The stamps were deemed extremely popular and a poll showed the main reason to be “Attractive stamps with bright colours.” The issue in total sold in excess of 64 million copies.

Interestingly, a single used copy of the 8 1/2p was once reported with the bright rose-red colour omitted, but it was not regarded as a missing colour example as the roses appeared very faintly in orange, a colour which was not employed and it was assumed to be an example where the colours had faded. It also possible that the stamp was chemically altered to change the colour, although in 1976, the Philatelic Experts did not have such tests available to conclusively prove this.

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