First Michael Jackson Stamps Vetoed by the Foreign Office.

A number of postal authorities are planning to issue special stamps to commemorate Michael Jackson, as the stamp collecting world joins in mourning the death of the music legend, aged 50, at his home in Los Angeles on 25 June.

One of the most famous and controversial sets of stamps depicting Michael Jackson was prepared for release during 1985 by the British Virgin Islands, the UK Overseas Territory situated in the Caribbean.

The BVI stamps were printed but were withdrawn before they were actually issued to the public on the orders of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, because at the time no living person, other than a member of the royal family was permitted on a postage stamp that required Royal Approval from HM The Queen.

Michael Jackson had won a poll of superstars to have his image on a stamp to be issued by the Virgin Islands in July 1985. He asked that the Virgin Islands donated all revenue from the sale of the stamps to welfare and education.

A note in the Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Catalogue states: “A set of stamps, 55c and $1.50 each x 2, showing Michael Jackson the entertainer was prepared in 1985, but was never released for postal use. Samples of the $1.50 values were, however, distributed for publicity purposes and both values exist from stock dispersed by the liquidator of Format International Security Printers Ltd.”

Asked for his view, Stanley Gibbons catalogue editor, Hugh Jefferies, said: “As a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, all British Virgin Islands stamp issues should have been approved in advance by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. My understanding is that this was overlooked and the stamps had to be withdrawn before issue. When the printers of the stamps, Format International Security Printers Ltd, went into liquidation, stocks of the unissued Michael Jackson stamps were found and were sold by the liquidator. They are therefore available to interested collectors.”

Hugh added: “These stamps depicting Michael Jackson were never issued by the British Virgin Islands Post Office and were not valid for postal purposes, they are not listed in the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue.”

The Specialised Catalogue of British Virgin Islands Stamps 1787-2001, edited by Giorgio Migliavacca, the distinguished philatelic writer and collector who lives on the island, includes further information about the stamp issue. It reads: “1985 (July) Michael Jackson, unissued. Lithography by Format International Security Printers Ltd. Format: se-tenant pairs throughout the sheet.”

A note under the entry states: “A set of eight stamps (four se-tenant pairs) and four souvenir sheets were scheduled for release, 22 July 1985; but at the last minute, when stocks had reportedly reached the BVI Philatelic Bureau, the Foreign Commonwealth Office in London vetoed the issue.

“The Michael Jackson set of stamps violated specific regulations that clearly state that with the exception of members of the Royal Family, easily identffiable living persons cannot be featured on stamps of Great Britain or its Colonies and Territories. To circumvent these regulations, the Royal Cypher and/or cameo-like profile of The Queen – usually featured on BVI stamps – was omitted.”

The note adds that: “Despite the Foreign Office veto, copies of the 55c and $1.50 se-tenant pairs were leaked onto the market with the pretext that they had been released for publicity purposes to journalists prior to the vetoing of the issue.”

The note concludes: “It would appear that as a result of the dissolution of Format International Security Printers Ltd the stock of the 55c and $1.50 (BVI) denominations was dispersed on the market by the liquidator. These Michael Jackson unissued stamps are listed in this catalogue because they had originally been approved by the BVI Government.”

As a result of an agreement between the British Virgin Islands Government and Philatelists Ltd (UK), from January 1985 to April 1987 the production and marketing of local stamps was managed and controlled by this company based in Hampshire. One of the directors of Philatelists Ltd (UK) was the well-known English stamp dealer Allan Grant, who bought stocks of the BVI Michael Jackson stamps at a London auction and also from the liquidators of the London- based printers Format.

Allan Grant said on 7 July as the memorial service was being held for Michael Jackson in Los Angeles: “The sudden demise has created a demand for all sorts of Michael Jackson memorabilia especially stamps. As they are at a reasonable price and show a series of designs that reflect his magical music creations.

“Four stamps in two pairs were printed by Format International during 1985, however this was quickly stopped before the other two values and the miniature sheets could be produced and there was a lot of confusion and publicity. At the time these stamps fetched £200 (per pair). Today my company, Rushstamps (Retail) Ltd, is able to supply both pairs of stamps (four stamps) at a price of £19.95 of which £5 will be donated to two charities which Michael Jackson supported.”

On 2 December 1985 the Caribbean island of St Vincent issued a set of Michael Jackson stamps with the same design as the withdrawn BVI issue – eight stamps, four se-tenant pairs – 60c, $1, $2, and $5 – together with four souvenir sheets. The Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Catalogue lists this issue, one of the first occasions of a living person appearing on a postage stamp worldwide.

Meanwhile, following the untimely death of Michael Jackson, American Baptist minister the Reverend Al Sharpton, a long-time friend of the Jackson family, requested that the US Postal Service (USPS) issue a special Michael Jackson commemorative stamp. The USPS responded that in the USA there was normally a mandatory five- year waiting time before honouring the death of a noted personality with their own postage stamp.