FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE?

James Bond has villains licked with a new set of Royal Mail stamps. Marion McMullen learns more

1 THERE’S a new James Bond film on the way and the Royal Mail is marking the event with 10 stamps to coincide with the release of No Time To Die in cinemas on April 2. They will feature the actors who have played 007 as well as some of Q Branch’s most famous vehicles. 2 SEAN CONNERY was the first movie Bond and his third outing as the secret agent, Goldfinger, features on the new stamps. The film also featured glamorous pilot Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) and bowler-hatted henchman Oddjob.

3 GEORGE LAZENBY’S only outing as Bond was in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It saw Diana Riggs as the adventurous Tracy Di Vicenzo in a story that sees 007 marry, only to see his bride gunned down on their wedding day. 4 ROGER MOORE’S first film as Bond, Live And Let Die, is also featured. The 1973 movie saw 007 investigate the mysterious Dr Kananga. Our hero saves the day during a voodoo ritual. The action included a world record speedboat jump. 5 THE Living Daylights, in 1987, saw Timothy Dalton take on the Bond mantle. The story drew inspiration from real-life East–West defections and the Soviet-Afghan war, and saw Bond defeating Soviet General Georgi Koskov.

6 THERE was a new Bond (Pierce Brosnan) and a female M (Judi Dench) in 1995’s GoldenEye. Although he remained involved, Bond producer Cubby Broccoli passed on the bulk of the responsibilities to his son and daughter, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. 7 THE sixth Bond (Daniel Craig) joined the series in 2006. Casino Royale saw a return to Ian Fleming’s first novel to re-imagine a harderedged 007. It saw the new 00 recruit agent take on the ruthless Le Chiffre.

8 THE Q Branch stamps include the Lotus Esprit Submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me, pictured, the Bell-Textron Jet Pack from Thunderball (1965) and the Aston Martin DB5 from 2012 movie Skyfall. The stamps have hidden features only revealed under UV light. 9 JAMES BOND is the longestrunning film franchise of all time spanning almost 60 years. No Time To Die is the 25th in the series and sees Bond help his CIA pal Felix Leiter find a kidnapped scientist.

10 THE stamps go on general sale from March 17 and are also available in a £12.20 presentation pack from royalmail.com/jamesbond and by phone on 03457 641 641.