The stamps and special edition collectibles celebrate British heavy metal royalty.
(Source: British Royal Mail)
Britain's Royal Mail has unveiled twelve Special Stamps to celebrate Iron Maiden - "bona fide rock legends," as David Gold, Director of External Public Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, described them.
The Piece Of Mind band are only the fifth group to receive the honour of Royal Mail stamps, following The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020, and The Rolling Stones in 2022.
The images on the stamps feature from a selection of concert photos that stretch from the 1980s to 2018. Bassist Steve Harris was showcased in Vancouver in June 2010. Meanwhile, Bruce Dickinson is photographed at Hammersmith, Odeon, London, May 1983, Nicko McBrain in Quito, March 2009, and what will surely be a favourite amongst fans, Bruce Dickinson sword fighting with Eddie in Birmingham, August 2018.
Another four stamps will pay tribute to Iron Maiden's longstanding mascot and pop-cultural icon in his own right, Eddie, with his own miniature sheet. Eddie is the main star of all the band's album artworks and has scored a stamp as a samurai warrior from the group's recent Senjutsu album.
We're very proud and excited to announce that Royal Mail are to honour Iron Maiden with a set of special stamps!
— Iron Maiden (@IronMaiden) January 5, 2023
To pre-order and find out more, head to https://t.co/FKdfOA1BNx@RoyalMail @RoyalMailStamps#RoyalMail #IronMaiden #Stamps #Eddie #StampCollecting pic.twitter.com/qrGoKHFqxR
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"We were all absolutely astounded – in a good way! - when we heard first about the commemorative project, and equally pretty much speechless when we saw the stamps for the very first time," Harris said. "They look superb and I think they really capture the essence and energy of Maiden. We’re all very proud that Royal Mail has chosen to honour the band’s legacy like this and we know our fans will feel the same way."
Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, added: "As a band who have never played by anyone else’s rules for over 40 years, it’s very gratifying to see them honoured in their home country in this way. We’re proud to show how these six band members are still appealing to more and more fans every year with their music and their legendary shows - which I think these stamps really capture well. It’s also fantastic that Eddie has been honoured too – it’s incredible to think that Her Majesty, may she rest in peace, saw these and lent her iconic silhouette to them too."
David Gold, Director of External Public Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, commented: "Few bands in the history of rock music can be called bona fide rock legends – but Iron Maiden are just that – and more. With legions of devoted fans of all ages and from every corner of the globe, not only have they changed the way rock music sounds, but they have also changed the way it looks. We fully expect their fans will love these stamps as much as we do."
If you're interested in scoring your own Iron Maiden stamps, they're available to pre-order now before officially becoming available next week (12 January). Prices range between £0.30 to the mega Limited Edition Platinum Eddie Stamps at £199.99. Browse the collectibles here.