Click on the images for a larger version.
Norvic Philatelics
Hong Kong 2004 Stamp Expo Royal Mail Smilers Sheet - 30 January 2004
No warning from Royal Mail for this surprise issue
A brief paragraph in the January Philatelic Bulletin announced that ";A new Smilers sheet for the Hong King Stamp Expo (30 January - 3 February) is now
available. Printed by Walsall, it contains 20 1st class 'Hello' stamps with labels bearing the Hong Kong exhibition logo."
This sheet is significant for several reasons. This is the first time a commemorative Smilers sheet has been produced by Royal Mail.
Unlike the 'Stampex London' sheets available in 2003, which were produced for the Philatelic Traders Society, the Hong Kong Stamp Expo sheets have been produced by Royal Mail and are available from the philatelic bureau. We understand that it was also on sale at the Royal Mail stand at the Expo in Hong Kong.
It is also the first time the 'Hello' stamp has been printed by Walsall Security Print, the original sheet stamp and the original Smilers version being printed by The House of Questa, and the self-adhesive booklet version by De La Rue.
Click on the images for a larger version.
We have produced an exclusive cover for this issue, shown above. Covers are available with either a single stamp or the strip with 5 different labels.
Prices: single stamp on Norvic cover - £3.95. Strip of 5 on Norvic cover - Sold out
Mint sheet - £8.50
There were no PO FDCs for this stamp.
All prices exclude postage & packing. For prices in foreign currencies - please email us.
This page created 10 March 2004 (17.1.05)
| 13 January Classic Steam Locomotives | 30 January Hong Kong Stamp Expo 2004 Smilers Sheet | 3 February Occasions/Greetings stamps and Smilers sheet | 26 February Lord of the Rings | 16 March Letters by Night Prestige Book (TPOs)
A British Journey - Northern Ireland |
| 1 April New definitives, including airmail postcard book of stamps | 6 April Centenary of the Entente Cordiale | 13 April Ocean Liners | 11 May 40p Country definitives | 25 May Royal Horticultural Society |
| 15 June British Journey - Wales | 29 July Rule Britannia Smilers Sheet | 10 August Royal Society of Arts | 16 September Woodland Animals | 5 October Scottish Parliament Building |
| 12 October Crimean War | 2 November Father Christmas | |||