the faces of Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as John H. Watson, among others.
The collection – which will also honour other stories written by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, including The Adventure Of The Speckled Band and The Adventure Of The Dancing Men – will drop on August 18, 2020.
Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott) and Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington) will also feature on new stamps.
The BBC’s Sherlock adaptation debuted in 2010 and has so far run for four series of three episodes. There was also a New Year’s Day special in 2016.
We think we can hold out a little longer for a fifth series, now these stamps are on their way.
Richard Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s great nephew, said: ‘In the first chapter of my great uncle Arthur’s famous Sherlock Holmes novel, The Sign Of Four, Sherlock remarks upon the sheet of stamps in Watson’s desk – imagine his consternation if it turned out to be this sheet of stamps!
‘What would he have deduced from what he observed?
‘I hope those who take a close look at these fascinating stamps, observing not just seeing, are inspired to read the original stories and novels written by my great uncle – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.’
Sherlock producer Sue Vertue added: ‘We are terribly proud of our Sherlock TV series and now I am ridiculously excited about these Royal Mail stamps. I’m going to immediately book a UK holiday so I can send all my friends postcards using them.’
Philip Parker of Royal Mail said: ‘We celebrate the enduring fascination with the world’s most famous fictional detective.
‘Our stylish new stamps mark the acclaimed and award-winning TV series and are complemented by illustrations of some of the stories Conan Doyle considered among his best.’
The BBC’s Sherlock has been broadcast in 180 countries.
Doyle’s iconic character first appeared in A Study in Scarlet, published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual in 1887.
The beloved Scottish writer died of a heart attack in 1930 at the age of 71.
Popular culture frequently makes its mark in the world of stamps, with rock band Queen getting their own collection earlier this year.
More: Benedict Cumberbatch
‘Wow – stamps featuring our albums!’ band member Roger Taylor said at the time. ‘What an honour. We must be really part of the furniture now.’
That’s one way to put it!
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