[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Reveals Christmas Stamps 2023

• Royal Mail celebrates Christmas 2023 with a series of five Special Stamps, inspired by traditional Christmas carols
• These are the first Christmas stamps to feature the silhouette of His Majesty King Charles III
• The stamps are on sale now at www.royalmail.com/christmas2023, by phone on 03457 641 641 and 7,000 Post Offices across the UK

Royal Mail has revealed images of its Christmas 2023 stamps – a set of five, vibrant images inspired by the themes of Christmas carols and featuring a familiar lyric from each.

The five designs feature the carols: O Holy Night; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Silent Night; Away in a Manger; and We Three Kings.

The stamp designs were created exclusively for Royal Mail by illustrator Tom Duxbury, who specialises in the medium of woodblock printing to depict both vintage and modern scenes. Duxbury has worked on many book covers, including Philip Pullman’s Serpentine and The Collectors.

The set of stamps is the first Christmas issue to feature the silhouette of His Majesty King Charles III.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “For many, the launch of the annual Christmas stamps is the signal to begin writing those Christmas cards. The charming style of these designs, which were inspired by the carols that are so familiar to us all, set the perfect tone for the festive season.”

Illustrator, Tom Duxbury, said: “’It’s been a privilege to illustrate the first set of Christmas stamps to bear the silhouette of His Majesty King Charles III. The theme of Nativity became a chance to create rich, luminous nightscapes. They echo my own experiences of being out in nature at night – especially the moors where I live. This time and place holds a special kind of feeling; that of stillness, softness, and magic.’

The barcodes on this year’s Christmas stamps will again allow customers to watch a seasonal themed video created exclusively for Royal Mail by the award winning Aardman studio. The video features Shaun the Sheep and his friends sending some festive cheer to the Farmer’s dog.

To choose and view the video, both the sender and recipient should download the Royal Mail App. The sender can then select the Christmas video for the recipient to watch just by scanning the stamp barcode — giving that someone special something extra to smile about when they receive their post this Christmas.

The stamps are on sale now and are available at www.royalmail.com/christmas2023, by phone on 03457 641 641 and in 7,000 Post Offices across the UK.

The first Christmas Special Stamps
The first Christmas stamps, issued on 1 December 1966, were the result of a children’s art competition announced by the Postmaster General, Tony Benn, in May of that year. The competition launched on the BBC’s popular children’s TV programme, Blue Peter.

Since then, children’s designs been used on Christmas stamps on a further three occasions – 1981, 2013 and 2017.

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Additional philatelic products include:

Minisheet of 5 stamps, £7.70

FDC £9.90Minisheet FDC £9.90The first-day postmarkPostcards £2.70Collectors’ Sheet £26.00

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Pays Homage to the Wizarding World with a Set of Atmospheric Special Stamps Inspired by the Battle Of Hogwarts

• Iconic characters Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Lord Voldemort are shown alongside members of Dumbledore’s Army and the Order of the Phoenix, as well as Lord Voldemort’s followers and Death Eaters
• The main set of 10 stamps depict characters as they appear in the later films, with a further six stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, featuring illustrations of beloved creatures and beings
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order from today (5 October) at www.royalmail.com/harrypotter and by telephone on 03457 641 641

Royal Mail in partership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, today revealed images of 16 Special Stamps being issued to pay homage to the Harry Potter film series.

The main set of 10 stamps feature atmospheric images of characters – both good and evil – presented in the darker tone used for the later films, in which the Battle of Hogwarts reaches its climactic finale.

Each stamp has a secondary scene or character incorporated into the design and, in addition, the ‘1ST‘ font used for the value of the stamps replicates that of the iconic typeface used for the films.

Characters who feature on the stamps are: Ron Weasley, Fred and George Weasley, Professor Minerva McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, Molly Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, Fenrir Greyback, Scabior, Lord Voldemort, a Death Eater, Severus Snape, Alecto Carrow, Draco Malfoy and Gregory Goyle.

