Issue Date - 8th November 2011

The King James Bible has been described as "the noblest monument of English prose", which shaped the way people write and speak English. Now 400 years after its publication Royal Mail celebrates the anniversary on this year’s Christmas stamps.

Seven stamps will be issued which draw on significant events from the Nativity inspired by verses from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. In addition the popular 1st and 2nd Class Madonna and Child stamps, first issued in 2007, will also be available.

For many, perhaps the most important and lasting contribution of the King James Bible has been to the shaping of the English language itself. Commissioned by James I in 1604, he hoped that this new translation would secure peace and stability in religious matters following growing tensions between Anglicans and Puritans.

The arrangements for the translation were more sophisticated and complex than for any previous English Bible. Six ‘Companies of Translators’ were appointed, each consisting of about nine leading scholars and churchmen, who were all allocated a specific section of the Bible to translate.

Appearing in 1611 the new Bible was slow in rising to fame, and it was not until the late 17th century that its remarkable qualities began to be recognised. By the beginning of the 18th century, the King James Bible was being hailed as a religious and literary classic. Yet even today, many still prefer the 1611 translation to its more modern rivals.

Many of its distinctive sayings have found their way into our everyday way of speaking, with more than 200 phrases such as ‘the apple of my eye’, a ‘den of thieves’ or ‘the land of the living’ have become part of modern English.

	2nd Class – Joseph visited by the Angel Inspired by Matthew 1:21 where the angel tells the sleeping Joseph: ‘And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins’
	1st Class – Madonna and Child Inspired by Matthew 1:23, ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us’
	68p – Baby Jesus in the Manger Inspired by Luke 2:7, ‘And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn’.
	£1.10 – Shepherds visited by the Angel Inspired by Luke 2:10, ‘And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people’.
	£1.65 Wise Men and Star Inspired by Matthew 2:10: ‘When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy’.
	2011 Miniature Sheet containing one each of the above stamps, not self adhesive but gummed.
	Madonna - 2007 stamps reissued The two Madonna & Child stamps feature two classic paintings of the image, printed by De La Rue on self-adhesive paper in sheets of 50 2nd class - William Dyce, c. 1827
	1st Class - The Madonna of Humility, Lippo di Dalmasio, c. 1390-1400.

Technical details:
The stamps were designed by Together Design with artwork by Peter Malone/The Artworks. The sheet stamps & MS are printed in gravure by De La Rue Security Print in sheets of 50. The individual stamps are 20 x 24mm (30 x 24mm large) self-adhesive; the 115 x 102mm miniature sheet is conventionally gummed. Booklets of 12 x 1st class and 12 x 2nd class stamps will also be sold - technical details to be confirmed.

Issue Products

Stamp Set The seven Christmas 2011 stamps each feature an image inspired by the accounts of the Nativity in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.
Miniature Sheet The Miniature Sheet contains all seven stamps set within a decorative border featuring an angel following a star and the quote ‘And the angel said unto them ‘Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great Joy, which shall be to all people’ from Luke 2:10.
Stamp books Two new stamp books will be available - containing 12 x 1st Class and 12 x 2nd Class Christmas 2011 stamps.
Generic sheet The Generic Sheet includes 8 x 1st Class, 8 x 2nd Class, 2 x 68p and 2 x £1.10 stamps. The sheet design features verses in black-letter style within the labels.