[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Magnificent Armour and Artefacts of the Royal Armouries Celebrated with 12 Special Stamps

• The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom’s national museum of arms and armour
• Eight stamps show stunning examples of armour from 1520 to 1686 owned by monarchs including King Henry VIII, King Charles I, King Charles II and King James II. A further four stamps show images of other treasures from the Royal Armouries collection from the UK, Europe and Asia.
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/royalarmouries and by telephone on 03457 641641

The Royal Armouries’ origins lie in the Middle Ages, and at its core is the celebrated collection originating in the nation’s working arsenal, assembled over many centuries at the Tower of London.

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, selected items began to be arranged for display to visitors, making the Royal Armouries one of the oldest deliberately created visitor attractions in the country.

The collection consists of over 75,000 objects from around the globe and spans the ancient world to the present day.

It is displayed at three sites: the White Tower at the Tower of London, a purpose-built museum in Leeds (which includes the National Firearms Centre) and at Fort Nelson near Portsmouth.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “These stamps show magnificent examples of craftsmanship, engineering and high fashion, proving that for royal warriors of the past, dressing to impress was as important on the battlefield as anywhere else. We are grateful to the Royal Armouries for allowing us to share just a few examples from their collection”.

Jack Wanstall, Senior Licensing and Partnerships Manager, Royal Armouries said: “The Royal Armouries is delighted to be working in partnership with Royal Mail to showcase a selection of objects from our collection of over 75,000 pieces of history. Each object tells a story and we hope these stunning pieces will inspire curiosity about the role of arms and armour in shaping our world”.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/royalarmouries and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £20.10. The stamps go on general sale from 30 January.