A further six stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature illustrations of the fascinating creatures and beings of the wizarding world. From Aragog the Acromantula, to the beloved house-elf Dobby, the full set also includes Harry’s beloved owl Hedwig, Fawkes the phoenix, Buckbeak the hippogriff and Hermione’s cat Crookshanks.

The Battle of Hogwarts:
For over 20 years, the world has been captivated by the magic of the Harry Potter films, which culminated in an epic, two-part finale.

In “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows –- Part 1,” Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger set out on a perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction – the Horcruxes.

On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends relied on one another more than ever.

“Part 2” saw the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalate into an all-out war. Many risked their lives in this battle, but no one was in greater danger than Harry Potter as he drew closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “The Harry Potter stories and films have become a modern classic around the world. For more than two decades the characters in the Harry Potter series have captivated us and kept us enthralled. Each stamp is a miniature masterpiece, a fitting tribute to mark the climactic end to the Battle of Hogwarts.”

The stamps, and range of collectible products, are available to pre-order from today (5 October) at www.royalmail.com/harrypotter and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 16 stamps in the set is priced at £20.90. The stamps go on general sale on 19 October.

About Wizarding World:
In the years since Harry Potter was whisked from King’s Cross Station onto Platform nine and three quarters, his incredible adventures have left a unique and lasting mark on popular culture. Eight blockbuster Harry Potter films based on the original stories by J.K. Rowling have brought the magical stories to life and today, the Wizarding World is recognized as one of the world’s best-loved brands.

Representing a vast interconnected universe, it also includes three epic Fantastic Beasts films, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – the multi-award-winning stage-play, state-of-the-art video and mobile games from Portkey Games, innovative consumer products, thrilling live entertainment (including four theme park lands), insightful exhibitions, as well as a forthcoming Harry Potter TV series.

This expanding portfolio of Warner Bros. Discovery owned Wizarding World tours and retail also includes the flagship Harry Potter New York, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, and the Platform 9 3⁄4 retail shops.

The Wizarding World continues to evolve to provide Harry Potter fans with fresh and exciting ways to engage. For the worldwide fan community, and for generations to come, it welcomes everyone in to explore and discover the magic for themselves.

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From VSC: Here are some of the other philatelic products offered by Royal Mail for this issue: First day covers with the 10 individual stamps, each £15.65. The Prestige Booklet FDCs are £5.00 but the Prestige Booklet is £25.25. A “limited edition” prestige booklet is £49.99, but not available until 5 November.The Medal Cover FDCs are £19.99 each, and each cachet is only shown with the stamps shown here. I got a kick out of the Dobby the House Elf medal design……with the sock. There are four postmarks for this issue, two for the set of 10 stamps and the prestige booklet pane, and two for the minisheet FDCs:And, for the truly diehard Harry Potter fan:a Gold Stamp Ingot for £49.99

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail to Honour Dame Shirley Bassey with a Set of 12 Special Stamps

• The first solo female music artist to be honoured with a dedicated stamp issue
• Eight stamps in the main set capture Dame Shirley Bassey performing throughout her illustrious 70-year career, while a further four stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, capture her during recording sessions and rehearsal sessions
• The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/shirleybassey and by telephone on 03457 641 641
• The stamps will be issued 21 September

Royal Mail has revealed images of 12 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate the musical icon Dame Shirley Bassey, 70 years on from the start of her career in 1953.
This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to a solo female music artist. Solo artists previously honoured with a dedicated stamp issue are: David Bowie (2017); Sir Elton John (2019); and Sir Paul McCartney (2021).

