New Issue: Monty Python (GB)

Today I am reviewing the latest issue from Royal Mail, which is Monty Python. These were issued on 14th August. People who are older than me will know Monty Python better than I do! But even as a 13 year old I know about Life of Brian and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There are scenes in those that are so famous and iconic that most of us will have seen them many times and will know every word.

Monty Python's Flying Circus, which wasn't a circus and didn't fly, was a series of shows made up of oddball comedy sketches starring Eric Idle, Michel Palin, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. The first episode of the Circus was created in 1969 and in the years that followed the Pythons continued to create their "completely different" comedy, which often pokes fun at British life and included some hilarious animations. There were four series plus two specials, which were followed a few years later by the famous films: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.

I have watched some of the episodes and parts of the first two films. Some of it does seem a bit old-fashioned now but all these years later it is still funny and off-the-wall, like the man who can make bricks go to sleep, the Ministry of Silly Walks and the dead parrot sketch.

Royal Mail has issued six first class stamps (shown above). These show a different member of the Python team surrounded by references to different sketches from the famous TV Series. Some of them I recognise but not all. The famous animation style is very striking and works well on these.

There is also a miniature sheet which focuses on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There are four stamps on this, which show scenes from the film with quotes from some of the characters. There is the famous fight with the black knight ("'Tis but a scratch!"), King Arthur and the knights being given their mission (That is your purpose, Arthur - the Quest for the Holy Grail"), the three-headed knight ("You're lucky you're not next to him") and the knights running away after the siege at the castle ("Run Away! Run Away!"). I think these are good and even better than the main set. Although I also think that Royal Mail could have picked better scenes. Maybe the killer rabbit? The Knights who say Ni should definitely be in there!

Design Quality - There is a LOT going on in these stamps, but maybe that's the way it should be when you're celebrating Monty Python. The design is based on the original sketches and animations, it's very chaotic and it's also very Monty Python. It's just their style, and it really works. It's different to other Royal Mail stamps. I see that a lot of that is because the original Python artwork was very unique, and I'm not sure Royal Mail have been very adventurous but maybe they didn't need to be? 6/10

Theme and Subject Choice - This set is another one of Royal Mail's issues celebrating comedy greats. If you're going to create stamps about British comedy greats then you just HAVE to have Monty Python in there. 9/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - Monty Python is definitely very well-known and even a young person like me knows about them. They are an important part of TV comedy history and I think it is fair to say they are still culturally relevant and have made a big impression over the years. I have also discovered that 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the Holy Grail film, so clearly this is the reason for the miniature sheet. 7/10

Innovation and Creativity - The original artwork was very creative in its time. I think it still stands out now and Royal Mail have done well to capture the quirkiness and the character of the series. They could easily just have used images from famous sketches, but instead they've done something better. I wouldn't say these stamps are innovative but when you're celebrating a 56 years old TV show maybe it's not so important. 5/10

Collectability - Monty Python fans will love them, but I think anyone who likes British classic comedy will like them too. I think they have an appeal to people who are interested in the 1960s and the 1970s. 9/10

Personal Appeal - I really like these, not because of the history but simply because they are funny in a crazy kind of way. They're loud and outrageous! With some of the other stamps about comedy greats, like Dad's Army and Only Fools and Horses, you needed to have watched the series to appreciate the humour in the stamps. With these, you don't need to have watched anything to get what it's about. They're totally bonkers! 10/10

Overall score: 46/60