FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed

Revealed for the first time today, Royal Mail are set to release 15 new Harry Potter stamps, to celebrate the global-success of the hit film series, filmed in the UK, and featuring a star studded cast brimming with home-grown talent.

Scheduled for release on 16 October 2018, the new stamps feature some of the most popular characters including Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville Longbottom, and five Hogwarts professors contained on a Special Miniature Sheet. Also appearing on the stamps are portkeys and the most iconic modes of transport – the Hogwarts Express, Hagrid’s bike, the Knight Bus and the Triwizard Cup.

Some Special Features on the stamps include the official Harry Potter font denoting the ‘1st’ Class service. There’s also a little extra magic and intrigue to both the stamps and the Miniature Sheet which can be seen under UV light…

Here’s your first look at the new stamps alongside a bit of info about each one…


Hermione Granger

Hermione Granger stamp 300x282 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Hermione Granger Stamp

Hermione is considered by many at Hogwarts to be the brightest witch of her age. On her many adventures with Harry and Ron, it is often thanks to Hermione’s educated mind, grasp of logic and quick thinking that the trio safely escapes.

Hogwarts Express

Hogwarts Express stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Hogwarts Express Stamp

The Hogwarts Express train is used by pupils of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The steam train runs between King’s Cross station in London and the village of Hogsmeade, from where the children reach Hogwarts by boat. Access to the train by wizards and witches can only be gained by running at speed through a brick wall to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Harry Potter Stamp

On his 11th birthday, Harry Potter learns that he has been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, brave the challenges of school life while facing the increasing threat of the dark forces led by Lord Voldemort. As Voldemort returns to power, Harry realises that only he can stop the Dark Lord.

Flying Ford Anglia

Flying Ford Anglia stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Flying Ford Anglia Stamps

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Weasley twins and Ron ‘borrow’ the car to rescue Harry through his bedroom window in the Dursleys’ house. Later on, having missed the Hogwarts Express, Harry and Ron take the car on a precarious journey to Hogwarts.

Ron Weasley

Ron Weasley stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Ron Weasley Stamp

From the moment they meet on the Hogwarts Express train, Ron becomes Harry’s best friend. Ron supports Harry on all of his risky adventures – often at the wheel of the Flying Ford Anglia – even when it means facing his worst fear: spiders.

Hagrid’s Motorbike

Hagrids Motorbike stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Hagrid’s Motorbike Stamp

Riding a flying motorbike formerly owned by Sirius Black, Hagrid and Harry endure a hazardous journey while being pursued by Lord Voldemort and several Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1.

Ginny Weasley

Ginny Weasley stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Ginny Weasley Stamp

Younger sister of Ron Weasley, Ginny spends much of her first year at Hogwarts writing in Tom Riddle’s diary and unknowingly doing the Dark Lord’s bidding. In her fourth year, Ginny joins Dumbledore’s Army and eventually makes her feelings for Harry known.

Triwizard Cup

Triwizard Cup stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Triwizard Cup Stamp

The Triwizard Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner at the end of the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. When Harry Potter competes in the Triwizard Tournament, a Death Eater turns the Cup into a Portkey to instantly transport the winner to the graveyard where Lord Voldemort is waiting.

Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom stamp 300x284 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Neville Longbottom Stamp

Neville Longbottom is known as a good-natured but accident-prone boy with an aptitude for Herbology. As the Dark Lord rises to power, Neville bravely joins Dumbledore’s Army and ultimately plays an integral role in the destruction of Lord Voldemort.

Knight Bus

Knight Bus stamp 300x283 - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed
Knight Bus Stamp

Described by its conductor as “Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard”, the Knight Bus appears in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It collects Harry and his trunk from the side of the road after he flees Privet Drive following an altercation with Mr Dursley’s sister.


If you’re interested…

You can reserve all of the new Harry Potter stamps right now on a limited edition Collector Card – professionally framed and ready to hang. Click here for details >>>

2018 Harry Potter Stamp Collection A4 Framed - FIRST LOOK: NEW magical Harry Potter Stamps just revealed

As Royal Mail’s new Songbird stamps hit the right note with collectors, BBC’s Chris Packham signs for Westminster…

songbirds a4 framed - As Royal Mail's new Songbird stamps hit the right note with collectors, BBC's Chris Packham signs for Westminster...

4th May sees the release of Royal Mail’s stunning new Songbird stamps. As soon as we heard about the release of the stamps, we discussed who we could work with to create the ultimate presentation for collectors.

chris packham - As Royal Mail's new Songbird stamps hit the right note with collectors, BBC's Chris Packham signs for Westminster...

Chris Packham signing the limited edition Songbird Stamps Collector Card

It didn’t take long for us to unanimously agree that Chris Packham was our man!

Chris is one of today’s most highly respected television naturalists presenting BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch & Winterwatch. And adding further to his CV, he proudly serves as Vice President of the RSPB.