Eight stamps in the main set capture some of her spellbinding performances from her illustrious career:

• At the Pigalle nightclub, 1965
• In Bournemouth, 1974
• At the BBC Electric Proms, The Roundhouse, 2009
• At the Safeway Picnic in the Park, 2002
• In Brighton, 1988
• On a TV show, 1963
• Singing ‘World in Union’ (with Bryn Terfel) during the Opening Ceremony of the Rugby World Cup, 1999
• Performing during the Oscars held at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, 2013

An additional sheet of four stamps features a beautiful selection of candid photographs taken of Dame Shirley during recording sessions and rehearsal sessions during her career.

Born in 1937 in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Dame Shirley toured theatres and revues until she signed a record deal with Philips and scored the number one hit, ‘As I Love You’, in 1959. By the 1960s, she was an international star with numerous hit albums spanning contemporary pop, show tunes and soundtracks. Some of her greatest work was with film composer John Barry, creating the James Bond themes ‘Goldfinger’, Diamonds Are Forever’ and ‘Moonraker’, which became her signature songs.

In the 1990s and 2000s, she attracted a whole new audience, performing the official song for the 1999 Rugby World Cup with Bryn Terfel and attending the 2007 Glastonbury Festival in diamante wellington boots. She was awarded a CBE in 1994 and a DBE in 1999.

Dame Shirley Bassey said: “I am absolutely thrilled and would never have dreamed that one day my face would be on a stamp…that one day a letter might arrive and there I am, with a postmark next to me!

“It’s an absolute honour to be the first solo female artist to receive a collection from Royal Mail. The stamps are wonderful, and I hope my fans & collectors love them as much as I do.”

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “For seven decades Dame Shirley Bassey has captivated fans across the world with her distinctive and powerful voice. This stamp issue is a fitting celebration of one of the UK’s most revered and longest serving musical icons.”

The stamps are available to pre-order from now at www.royalmail.com/shirleybassey and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps in the set is priced at £19.50. The stamps go on general sale on 21 September.

[VSC Notes: Bassey is now 86. The Royal Mint issued a commemorative coin in her honour earlier this year. See the photo. In addition to the stamps, other philatelic products include framed stamps signed in gold ink by Bassey herself (£249.99); various coin covers ranging from £19.99 to £750.00; a collector’s sheet, a fan sheet; first day covers; a press sheet; postcards; and various stamp sheet configurations of just the first-class stamps and just the £2 ones.]Videos:
Shirley Bassey singing “Goldfinger” in 1965:

Shirley Bassey singing “Goldfinger” in 2011:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates Marmalade-Loving Paddington with a Set of Delightful Special StampsIssue date: 5 September

• The 10 stamps also mark the 65th anniversary of the publication of A Bear Called Paddington, written by Michael Bond
• Six stamps include images from Ivor Wood’s cartoon strips of Paddington from the late 1970s, while a further four stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet capture moments from the 1970s BBC TV series, Paddington
• The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/paddington

Royal Mail has revealed images of 10 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate 65 years of the most beloved marmalade-loving bear – Paddington.

Six stamps in the main set are taken from Ivor Wood’s strip cartoons of Paddington, originally published in the London Evening News newspaper in the late 1970s.

In 1975, illustrator, animator, and writer Ivor Wood was instrumental in transforming Paddington from a beloved literary character into a star of the small screen. Working with animation company FilmFair, Wood designed and directed the first Paddington television series for the BBC. Four stamps presented in a Miniature Sheet capture moments from this TV series.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Paddington continues to bring cheer to generations of children worldwide. These delightful stamps will brighten up the day of anyone receiving mail with a touch of Paddington’s charm.”

Rachel Clarke, SVP Licensing and Retail UK at The Copyrights Group, said: “Paddington is a real heritage brand with a modern hero and we are delighted to be partnering with Royal Mail to celebrate 65 years since Michael Bond first introduced us to the beloved bear.”

The stamps are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/paddington and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is priced at £17.70. The stamps go on general sale on 5 September.

About Paddington
For 65 years, British-born writer Michael Bond has delighted readers all over the world with his stories about Paddington, the bear from Peru, famous for his love of marmalade. The kindness and humour in the stories appeal to children and adults alike, ensuring Paddington’s enduring popularity from one generation to the next.

