Classic Rockers Featured on UK Stamps

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Album covers from iconic rock bands including Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones are being featured on British stamps as part of the Royal Mail's 2010 stamp program, Rolling Stone reports .

The stamp program announced last week includes first-class stamps made to appear like iconic album covers. The UK only issues 12 special stamps and was very particular in selecting which album covers it would depict on the stamps.

"We conducted huge research," said Philip Parker, the Head of Stamp Policy for Royal Mail. "We spoke with music journalists and analyzed lots of existing lists."

Some album covers like The Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street" were rejected because when the image was shrunk down to stamp size it was undecipherable. Others like Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" were rejected because the Royal Mail thought its image of a man shaking hands with a man on flames might be considered disturbing by some.

The rock stamps can't be used to mail letters in the U.S., but collectors can purchase books online .

The 10 album-cover UK stamps:

• David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
• Blur's Parklife (1994)
• The Clash's London Calling (1979)
• Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
• Led Zeppelin's IV (1971)
• New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies (1983)
• Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells (1973)
• Pink Floyd's The Division Bell (1994)
• Primal Scream's Screamadelica (1991)
• The Rolling Stones' Let it Bleed (1969)

Many musicians have appeared on U.S. stamps over the years. In 1993 the U.S. Postal Service released the "Legends of American Music: Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues," stamp collection which featured tributes to Bill Haley, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, Clyde McPhatter, Ritchie Valens, Dinah Washington and Elvis Presley.