The sheet, titled 'Olympic Games – Handover of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London', is on sale from August 22, two days before the Games' closing ceremony when the Olympic flag will pass from one ancient city to another.

It comprises four 1st Class stamps features landmarks of the cities: two stamps showing ancient towers and two of modern iconic steel buildings.

The astonishing mesh of steel of the National Stadium in Beijing, known by many as the Bird's Nest, sits next to the London Eye which recently welcomed its 30 millionth visitor since opening in 2000.

Representing the past tradition of each country, other stamps show Beijing's Corner Tower of the Forbidden City - home to China's Emperors for five centuries - beside another former Royal residence, The Tower of London.

Each stamp features the famous Olympic rings - representing the five continents of the world - and the sheet is also available in a presentation pack that explores the UK's Olympic prowess.

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail, said: "The moment when the Olympic Flag passes from one city to another is always a ceremony of great poignancy at the close of any Olympic Games.

"For the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games we want this joint Miniature Sheet to tell its own tale of two historic cities by featuring four iconic landmarks in Beijing and London, two ancient and two modern."