HarperCollins Children’s books have published Paddington’s adventures continuously since 13th October 1958 when, as William Collins, they first introduced A Bear Called Paddington to the world.

Since then, Paddington’s adventures have been adapted several times for television and at the end of 2014 Paddington made his debut onto the big screen, a further film “Paddington 2” followed in 2017 with a third in the works. The movies were produced by STUDIOCANAL, European leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and series, part of CANAL+ Group, major player in the creation and distribution of content worldwide. In 2020, a brand-new Paddington TV series designed for a pre-school audience, “The Adventures of Paddington” launched on Nickelodeon, introducing him to a whole new set of fans.

 

From VSC: Other products include first day covers of both the set of stamps (£13.40) and the minisheet (£8.10), each available with a choice of two different postmarks, a medal FDC (£19.99), postcards, and various sheets with some or all of the stamps.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates Terry Pratchett’s Fantasy Discworld Series with Special Stamps

Issue date: 10 August

• The eight stamps also mark the 40th anniversary of the publication of the first Discworld book, The Colour of Magic
• The stamps include characters Rincewind, The Librarian, Granny Weatherwax, Sam Vimes, and Great A’Tuin, as well as specially commissioned artworks of Death and Mort, Tiffany Aching and Moist von Lipwig
• The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/discworld, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK

Royal Mail has revealed images of a set of eight Special Stamps being issued to celebrate Terry Pratchett’s globally popular, fantasy Discworld series, and the 40th anniversary of the first book in the series, The Colour of Magic.

The stamps include characters Rincewind, The Librarian, Granny Weatherwax, Sam Vimes, and Great A’Tuin (left), as well as specially commissioned artworks of Death and Mort, Tiffany Aching and Moist von Lipwig by Terry Pratchett’s illustrator of choice, Paul Kidby.

Sir Terry Pratchett, OBE (1948–2015) is regarded as one of the UK’s greatest fantasy writers. His defining work is the Discworld series, which spans 41 novels that have been translated into over 40 languages, with more than a hundred million copies sold worldwide.

Discworld is a flat, circular planet revolving on the shoulders of four giant elephants who stand atop a vast star turtle called the Great A’Tuin. This turtle is 10,000 miles long and of the species Chelys galactica. Its shell is scarred with meteor craters, and its eyes are as big as seas.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “These striking stamps will be loved by generations both young and old. Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels remain as popular as ever and it is fitting that in the 40th anniversary year of The Colour of Magic, we celebrate with a set of stamps that honour the work of an iconic and globally admired writer.”

Royal Mail worked closely with Terry Pratchett’s estate, as well as Paul Kidby, who has been illustrating Discworld for 30 years.

Paul began working with Terry Pratchett in 1993 and has designed the Discworld book jackets since 2002. He has illustrated many Discworld publications including ‘The Art of Discworld’, best-selling ‘The Last Hero’ and the 2017 publication ‘Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Imaginarium’. In 2019 he illustrated ‘Good Omens’ written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Illustrator, Paul Kidby said: “It has been a huge honour to illustrate this set of stamps to commemorate 40 years of Discworld. I am delighted to finally be able to tell people about it as it has been a big secret to keep! It’s a wonderful celebration of Terry’s ongoing legacy and continued popularity.”

The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/discworld, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all eight stamps in the set is priced at £13.50. The stamps go on general sale on 10 August.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Stamps Celebrate the Wildlife of the UK’s Rivers

• Issue date: 13 July
• The stamp images celebrate many of the birds, mammals, insects and fish that inhabit the UK’s rivers and streams
• Featured on the stamps are the: Beaver; Atlantic Salmon; Kingfisher; Beautiful Demoiselle; Water Vole; Grey Wagtail; Common Mayfly; Otter; Brown Trout; and Dipper
• The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/riverwildlife, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK

Royal Mail has issued a set of 10 stamps that celebrate the diversity of birds, mammals, insects and fish that inhabit the UK’s rivers and streams.

