The U.K.’s Royal Mail is honoring The Spice Girls with a set of stamps to mark the 30th anniversary of the legendary all-girl group – marking the first time the British postal service has dedicated an entire stamp collection to a female pop group.
On sale from January 11, the 10 main stamps feature performance images from the 1997 Brit awards – including Geri Horner’s famous union jack dress, fashioned from a tea towel – as well as various headlining shows and their reunion for the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. An additional collection features portraits taken on the set of the 1997 film Spice World. Visit the Royal Mail website for further information about the new stamp collection.
The Spice Girls were formed in 1994 by the father-and-son duo Bob and Chris Herbert, who sought to create a girl band to rival the charts’ prevailing boybands. They posted an advert in the Stage asking: “R.U. 18–23 with the ability to sing/dance?” A five-piece was assembled featuring Michelle Stephenson, who was soon replaced by Emma Bunton.
By July 1995, the band had found new management with Simon Fuller and signed with Virgin Records. A year later, they would release “Wannabe,” a global chart-topping smash that became the bestselling debut single by an all-female group, and the first of nine UK No 1s for the band, including three chart-topping singles.
Released in 1996, the group’s debut album, Spice sold more than 23 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female group in history. Their second album, Spiceworld (1997), also sold over 14 million copies worldwide. All told, the Spice Girls have sold an estimated 105 million records worldwide making them the best-selling girl group of all time; one of the best-selling artists, and the most successful British pop act since the Beatles.
An information sheet distributed with the new stamps says they “spearheaded their own rise to chart dominance at a time when girl groups were not considered to be commercially viable. Their infectious pop sound and bold ‘Girl Power’ philosophy changed the face of music and inspired a generation of artists.”
Shop the best of the Spice Girls’ discography on vinyl and more.