posted 03-14-2017 01:08 PM               

The stamps that fell to earth: Royal Mail launches Bowie stamps – into space

• Royal Mail Special Stamps that pay tribute to David Bowie go on sale today

• 52 sets of David Bowie Special Stamps have been sent into space to mark the launch

• 52 was chosen as it represents the total span of Bowie's professional recording years before his death, aged 69, in January 2016*

• The stamps have been postmarked with a special edition red handstamp of the iconic lightning bolt from the cover of Bowie's Aladdin Sane

• Fans can win a set of the stamps that were sent into space by visiting Royal Mail on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

• The stamps are on sale from today online and from 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK

• This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to an individual music artist or cultural figure

Fans of David Bowie can, from today, get their hands on the popular stamps issued by Royal Mail to honour one of the most influential music and cultural figures of all time.

This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to an individual music artist or cultural figure.

In homage to Bowie's immortal role in Nicolas Roeg's 1976 film The Man Who Fell To Earth, 52 First Day Covers, featuring a full set of album cover stamps, have been launched into space. Fans who correctly guess where 'the stamps that fell to earth' landed, can win one of the limited edition First Day Covers.

The stamps have been postmarked with a special edition red handstamp of the iconic thunderbolt from the cover of Bowie's Aladdin Sane.

The 10-stamp set features six images from some of his most admired and defining album covers: Hunky Dory; Aladdin Sane; "Heroes"; Let's Dance; Earthling and ★. The arc of the vinyl album protrudes from the right hand side of each stamp.

The remaining four stamps show Bowie in action performing live on tours across four decades; The Ziggy Stardust Tour, 1972; The Stage Tour, 1978; The Serious Moonlight Tour, 1983; and A Reality Tour, 2004.

Philip Parker, Royal Mail stamp Strategy manager, said: "For five decades David Bowie was at the forefront of contemporary culture, and has influenced successive generations of musicians, artists, designers and writers. Royal Mail's stamp issue celebrates this unique figure and some of his many celebrated personas."