Featured on the stamps are the: Beaver; Atlantic Salmon; Kingfisher; Beautiful Demoiselle; Water Vole; Grey Wagtail; Common Mayfly; Otter; Brown Trout; and Dipper.

The physical geography of the UK, coupled with its maritime position and high rainfall, have combined over geological time to create an extensive and diverse network of flowing waters.

Over 380,000 kilometres of streams and rivers range from the becks, burns and rills rising in cooler mountain landscapes, to large, lowland rivers such as the Thames, Severn and Trent.

Across the four UK nations, famous rivers such as the Clyde, the Bann, the Tyne and the Wye bring cultural identity, landscape character and a window into a world of freshwater nature.

Royal Mail worked with Professor of Ecology at Cardiff University Steve Ormerod on the stamp issue.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, said: “The UK’s rivers and riversides are beautiful to look at, but how many of us stop to think about how they came to exist in the first place? In these stamps we celebrate our unique natural environment with a strong focus on the rich variety of creatures that live in and alongside our rivers.”

Professor Steve Ormerod, of Cardiff University’s Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences said “These stamps are a timely reminder of the special, highly adapted, and diverse array of animals that need our streams and rivers to be in healthy condition. This is such a wonderful way to celebrate the UK’s rivers and to send a message – quite literally – of why they are important.”

The stamps are available at www.royalmail.com/riverwildlife, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is priced at £10.15.

[VSC notes: Other products include first day covers with either a Tallents House or Ottery St. Mary’s postmark; picture postcards; a Collector Sheet (right), which “includes all 10 new stamps paired with labels containing alternative images of the creatures featured;” framed stamps; and full- and half-sheets of the stamps. The latter are grouped by the denomination.]Other individual stamp images:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Stamps Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Arrival of MV Windrush

• The stamp images celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their influence on life in the UK
• The original artworks were exclusively designed by five Black British artists: Bokiba; Kareen Cox; Tomekah George; Alvin Kofi and Emma Prempeh
• The stamps are now available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/windrush, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK

Royal Mail is marking the 75th Anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush to the UK on 22nd June 1948. Eight new stamps featuring vibrant illustrations, created exclusively to celebrate the occasion, were revealeded at a launch event at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton on 15 June.

The MV Empire Windrush arrived at the Port of Tilbury on 21 June 1948 and its passengers disembarked a day later. It carried several hundred West Indian migrants, many of them veterans of the Second World War. It has come to symbolise the mass migration of people from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom in the post-war era.

The original artworks were created by five Black British artists – all with Caribbean heritage: Kareen Cox, Bokiba, Tomekah George, Alvin Kofi and Emma Prempeh and Alvin Kofi. Cox, Bokiba and Prempeh designed two stamps each.

The artists were commissioned to create illustrations which celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their influence on life in the UK.

The stamps depict the artists’ personal interpretations of the following themes: arrivals; education/Saturday schools; music/carnival; working life/everyday life in the UK; political activity/peaceful protests; sports; food/markets; and sound systems/dancehall scene.

For the wider product range, Royal Mail also worked with Colin Grant – a British writer of Jamaican origin who is the author of several books, a historian, associate Fellow in the Centre for Caribbean Studies and a BBC radio producer, and Sonia Grant, an independent historian, writer, researcher and photographic exhibition curator.

[That “wider product range” includes FDCs, postcards, presentation packs, framed stamps and three different coin covers: Uncirculated, silver proof, and gold proof. The latter is selling for £1,220, or about US$1,564. The gold coin is shown on the right. See other images below. — VSC]

Revealing the stamps at the Black Cultural Archives, Winnie Annan-Forson, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Royal Mail, said: “As Britain marks the 75th anniversary of the 1948 arrival of the MV Empire Windrush, we are honoured to mark this key event with a set of Special Stamps, featuring vibrant illustrations from talented artists that celebrate the culture and contribution of the Windrush generation and those who followed. We are delighted to have brought their stories to life in this special way, passing their legacy on to future generations.”

