Sahara’s elusive stamp of approval

India’s Sahara Group threw a glittering reception in London on Tuesday to showcase British stamps that it said had been issued by Royal Mail to honour group chairman Subrata Roy.

India’s Sahara Group threw a glittering reception in London on Tuesday to showcase British stamps that it said had been issued by Royal Mail to honour group chairman Subrata Roy. But Royal Mail clarified Wednesday the stamps were ‘limited edition business customised sheets’ — items that can be bought off the Internet.

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The event was held at the Grosvenor House and was also designed to announce Sahara’s plans to make London its headquarters for global business and generate employment in Britain.

The letter of invitation said, “A postal stamp is being issued in his (Roy’s) name by the Royal Mail of the United Kingdom.”

But Royal Mail said in a statement on Wednesday the stamps were the product of “a range of services which allow individuals or businesses to create a personalised label, which can feature their own image or logo next to a postage stamp.

These stamps, where your face appears alongside standard-issue stamps, can be customised and bought from the Royal Mail website by anyone for as little as just under £15 for a batch of 20. They are not sold by post offices but can be used to send letters and other mail.”