Warhammer
Royal Mail’s latest incursion into fantasy worlds is a special issue released on June 8 celebrating 40 years of the Warhammer series of tabletop wargames.
A set of six stamps in counter sheets illustrate gaming figurines in battlefield settings, while a further four designs in a self-adhesive miniature sheet reproduce illustrations from spin-off publications.
Created by Games Workshop, a British company based in Nottingham, Warhammer games feature miniature figurines (initially made of metal but latterly of plastic), which players can paint and customise, competing on battlefield dioramas laid out on a table or floor.
The franchise has since grown to encompass dedicated magazines, novels, films and online gaming, and is said to have millions of devotees worldwide.
The first edition of the game in 1983 featured a medieval fantasy world populated by knights, elves, wizards and goblins.
Warhammer 40,000, launched in 1987, was set in the space age, in the 41st millennium, and became the world’s best-selling miniature wargame.
A third incarnation, Age of Sigmar, introduced in 2015, incorporated elements of the original fantasy landscape but on a grander scale. The Warhammer world has recently been expanded with The Horus Heresy, launched as a game in 2022 after already having been explored in a series of novels.
Currently under development is The Old World, a revival of the original game.
The issue was designed by Common Curiosity and printed in litho by Cartor, with the counter sheet stamps available in vertically se tenant pairs.
1st class SPACE MARINES
In Warhammer 40,000, Space Marines are soldiers in the service of the Imperium, doing battle with forces of the Chaos Gods.
1st class ORKS
In Warhammer 40,000, the foes of the Space Marines include Orks, green-skinned aliens with crude personalities and ramshackle weaponry.
£2.00 STORMCAST ETERNALS
In Warhammer: Age of Sigmar, Stormcast Eternals are armies of resurrected warriors waging war against the forces of Chaos.
£2.00 SLAVES TO DARKNESS
In Warhammer: Age of Sigmar, Slaves to Darkness are the mortal followers of the Chaos gods.
£2.20 HIGH ELVES
In Warhammer: The Old World, High Elves are an ancient civilisation of warriors with powerful armies and a mastery of High Magic.
£2.20 DWARFS
In Warhammer: The Old World, Dwarfs are a squat but sturdy warrior race known for their excellent craftsmen and resistance to magic.
MINIATURE SHEET
1st class WARHAMMER 40,000
In the first edition of Warhammer 40,000, players took on the role of interstellar rogue traders operating outside the boundaries of the Imperium.
£2.20 THE HORUS HERESY
In the Horus Heresy edition of the game, the religion of the Imperium is centered on its founder, the Emperor of Mankind, but one of his sons rebels and causes civil war.
£2.20 AGE OF SIGMAR
In the Age of Sigmar edition, Yndrasta, also known as the Celestial Spear, is a female warrior tasked with hunting down and slaying terrible beasts.
1st class THE OLD WORLD
In the Old World tradition, the Battle for Skull Pass is fought in the mountains between the Orcs and the Dwarfs.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS
The presentation pack contains more detail about the evolution of Warhammer, and first day covers and stamp cards are available.
A press sheet of 12 unguillotined miniature sheets is limited to a print run of 200.
PRICES
Set of 6 stamps £10.60
Miniature sheet £6.60
Presentation pack £18.10
Press sheet £79.20
First day cover (stamps) £13.40
First day cover (mini sheet) £8.60
Stamp cards £4.95
VERDICT
COMMEMORATIVE WORTH 1/5
This is a popular and successful British franchise, but within a very niche gaming market
QUALITY OF DESIGN 3/5
The images are brash and colourful, if rather generic of mythical warriors
WOW FACTOR 1/5
Most onlookers will be rolling their eyes at the arrival of yet another set of pictures of fantasy figures with pugnacious poses