In addition to the stamps, Royal Mail will be applying a special postmark to stamped mail from 21 to 26 June. The postmark will read:

MV Empire Windrush
Port of Tilbury
22nd June 1948Windrush 75:
Following the arrival of MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in June 1948 the period between 1948 and 1972 saw over 500,000 Commonwealth citizens settle in the UK; they are often referred to as the Windrush generation. Peter Fryer, a young reporter who at the time was working for the Daily Worker, captured the spirit of the passengers who had disembarked at Tilbury as “five hundred pairs of willing hands”. Indeed, the newcomers were clear-eyed about what they had to offer the ‘Mother Country’. In so doing, they made notable contributions to every sphere of British life, including in the fields of entertainment, education and sport, as well as in the National Health Service (NHS). It can be argued that West Indian nurses paved the way for a multiracial and multicultural NHS, whose current workforce is made up of staff of more than 200 nationalities.

Despite numerous challenges – including race riots and discrimination in housing, employment and education – the Windrush generation left an indelibly positive mark on the UK, thanks largely to the character, fortitude and resilience of those early migrants. Their legacy can be felt in almost every sphere of life in today’s multicultural Britain. In June 2022, the National Windrush Monument, featuring a bronze sculpture by Basil Watson and accompanied by a poem by Professor Laura Serrant OBE, was unveiled at London’s Waterloo train station to offer a place of reflection and to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation to the UK.

The Official First Day Cover with Tilbury postmark:The Gold Proof Coin Cover:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of “Warhammer” with 10 Special Stamps

• Issue date: 8 June
• Six stamps depict characters from the worlds of “Warhammer 40,000;” “Warhammer: Age of Sigmar” and “Warhammer: The Old World”
• A further four stamps of the popular British miniatures wargame capture the unique visual style of Warhammer with iconic paintings and illustrations from the Warhammer archive
• The stamps are available to pre-order now and go on general sale on 8 June 2023

Royal Mail has announced the launch of 10 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the internationally popular miniatures Hobby, Warhammer.

Six stamps in the main set depict characters from the worlds of “Warhammer – Space Marines” and Orks from “Warhammer 40,000”; Stormcast Eternals and Slaves to Darkness from “Warhammer Age of Sigmar”; and High Elves and Dwarfs from “Warhammer: The Old World”.The Miniature Sheet shows four stamps featuring iconic illustrations from the last 40 years of Warhammer – Crimson Fists Space Marines from the first edition of “Warhammer 40,000”; The Emperor of Mankind from “Warhammer: The Horus Heresy”; Yndrasta, the Celestial Spear from the current edition of “Warhammer: Age of Sigmar”; and The Battle for Skull Pass from “Warhammer: The Old World”.

The background to the miniature sheet is a classic piece of artwork depicting Harald Hammerstorm, a Chaos Champion whose origins can be traced back to the first edition of “Warhammer: The Game of Fantasy Battles”.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “With millions of devotees across the globe, Warhammer is a creative, collaborative pursuit with a unique power to spark the imagination. We are delighted to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of this immersive tabletop wargame with a set of Special Stamps.”

Helen Smallridge, Global Head of Marketing at Games Workshop commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Royal Mail to mark the 40th anniversary of Warhammer. From humble beginnings, Warhammer has grown into a British institution and a global success, with our fantasy miniatures collected by millions around the world. We hope this new stamp range will be a treat for fans, and for those who have yet to discover our rich and fantastical worlds.”

First produced in 1983, by the budding miniature gaming company, Games Workshop, Warhammer quickly became the most successful table-top miniatures hobby in history. With models, paints and games designed and produced in-house its own magazine, White Dwarf, and a bespoke publishing imprint known as Black Library producing novels set in the Warhammer universes, Games Workshop has become a real independent success story.

