Royal Mail's second issue of the year brings the first prestige stamp book. Unfortunately it doesn't bring new definitive stamps.
The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom’s national museum of arms and armour – and one of the most important institutions of its type in the world. The collection consists of over 75,000 objects, many of which are displayed at three sites: the White Tower at the Tower of London, the main purpose-built museum in Leeds and Fort Nelson near Portsmouth.
Royal Mail celebrates this important institution and collection with a set of eight Royal Armouries mint stamps and a miniature sheet.
The stamps
The set features 8 stamps showcasing some of the Royal Armouries stunning collection of Armour from King Henry VIII to King James II.
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| Set of 8 stamps issued 30 January 2025 depicting treasures of the Royal Armouries. |
2nd Class: Foot combat armour, 1520 (King Henry VIII) and Alexander armour, 1607–08 (Prince Henry and King Charles I)
1st Class: Field and tournament armour, 1540 (King Henry VIII) and Gilt armour, c.1612 (Prince Henry and King Charles I)
£1.00: Boy’s armour, c.1615 (Kings Charles I and Charles II) and Horned helmet, 1511–14 (King Henry VIII)
£2.80: Harquebusier’s armour, 1686 (King James II) and Tonlet armour, 1520 (King Henry VIII).
Miniature Sheet features an additional set of four 1st class stamps featuring artifacts
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| Sword & scabbard, Ming dynasty, c.1420; Flintlock gun by Simpson of York, c.1738; Japanese helmet, Edo period, c.1680; European sword, c.1365–1432. |
Technical Details and Acknowledgements
The 35 x 37 mm stamps are printed in horizontal se-tenant pairs of 60 stamps in two panes by Cartor Security Print in lithography on gummed paper. The 192 x 74 mm miniature sheet containing 41 x 30 mm stamps is on self-adhesive ordinary gummed paper. All perforations are 14½ x 14.
Designed by Charlie Smith Design, all images © Royal Armouries, including the image on the miniature sheet border: detail of Domaru armour, c.1570, presented to King James I by Tokugawa Hidetada. Stamp deisgns © Royal Mail Group Ltd 2025.
Prestige Stamp Book
The Prestige Stamp Book is a 24-page booklet written by the Royal Armouries, exploring the history from its origins in the Middle Ages through to present day.
Discover more about the Royal Armouries three sites: the White Tower at the Tower of London, the main purpose-built museum in Leeds and Fort Nelson near Portsmouth. Interwoven are stories of armours fit for kings, including King Henry VIII’s court armoury and the iconic Line of Kings display at the Tower of London.
Delve deeper into the treasures of the Royal Armouries in this richly detailed book filled with magnificent images of the collection. Contains all 12 Royal Armouries stamps perforated as ‘panes’, and a pane of definitive stamps unique to the stamp issue.
Print: Panes 1 & 2 are printed in Litho and PVA Gum. Panes 3 & 4 are printed in Litho and Self-Adhesive.
Print: Panes 1 2 & 3 are printed in Litho and PVA Gum. Pane 4 is printed in gravure and Self-Adhesive. The definitive stamps are code M24L MPIL. Apologies for the correction due to incorrect information being provided originally by Royal Mail.
Products Available
Set of 8 stamps, miniature sheet of 4 stamps, first day covers (3), prestige stamp book, presentation pack, stamp cards, press sheet of 12 miniature sheets, framed set and miniature sheet.
By the time this is published the stamps should be available to pre-order on Royal Mail's website.
Paul 870 from Leeds first time my home city been on a set of stamps. 3o years since main Museum opened in Leeds
ReplyDeleteErnie Wise was from Leeds and Tolkien lived in the city for a while.
DeleteWhat a dull set of stamps. They could almost be a 'Spot the Difference' competition.
Armouries, AC/DC, ......... How many PSBs can we expect this year ?
With the best will in the world, to the casual observer, a suit of armour is just a suit of armour. The main set of stamps seem more like a museum catalogue than anything 'commemorative' or 'special'.
