With today’s release of the Agatha Christie stamps, we can now reveal the hidden clues we mentioned the other day. Intrigue has been added to the stamps by incorporating hidden elements in each using a combination of microtext, UV ink and thermochromic ink.
Murder on the Orient Express – the smoke from the train combined with the crescent move creates a silhouette of Hercule Poirot – there is thermochromic ink over the second window, so when a thumb is placed over the window a half-hidden person is revealed wielding a knife – the names of the suspects whom Hercule Poirot interviews during the course of the investigation are presented in microtext along the bottom of the stamp.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles – the skull-like middle image created by the two men sitting around the table with the lamp is reproduced in miniature on the poison bottle.
The Body in the Library – the body outline will be printed in UV ink to be seen with a UV pen – the arrangement of the hat, glasses and book ribbon is intended to represent an outline of Miss Marple – book titles of all Agatha Christie’s books and short-story collections (not featuring Hercule Poirot) that were published before The Body in the Library appear in microtext on the spines of the books on the shelf.
And Then There Were None – a silhouette of a person’s head forms the outline of the island – the moon’s reflection in the water features the ‘Ten Little Soldier Boys’ poem in microtext – the reflection of the house light in the water features the words ‘U.N. Owen’ in microtext.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – an outline of Hercule Poirot’s head appears in the flames in the fire – the blood-stained letter hanging from the dead man’s hand features some words from the letter that Roger Ackroyd read aloud before his death – a silhouette of the murderer holding a knife created by the shadow of the chair.
A Murder is Announced – the spotlight is meant to represent a clock, and the clock numbers will be printed in UV ink – the word ‘Switzerland’ appears in microtext on the little clock face that’s set at 6.30pm (both the word and the time are significant to the story) – the small ads page from the newspaper that features the ‘A Murder is Announced’ is reproduced in microtext in the paper held by the woman in black.
In addition across the 6 stamps each features a hidden letter:
A – On Orient, G – On Styles A – On Library T – On ATTWN H – On Ackroyd , A – On Library
Did you spot them all?
Our souvenir first day cover is available now – it comes in a themed presentation tin and some goodies to help you find all the clues!






