Royal Mail today revealed images of 12 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate the musical icon Dame Shirley Bassey, 70 years on from the start of her career in 1953.

This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to a solo female music artist. Solo artists previously honoured with a dedicated stamp issue are: David Bowie (2017); Sir Elton John (2019); and Sir Paul McCartney (2021). 

Eight stamps in the main set capture some of her spellbinding performances from her illustrious career. An additional sheet of four stamps features a beautiful selection of candid photographs taken of Dame Shirley during recording sessions and rehearsal sessions during her career.

Born in 1937 in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Dame Shirley toured theatres and revues until she signed a record deal with Philips and scored the number one hit, "As I Love You," in 1959. By the 1960s, she was an international star with numerous hit albums spanning contemporary pop, show tunes and soundtracks. Some of her greatest work was with film composer John Barry, creating the James Bond themes "Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever," and "Moonraker," which became her signature songs.

In the 1990s and 2000s, she attracted a whole new audience, performing the official song for the 1999 Rugby World Cup with Bryn Terfel and attending the 2007 Glastonbury Festival in diamante wellington boots. She was awarded a CBE in 1994 and a DBE in 1999.

Dame Shirley Bassey said: "I am absolutely thrilled and would never have dreamed that one day my face would be on a stamp...that one day a letter might arrive and there I am, with a postmark next to me! 

“It's an absolute honour to be the first solo female artist to receive a collection from Royal Mail. The stamps are wonderful, and I hope my fans & collectors love them as much as I do."

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “For seven decades Dame Shirley Bassey has captivated fans across the world with her distinctive and powerful voice. This stamp issue is a fitting celebration of one of the UK’s most revered and longest serving musical icons.”

The stamps are available to pre-order from today (September 7) at www.royalmail.com/shirleybassey and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps in the set is priced at £19.50. The stamps go on general sale on September 21.

Stamp by Stamp

Performing at the Pigalle nightclub, 1965	Performing in Bournemouth, 1974	Performing at the BBC Electric Proms, The Roundhouse, 2009	Performing at the Safeway Picnic in the Park, 2002

Performing in Brighton, 1988	Performing on a TV show, 1963	Singing ‘World in Union’ (with Bryn Terfel) during the Opening Ceremony of the Rugby World Cup, 1999	Performing during the Oscars held at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, 2013

	Rehearsing before a concert at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate her 25 years in show business, 1978
	During rehearsals before the opening of her season at the Talk of the Town theatre in London, 1962
	In the recording studio, 1961
	At Grouse Lodge Studios, Ireland, 2009

About Royal Mail Special Stamps

For more than 50 years Royal Mail’s Special Stamp programme has commemorated anniversaries and celebrated events relevant to UK heritage and life. Today, there are an estimated 60 million stamp collectors worldwide.

About International Distributions Services plc

International Distributions Services plc is the parent company of Royal Mail Group Limited, the leading provider of postal and delivery services in the UK and the UK’s designated universal postal service provider. UK Parcels, International and Letters (“UKPIL”) comprises the company’s UK and international parcels and letters delivery businesses operating under the “Royal Mail” and “Parcelforce Worldwide” brands. Through the Royal Mail Core Network, the company delivers a one-price-goes-anywhere service on a range of parcels and letters products. Royal Mail has the capability to deliver to around 31 million addresses in the UK, six days a week (excluding UK public holidays). Parcelforce Worldwide operates a separate UK network which collects and delivers express parcels. International Distributions Services plc also owns General Logistics Systems (GLS) which operates one of the largest ground-based, deferred parcel delivery networks in Europe.