The Royal Mail has officially announced a new collection of stamps with a focus on retro video games spanning from the 1980s and 1990s. The collection of stamps celebrates UK-designed video games that we all know and love. This includes 12 stamps, 4 of those beingÂTomb Raider-themed.The official Royal Mail Twitter tweeted out that the stamps were announced today andUkie has confirmedthat they had a helping hand in the process. Ukie links to The Sun who includes a quote from Philip Parker from the Royal Mail.
“The UK has been at the forefront of the video games industry for decades.”
“In the 1980s and 90s young designers grappled with coding on the new microcomputers and set the template for the industry with iconic games.”
“We celebrate some of their landmark creations on stamps.”
Ukie chief executive Dr. Jo Twist was also quoted to say. “This collection celebrates a selection of the great British video games that have helped define both the national and global development scene over decades,” They also add “Video games are a key part of our cultural footprint and we’re pleased to see their contribution recognized in such memorable style.”
TheÂTomb RaiderÂstamps come in the form of a miniature sheet showing the Atlantean Scion level from the 1996Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara CroftÂfrom 1998 shows the Ora Dagger level, The Philosopher’s Stone level is featured forÂTomb Raider ChroniclesÂfrom the year 2000, and the 2013 version ofTomb Raidershows the Ceremonial Dagger level.
The special stamps that are also available provide a more diverse collection of games from different retro consoles, these being:
Those who may want to grab all of the stamps can grab theVideo Games Presentation Packwhich includes all 12 stamps. There’s also aframed editionwhich only includes the 8 special stamps within a black frame.
There is also aTomb RaiderCollector’s Sheetwhich includes 10 miniature sheet stamps of Lara Croft in action across all of the games from 1996 to 2018.
For fans who may want something more, there’s also aLimited Edition Gamer Collectors Packand comes with a silver case which includes a certificate of authenticity, signed by the director of Royal Mail stamps and collectibles, Matthew Parker.
On the website, there are numerous types of editions that include the special stamps, such as postcard versions of the stamps, and even a Video Games First Day branded envelope. It’s certainly a nice way to pay homage to the oldies of video games, and I’m surprised to see the 2013ÂTomb RaiderÂincluded instead of an older title. Still, I look forward to getting mail and hoping to see these special stamps on the envelope, that is if the sender can bring themselves to part with them.
The stamps are all available to pre-order and will become available on June 22, 2025.
