This undated file photo shows The Beatles. From top, clockwise, are Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison.                The Beatles are to appear on a set of stamps in January, the Royal Mail has announced. The stamps will feature the legendary 1960s pop band's album covers, including "With The Beatles", "Revolver", "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be". "The Beatles special stamps promise to be a big hit with fans the world over when they go on sale in January 2007," a Royal Mail spokesman said. "Royal Mail is featuring some '1st Class' Beatles album covers to commemorate the UK band that stands for all that's great in popular culture." The Beatles -- lead guitarist George Harrison, rhythm guitarist John Lennon, bassist Paul McCartney and drummer Ringo Starr -- appear on the album covers. It was only last year that the rule was deliberately broken that members of the royal family could be the only living people identifiable on British stamps. There was uproar among philatelists and royal-watchers alike in 1999 when Queen drummer Roger Taylor could be clearly seen in the background of a stamp honouring the band's legendary late singer Freddie Mercury. Former Beatles McCartney and Starr are still alive, while Lennon was killed in 1980 and Harrison died in 2001. (Agencies)

英國皇家郵政宣布，將于明年1月發行一套披頭士樂隊的郵票。 屆時，這支風靡上世紀60年代的流行樂隊的幾張專輯封面將登上郵票票面，其中包括《披頭士》、《左輪手槍》、《佩珀軍士孤寂心靈俱樂部樂隊》、《阿比大街》和《順其自然》。 皇家郵政的一位發言人說："披頭士樂隊系列郵票將于明年1月發行，到時一定會在全世界披頭士的歌迷中引起轟動。" 他說："披頭士樂隊是通俗文化的典型代表，為了紀念他們，皇家郵政選用了樂隊的幾張經典專輯封面做成郵票。" 披頭士樂隊的四位成員--主吉他手喬治·哈里森、節奏吉他手約翰·列儂、貝斯手保羅·邁卡特尼和鼓手林格·斯達都出現在專輯封面上。 在英國，在世的人只有王室成員才能登上郵票票面，這個法令直到去年才被取消。 1999年，在一張紀念皇后樂隊已故著名歌手弗萊迪·莫丘里郵票的背景中，出現了樂隊鼓手羅格·泰勒的清晰形象，當時這在集郵家和王室觀察家中引起了軒然大波。 目前，前披頭士樂隊成員麥卡特尼和斯達仍然健在，列儂于1980年遇害，哈里森于2001年去世。 (英語點津姍姍編輯)