The Clash and Zeppelin Among Groups to Get Stamped

Here's an idea America should copy: the U.K. is about to issue 10 rock album cover stamps to debut on January 7. Ever wanted to lick David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust"? Now's your chance.

Album covers getting stamped include Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell," Primal Scream's "Screamadelica," The Clash's "London Calling," Led Zeppelin's "Zeppelin IV" and even Henri Fantin-Latour's 19th century cover for "A Basket of Roses," among others.

Aside from the music and art appreciation element, the stamps provide the perfect opportunity to send a message. Need to send in your tax bill? Send it with the Rolling Stones' "Let It Bleed" stamp. Writing a letter to your local politician? Why not go for a New Order "Power, Corruption and Lies" stamp. Or if you have a rental property and need to evict your tenant, you can always send the notice with a Blur "Parklife" stamp. I'm sure they'll appreciate it.

Royal Mail chose the album covers based on extensive research and polls, including collecting lists from prominent music magazine editors and graphic designers. The main criteria was the quality of the album sleeve design and not the music, hence the inclusion of Coldplay's "A Rush of Blood to the Head" (just kidding, Gwyneth). Surprisingly, no Beatles album covers were chosen for the stamps.

According to stamp collector Norvic Philatelics, the "self-adhesive stamps are printed in two separate sheets of 25, enabling customers to buy vertical strips of five of the same design, with all-over phosphor." He also noted that souvenir sheets with a water-activated gum base will also be available.

The rock album stamps follow on the heels of 2009's British Design Classics, which were a big hit in the U.K.