Royal Mail reveals new stamps to mark the key battles in the Wars of the Roses.
Royal Mail has revealed a set of eight stamps that will be coming soon to mark the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury, one of the defining battles of the Wars of the Roses.
The illustrations are by leading medieval and military artist Graham Turner. The stamps feature artwork that re-imagines eight key battles across the years of the Wars. Royal Mail also worked with writer, historian and researcher, Dr David Grummitt on the stamp issue.
The Wars of the Roses were fought between the two rival cadet branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster and the House of York, and were named after the supposed emblems of the contending parties: the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster.
The second half of the 15th century saw a series of violent struggles for the throne. The period 1455–87 witnessed the deposition of three kings, and the violent death of two of them, in a series of bloody battles that engaged all ranks of society.
The stamps depict the battles of Bosworth, Tewkesbury, Barnet, Edgecote Moor, Towton, Wakefield, Northampton and St Albans.
David Gold, Royal Mail, said: “The Wars of the Roses fascinated both Shakespeare and historians alike. These striking illustrations bring to life a period of British history that was steeped in drama, betrayal and a quest for power that still enthrals today.â€
The full set of eight stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £12.40. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order from www.royalmail.com/waroftheroses. The stamps will go on general sale from May 4, 2021.
