The Spice Girls are being given their own set of stamps – to mark 30 years since the band first leapt onto the UK music scene.

It is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire issue to a female group.

The pop group, which sold over 100 million records worldwide and achieved nine UK number one singles, joins the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Queen in being given their own stamp collection.

The set of 15 special stamps are available to pre-order from January 5, before going on general sale on January 11.

Royal Mail says it has worked closely with the band and Universal Music Group to carefully choose the images that celebrate the ‘incredible legacy’ of the Spice Girls.

Formed in 1994, the Spice Girls remain the biggest female group of all time. Alongside record-breaking sales the group scooped two Ivor Novello Awards, three BRITS – one of these a special award in recognition of their global achievement – three American Music Awards and four global MTV Awards.

Their smash-hit single Wannabe has also just recorded one billion streams worldwide on Spotify.

Members Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria – aka Baby, Ginger, Scary, Sporty and Posh Spice – spearheaded their own rise to chart dominance with a bold ‘girl power’ message that went on to inspire a generation of other artists and fans.

The main set of 10 stamps includes images of the group and individual live performances captured between 1997 and 2012.

This includes their performance at the 1997 BRIT Awards and their appearance at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Completing the set are a further five stamps – in a miniature sheet – featuring individual images of the girls from the iconic Spice World photoshoot which when separated gives each of the five Spice Girls their own stamp.

David Gold, director of External Affairs and Policy at Royal Mail said: “The Spice Girls have been a force to be reckoned with since they formed as a group in 1994. We are proud to celebrate the most successful female music group ever seen, not only for their music but their enduring influence over so many aspects of our lives.”