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One of a total of twelve motifs in the Rolling Stones series
Photo: Royal Mail / dpa
Was the logo with the sticking out tongue of the Rolling Stones always intended for licking stamps?
In any case, the British Royal Mail has now honored the rock band with its own stamp series.
The Royal Mail is issuing a special stamp set with photos of the rock band from January 20, the company announced.
The stamps show both group portraits of the musicians and recordings of legendary concerts by the band - from an early black and white photo from London's Hyde Park in 1979 to a performance in Düsseldorf in 2017.
The special set of twelve stamps will be issued "as a tribute to one of the most enduring rock groups of all time," said the Royal Mail.
Eight stamps show pictures of lead singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and the late drummer Charlie Watts at concerts.
The other four stamps are presented on a sheetlet and show two pictures of the band together and two of posters for their worldwide tours.
Only the fourth volume on Royal Mail stamps
"Few bands in the history of rock music have managed to build a career as rich and far-reaching as that of the Rolling Stones," said David Gold of the Royal Mail.
"They made some of the most iconic and inspiring albums in modern music, along with groundbreaking live performances."
The Stones, which are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, are only the fourth volume to which the Royal Mail is dedicating its own stamp series.
Previously, this honor was bestowed on the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen.
Long-time Stones drummer Charlie Watts died in London last year at the age of 80.
Just a few weeks later, the band performed again with a tribute to their deceased colleague.
The Rolling Stones, founded in 1962, are one of the most successful and long-lived rock bands in the world, with an estimated sales of more than 240 million records worldwide and numerous awards, including three Grammys.
apr / dpa / AP