DAVE MCKEAN AND NEIL GAIMAN COMBINE ON MYTHICAL NEW STAMPS FROM ROYAL MAIL
A boulder-wielding giant and a fire-breathing dragon are just two of the illustrations on Royal Mail’s stunning Mythical Creatures stamps.
Issued on 16 June, the six stamps feature fantastical characters from the UK’s rich history of folklore and legend, brought to life by the artist Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman, bestselling novelist and creator with McKean of the Sandman comic.
Look closely at his astonishing set of illustrations and the imagination is quickly working overtime; which is probably why these creatures – and the stories behind them – have such an enduring appeal.
Gaiman, who has collaborated with McKean on many occasions, has written a special Presentation Pack, designed by McKean, which contains all six stamps. In it the author delves into the history of the creatures featured on the stamps.
Issued in pairs the 1st Class stamps feature the fiery breath of a suitably frightening dragon, which contrasts with the majestic stone-grey appearance of a unicorn.
There’s an even bigger contrast on the 62p stamps, as a boulder-carrying giant is paired with a snail-riding pixie.
Queen Mab takes the reins of her flying chariot representing fairies on the first 90p stamp, and is joined by the graceful blue-tinged form of a mermaid.
Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail said: “Dave McKean’s illustrations for these stamps are truly breathtaking. He has created a series of images, which by turn, are beautiful, amusing – and spine-tingling.”
Mythical Creatures – Stamp by Stamp
1st Class – Unicorns
Traditionally represented as a horse with a single horn, a billy goat’s beard, cloven hooves and a lion’s tail, perhaps the unicorn made sense of traveller’s descriptions of the rhinoceros? Two unicorns support the Coat of Arms of Scotland, while one together with a lion support the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.
1st Class – Dragons
Common to the mythologies of many countries the dragon has a reptilian body, traditionally breathes fire or spits poison and often has a pair of bat like wings. Often the guardian of treasure hordes and frequently the terror of fair maids.
Apart from the famous associations with St George and the red dragon of Wales, dragons also appear in the Mabinogion, a series of 12 medieval Welsh stories.
62p – Giants
Legend has it that the Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway is the remains of a pathway between Scotland and Northern Ireland created when the Scottish giant Fingal (who is featured on the stamp) hurled the first clod into the Irish Sea and the Irish giant Finn McCool hurled more back.
62p – Pixies
Or Piskies as they are known in their native West Country (and featured on the stamp) look like old men with wrinkled faces. They are small in stature with red hair and dress in the colours of the earth especially green, usually cheerful and helpful, but they also like playing pranks.
90p – Mermaids
Part woman and part fish stories abound in coastal communities of Mermaids, who would often entrance sailors with their song causing them to run ships aground or jump overboard, then carry them off to their undersea home – forgetting that they breathe air.
90p – Fairies
Sometimes good and sometimes bad, the fairy folk come in many forms, here Queen Mab takes to the air in her hazelnut chariot. Queen Mab is described in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as a tiny fairy who drives her chariot across the faces of sleeping people.
Mythical Creatures – Technical Details
Presentation Pack No 428 – Mythical Creatures
Price: £4.35
The fully illustrated presentation pack contains the six Mythical Creatures stamps. Inside fantasy author Neil Gaiman provides the stories for Dave McKean’s illustrations. The pack was designed by Dave McKean and printed by Walsall Security Printers.
First Day Envelope
Price: 30p
First Day Cover
Mail Order Price: Cancelled and stamped only from Tallents House: £4.86 UK for the stamps
The First Day Cover Envelope was designed by Dave McKean. The envelope is printed by Dobson and Crowther Ltd. The filler card designed by Dave McKean and features copy about the Mythical creatures by fantasy author Neil Gaiman. It was printed by Fulmar Colour Printing Company Ltd.
Stamp Cards
Price £2.34 the set
Six postcards bearing enlarged images of each of the Mythical Creatures stamps go on sale about a week before the stamp issue date. Printed by Fulmar Colour Printing Company Ltd.
Alternative postmarks
Unstamped Royal Mail First Day Cover envelopes (price 30p) will be available from Post Officeâ branches and philatelic outlets approximately one week before issue. Collectors who hand in or post covers at main Post Officeâ branches will receive the pictorial DRAGONBY, SCUNTHORPE first day postmark, which was chosen as it is a suitable place name.
Alternatively, collectors may send stamped covers for the first day of issue to Royal Mail, Tallents House, 21 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9PB, quoting reference FD09 15 (Tallents House) or to any Special Handstamp Centre quoting reference FD09 16 DRAGONBY, SCUNTHORPE pictorial postmark) FD09 16NP (non-pictorial).