Shortly after contacting him, we were delighted to hear Chris had agreed to sign 500 framed Songbirds stamp sets for us. Here he is at home signing the first of the collector cards.

wren stamp - As Royal Mail's new Songbird stamps hit the right note with collectors, BBC's Chris Packham signs for Westminster...

Once these arrive back with us, they’ll be sent off to Royal Mail to have the stamps specially postmarked with the first day of issue postmark and then returned to us once again to have them professionally framed.

The full set of stamps features the Nightingale, Wren, Blackcap, Cuckoo, Yellowhammer, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, Song Thrush and Skylark.


songbirds a4 framed - As Royal Mail's new Songbird stamps hit the right note with collectors, BBC's Chris Packham signs for Westminster...If you’re interested…

We’re now taking pre-orders for the special Chris Packham Signed Edition. Just 500 will be made featuring all the Songbirds stamps on a Framed Collector Card, postmarked with their first day of issue…

So if you want one, click here for details before they sell out.

New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate ‘Sport of Kings’…

…And our day with Grand National Winning Jockey Bob Champion MBE

bob1 - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...We were visited recently by 1981 Grand National Winning Jockey Bob Champion MBE.

Bob’s remarkable story is well documented. Given just 8 months to live after being diagnosed with cancer in 1979, he rode to victory two years later astride 11-year-old Aldaniti at the Grand National – Britain’s most cherished jump race.

Bob would subsequently win the 1981 BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year award alongside Aldaniti, before being awarded his MBE in 1982.

And so when Bob agreed to come down to our offices to sign the 500 framed Royal Mail Racehorse Legends stamps, we were absolutely delighted.

bob2 - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...The stamps, revealed below, feature horses which have all in the their own unique way created a piece of British horse racing history. They are scheduled for release on 6 April 2017 – the first day of the Aintree meeting ahead of this years’ Grand National.

So it felt fitting that Bob should be the man to sign these framed presentations – exclusively for Westminster Collection customers – given his quite remarkable and irrefutable status in the Grand National Hall of Fame.

Here are some details about the eight new stamps…

1st Class – Red Rum:red rum - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...

Voted no. 3 favourite horse by Racing Post readers. Greatest race: 1977 Grand National (ridden by Tommy Stack). The only three time winner of the Grand National.

arkle - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...1st Class – Arkle: 

Won 27 of his 35 starts. Voted no. 1 favourite horse by readers of Racing Post. Greatest race: 1964 Cheltenham Gold Cup (ridden by Pat Taaffe). His first Cheltenham Gold Cup was a dramatic win as he dethroned Mill House and showed his greatness for the first time. Described by John Randall and Tony Morris in their book A Century of Champions as “…a freak, an unrepeatably lucky shake of the genetic cocktail, the nearest thing the sport has ever seen to the perfect machine”.

£1.05 – Desert Orchid: desert orchid - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...

“Dessie”voted no. 2 favourite horse by Racing Post readers. Greatest race: 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup (ridden by Simon Sherwood). Added drama of a narrow win in this famous victory.

 

kauto star - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...£1.05 – Kauto Star:

Greatest race: 2009 King George VI Chase (ridden by Ruby Walsh). His huge 36-length victory enabled him to replace Desert Orchid as the top-rated steeplechaser.

 

 

£1.33 – Frankel: frankel - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...

Unbeaten in his 14-race career, Frankel is the top-rated horse in the world since the World Best Racehorse Rankings were initiated in 1977. Greatest race: The 2000 Guineas in 2011. Frankel is named after the Hall of Fame trainer, Robert Frankel and was trained by Sir Henry Cecil. Ridden by: Tom Queally.

£1.33 – Brigadier Gerard: brigadier gerard - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...

Won 17 of his 18 races and named British Horse of the Year 1972. Voted no. 5 favourite horse by Racing Post readers. Greatest race: 1971 2000 Guineas (ridden by Joe Mercer). His defining moment, beating Mill Reef his great contemporary.

 

£1.52 – Shergar: shergar - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...

European Horse of the Year 1978. Guardian Classic Trial, Chester Vase, Derby, Irish Derby, King George VI and QEII Stakes (1981). Greatest race: Epsom Derby 1981 – longest winning margin in that race’s history.

estimate - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...

£1.52 – Estimate: 

To the delight of Her Majety the Queen, Estimate won the 2013 Gold Cup at Ascot, the first horse owned by a reigning monarch to do so. It is very rare that a horse becomes a legend from just one race but this is one of those exceptions.

 

A Regal Tribute to the ‘Sport of Kings’

The stamps, reproductions of beautiful original artwork by internationally renowned equestrian artist Michael P. Heslop, are sure to be highly sought after by anyone with an interest in the sport and stamp collectors alike.


If you’re interested…horse a4 framed new - New Royal Mail Stamps to celebrate 'Sport of Kings'...

You can reserve all of the new Racehorse Legends stamps now on a limited edition Framed Collector Cardhand-signed by 1981 Grand National Winning Jockey Bob Champion. 

Click here for more details >>