Anniversary Wildings in 2005

The 50th anniversary of the high value Wilding 'Castles' series of definitives will be celebrated by Royal Mail in September 2005 with the issue of a GB miniature sheet featuring updates of the Wildings.

As yet it is unclear as to what modern day equivalent values will be attached to the 'revamped' Wildings. However, bearing in mind that the high value Machins have just been withdrawn from Britain's post offices it's not certain that Royal Mail will issue more high values next year. When quizzed on this a Royal Mail spokesman told STAMP MAGAZINE: 'The Wilding sheet values haven't been decided upon as yet'.

Royal Mail has also revealed its GB Special Stamps programme for 2005 which has seen the axe falling on its usual annual Occasions set. Gareth Evans from Royal Mail told us: 'That series has probably now run its course'.

STAMP MAGAZINE has also learnt that the February 2005 issue planned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Magic Circle may feature thermochromatic ink to make certain parts of the stamps appear and disappear, or another print process that visually reflects the magic theme.

More joint issues
Royal Mail has also told us that the Entente Cordiale stamps that were issued on April 6 this year are: 'The first of a number of joint issues which we're planning over the next few years'. The first of these joint issues will be the World Heritage Sites stamps in conjunction with Australia Post in April 2005.

The full scheduled programme for 2005 GB Special Stamps is as follows:-
January - Farm Animals
February - Magic Circle (100th anniversary)
March - South-West England ('A British Journey' series); The Brontës (150th anniversary of death of Charlotte Brontë)
April - World Heritage Sites (joint issue with Australia)
June - Trooping the Colour (200th anniversary)
July - Motorcycles (transport series); North of England ('A British Journey' series)
August - Gastronomy (Post Europe theme)
September - Independent TV (50th anniversary of ITV)
October - Battle of Trafalgar (200th anniversary)
November - Christmas