World Stamps

Artifacts from the Royal Armouries pictured on Jan. 30 issue from Great Britain’s Royal Mail

Jan 30, 2025, 12 PM
The set of eight stamps in Royal Mail’s Jan. 30 issue show examples of 16th-century and 17th-century armor owned by monarchs such as King Henry VIII, King Charles I, King Charles II and King James II.

By David Hartwig

Great Britain’s Royal Mail celebrates artifacts in the Royal Armouries, the United Kingdom’s national museum of arms and armor, with 12 stamps in a Jan. 30 issue.

Stamps in a set of eight show examples of 16th-century and 17th-century armor owned by monarchs such as King Henry VIII, King Charles I, King Charles II and King James II. Four stamps on a souvenir sheet show artifacts acquired from the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

“These stamps show magnificent examples of craftsmanship, engineering and high fashion,” David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail, said, “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.”

The stamps in the set of eight are presented in four se-tenant (side-by-side) pairs. The stamps in one pair are valued at the second-class rate (currently 85 pence), and the stamps in another are valued at the first-class rate (currently £1.65).

A third se-tenant pair has stamps denominated £1, and the stamps in the fourth pair are denominated £2.80 (the international standard rate for letters). All four stamps on the souvenir sheet are valued at the first-class rate.

The earliest piece of armor shown in the set of eight stamps is the horned helmet pictured on one of the £1 stamps. Maximilian I, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, gave this helmet to King Henry VIII in 1514. …

Both the set of eight stamps and the souvenir sheet were designed by Charlie Smith Design and printed by Cartor Security Printers by lithography. The stamps in the set of eight were printed in sheets of 60 (also sold in panes of 30 at most postal outlets).

The stamps in the set of eight measure 35 millimeters by 37mm and are perforated gauge 14.5 by 14. The stamps on the souvenir sheet measure 41mm by 30mm and are perforated gauge 14.5 by 14.

A 24-page prestige stamp book explores the history of the Royal Armouries and includes the 12 Royal Armouries stamps presented in three panes of four, as well as a definitive pane of stamps unique to the issue. The pane includes two 50p and two £1 King Charles III definitives.

A presentation pack provides more detail on the armor shown on the stamps. It includes the set of eight stamps and the souvenir sheet.

Royal Mail offers a first-day cover franked with the set of eight stamps, one franked with the souvenir sheet, and one franked with the pane of definitive stamps from the prestige stamp book.

All three FDC versions can be ordered with postmarks from either Tallents House or Leeds, England, the location of the Royal Armouries’ main purpose-built museum. A nonpersonalized version of the FDC, what Royal Mail calls a souvenir cover, is also available.

In conjunction with the Royal Armouries issue, Royal Mail also is offering 13 postcards reproducing the designs of the 12 stamps and the souvenir sheet, and a limited run of 200 press sheets each with 12 souvenir sheets.

The Royal Armouries stamps and related products can be ordered from Royal Mail’s website.

Ordering information also is available from Royal Mail, Tallents House, 21 S. Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB, Scotland.

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