The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/warhammer, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is priced at £18.10. The tamps go on general sale on 8 June 2023.

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The products include FDCs with both the Tallents House and Lenton postmarks (£8.60), two “medal covers” (£19.99 each), framed stamps, postcards, sheets in various configurations, and “stamp ingots” for two of the series, “a silver-plated replica of the [Space Marines or Stormcast Eternals] stamp with the design reproduced in full colour” (£24.99).

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Superlative Comedy “Blackadder” with 12 Special Stamps

Issue date: 17 May 2023

• Eight stamps capture moments spanning four series of the classic British sitcom that first aired in 1983. A further four stamps depict Edmund Blackadder in his various guises over each of the four series of the classic sitcom
• The stamps feature some of the show’s best-loved characters, played by familiar names including Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Brian Blessed and the late Patsy Byrne
• The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/blackadder, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps in the set is priced at £19.60. The stamps go on general sale on 17 May 2023

Royal Mail has announced the launch of 12 Special Stamps being issued to mark the 40th anniversary of the classic British sitcom “Blackadder.”

From the mists of medieval England to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, from the glamour of the Georgian era to the grim trenches of the First World War, the stamps pay tribute to one of the pillars of British comedy.

Launched in 1983 by writer Richard Curtis and star Rowan Atkinson – with the vital assistance of BBC producer John Lloyd and co-author Ben Elton – the series went on to win an International Emmy Award and is regularly named among the finest sitcoms of all time – while its scheming, amoral hero has become one of our most adored TV characters.

The eight stamps in the main set capture moments spanning four series of the classic British sitcom and feature some of the show’s best-loved characters, played by familiar names including Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Brian Blessed, and the late Patsy Byrne.

In addition a further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, celebrate the main character, Edmund Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson, in his various guises over each of the four series of the classic sitcom.Blackadder co-creator, Richard Curtis, said: “We’re very amused and delighted. It’s a great relief for Blackadder to have his head on a stamp, instead of on a stake.”

John Lloyd, Producer, Blackadder, said: “The entire team behind Britain’s leading situation tragedy is deeply honoured by Royal Mail’s magnificent stamps of approval. In the words of General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, VC KCB; ‘Let’s give them a damn good licking!’”

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “The epic saga of Blackadder spans six centuries of British history and four decades of British television and is still loved and revered by audiences old and new. We are delighted to mark the 40th anniversary of Blackadder with a set of Special Stamps.”

The Black Adder
Penned by university friends Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson – who also starred as the title character, the devious Prince Edmund – The Black Adder was set in the 15th century during the fictional reign of King Richard IV, a time of poverty, plague, religious hysteria and bloody battles over the royal succession.

Blackadder II
Moving the action forward a century and with Ben Elton on scriptwriting duties alongside Richard Curtis, Blackadder II tracks the shifting fortunes of Lord Edmund Blackadder, an ambitious courtier to the giddy young Queen Elizabeth I with a bumbling retinue of blockheaded sidekicks.

Blackadder the Third
Set in the early 19th century during the Regency of the impressively trousered royal heir, Prince George, Blackadder the Third follows the adventures of crafty butler Mr E Blackadder, who spends his days tormenting his lice-infested minion Baldrick and cooking up cunning plans to improve his social standing.

Blackadder Goes Forth
The final series, Blackadder Goes Forth, takes us to the mud-swamped trenches of the First World War, where Captain Blackadder and his doomed cadre of fellow soldiers try every trick they can think of to evade the inevitable order to go ‘over the top’. The final scene is one of the most haunting and memorable endings in TV history.

The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/blackadder, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps in the set is priced at £19.60. The stamps go on general sale on 17 May 2023.

Updated 6 June, subject to change. All links to VSC pages open in a new window.

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