Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Isle of Man Post Office today announced the launch of a series of eight hi-tech stamps that celebrate half a century since the making of this iconic British film, rated one of the greatest films of all time.
The Isle of Man Post Office has worked with Warner Bros. and through them the Kubrick family and SKFA, to create a set of stamps that are respectful of the genre, the film and its makers, as well as the millions of fans in the UK and beyond. In true Kubrick style, each of the 2001 stamps contain hidden secrets, a message embedded for fans to find.
The special First Day and Commemorative Covers are a groundbreaking homage to the film and much of the collection is in strictly limited-edition numbers, highly prized by collectors and film fans.
Designed by London creative agency Glazier Design, who also designed the Stephen Hawking Gravitational Theory stamps, the series of eight stamps depict some of the most iconic imagery from the film; Kubrick himself, author Arthur C. Clarke from whose short story the film was adapted, the 'Monolith', Star Child, Dr. Dave Bowman and, of course, the HAL 9000, the errant AI.
The stamps have received Royal Approval and are available now at: www.iompost.com/2001
The announcement follows the 'unrestored' 70mm screening of the director's ground-breaking science fiction epic at the 71st Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.
Kubrick's family, including his daughter, Katharina Kubrick, and longstanding producing partner and brother-in-law, Jan Harlan, were in attendance for the Cannes Classics screening as well as star of the film Keir Dullea, and are pictured with the stamps.
Keir Dullea (who played Dave Bowman) said "What a beautiful way to celebrate this film & a man whose imagination soared in the films that he made. Save your stamps or send them soaring."
Katharina Kubrick said "Wow, they are beautiful. I can't wait to get my hands on them! What a lovely tribute on this momentous occasion."
Jan Harlan said "Stanley loved all types of stationary. He would find this highly amusing, but also very flattering."
Ben Glazier said "We have been very privileged to have worked on these stamps and they follow our continuing theme of space that started with stamps for Professor Stephen Hawking, then getting a stamp into space aboard the ISS, now into a time-warped possible future that it is supposed to be in our past. We are getting used to the concept of time not being a fixed point. I hope the millions of '2001' fans around the world enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed making them."
Maxine Cannon, General Manager, Stamps and Coins, Isle of Man Post Office said, "The Isle of Man Post Office was honoured and excited to work with Warner Bros., the Kubrick family and the SKFA in producing the latest iteration in our celebration of space. The film is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time and has predicted many of the things we take for granted today. Having worked with Sir Arthur C. Clarke back in 2001, we know that both our loyal collectors and 2001: A Space Odyssey fans will love the stamps, especially when they discover the hidden secrets."
Manxman Christ Stott, who has been influential in the our space industry met Arthur C. Clarke in Sri Lanka in the 1990s and it was ACC who encouraged Chris to set up his satellite company ManSat and helped to launch the Isle of Man Space Industry. Chris heads up the island chapter of the International Space University of which Arthur C Clarke was President.
The spectacular stamps are available now for pre-order from www.iompost.com/2001 with the official First Day of Issue on June 14th, 2018.
The Kubrick family & SKFA have chosen the work of the Jane Goodall Institute to be the charity to highlight in this stamp issue, and the Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to include a profile of the charity to raise awareness of their important work. For further information see: www.janegoodall.org.uk.
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Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, PO Box IOM, Isle of Man Post Office, Douglas, ISLE OF MAN, IM99 1PB