DeleteI think I agree with Ploughman - they may be historically significant for different reasons but most of the images are too similar.
DeleteIt's a shame that the elephant armor didn't make the cut.
DeleteI think the 50p & £1 definitives could be classed as 'new' since they are coded M24L which has not been seen before on these values litho printed?
ReplyDeleteThe stamps of the definitive pane are printed in GRAVURE! Therefore the 50p & £1 definitives M24L are not 'new'.
DeleteNot quite.
ReplyDelete"On 30 March 1996, the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds opened to the public." (https://royalarmouries.org/about-us/royal-armouries-history/royal-armouries-museum)
According to the RM website, the Miniature Sheet is normal gum, not self-adhesive.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct. I write these notes before receiving the stamps, but I have checked and the information we were provided was wrong.
DeleteSo what's new??!! I see from elsewhere in this blog that the information you were given about the definitive pane (it's gravure rather than litho) was also incorrect. This happens so often that I no longer believe what RM say about their issues until I have the items in my hands (or places like this blog confirm or otherwise what the reality is).
DeleteThinking about it MS are usually self-adhesive for Music Giants; and also the entertainment ones like Marvel, Harry Potter, where they are sometimes split over two facing PSB panes.
DeleteWhite Knight commenting - I quite like the stamps but can not understand why the issue coincides with the 29th anniversary of the opening of the Leeds Museum - couldn’t they have waited just 12 months to release them & have some meaning to the issues (though a 30th anniversary is not really all that significant)? And stamps, ms & booklet cost well over £40. Sadly, none of these will find a place in my collection. Who are these aimed at?
ReplyDeleteThey are visually stunning stamps, sleek and well photographed. I particularly like the backgrounds chosen for use in the Prestige Stamp Book. With that said, though, they're rather bland... how can you make a photo of a suit of arms interesting/ with masses of appeal. At least they have UK significance...
ReplyDeleteThe £1 stamp at first glance looks like Elton John modelling a new bizarre set of glasses, which appear to be causing him considerable pain...
ReplyDeleteAww, a shame I think I'm out of Elton John music giant stamps to use next to it for posting internationally!
DeleteSuch a shame that the wonderful Elephant & Horse armour has been omitted, also the fabulous clock on the wall made up of Lances, Swords, Daggers etc has not been included more interesting than armour which all look the same.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that this sort of limited interest issue ought to be restricted to MS and PSB only. Collectors items only.
ReplyDeleteBut they are stamps: not just labels for collections and what is nicer than to get a letter with a different stamp on from the ordinary ones. As for 'limited interest' although these do not particularly interest me it is nice that commemoratives are now released almost monthly and please followers of many different interests and hobbies; so their correspondence to friends and relatives reflects their character.
DeleteInteresting use of the word "nice" where I would use "expensive", "exploitative", "exorbitant" or even "execrable" but not "excellent", "exciting" or "exotic".
DeleteWould that it were only "almost monthly" that commemorative/special stamps were issued; when, I wonder, was the last non-December month that did not see at least a single issue?
If you are writing letters, as Lars wrote, it is good to have a variety of stamps to use, and these will certainly be better than the next lot.
DeleteMany collectors stopped long ago for exactly the reasons you mention. Despite the fact that they offer an annual subscription Royal Mail do not really expect all collectors to buy all issues. They only offer a subscription because they know that some do!
But Commemorative stamps are not exhorbitant, or other X-rated adjectives. If you buy a stamp it is technically a receipt for paying to have your letter delivered to the Taxman, Taylor Swift or an unforgettable Pizza Restaurant in Woking. And the commemorative stamps cost the same as the dull datamatrix ones. And there is now plenty of choice: things could hardly be better. I shall particularly look forward to the Garden Wildlife ones.
DeleteHey, I like these. The rare use of photography that actually works!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why they don't vary the definite Prestige panes more. It's not like they couldn't increase profit by tossing in a higher value stamp.
But at least you still have low-value definitives there.