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Royal Mail has made a new set of DnD stamps available to pre-order, celebrating 50 years since the creation of well-known roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons.
All 14 stamps in the set have been illustrated by British artist Wayne Reynolds, with 11 images being specially commissioned for this set. Reynolds has previously produced illustrations for various D&D games, handbooks and guides for more than 20 years.
The main set of eight stamps features a selection of iconic monsters from the game: Red Dragon, Owlbear, Vecna, Gelatinous Cube, Mind Flayer, Mimic, Displacer Beast and Beholder.
When an ultraviolet light is shone over the stamps in the main set, a surprise will be revealed. Four stamps show the D&D ampersand logo. The other four show a graphic that is relevant to the monster featured on the stamp – Red Dragon (dragon head), Vecna (skull), Mimic, and the Beholder. Each of these four fluorescent graphics was created for the 50th anniversary.
A further six stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, depict dynamic images of a party of adventuring heroes that might be played in the game (pictured top), including: Tiefling Rogue, Human Bard, Halfling Cleric, Elf Fighter, Dwarf Paladin and Dragonborn Wizard.
The collection is under license by toy and game company Hasbro and its Wizards of the Coast division.
D&D is a popular tabletop and digital franchise, in the UK and globally. It’s estimated there are over 64m fans worldwide.
Artist Wayne Reynolds commented:
“Being asked to design the Dungeons & Dragons stamps for Royal Mail was a massive honour for me. As a British artist it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to contribute artwork that I’d created as a long-running D&D fantasy artist to something I consider to be an iconic institution. I get the opportunity to see my artwork on stamp!”
Wayne Reynolds, DnD stamps artist
David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy at Royal Mail, said: “For 50 years, Dungeons & Dragons has enabled millions of fans across the world to enjoy using their imaginations and immersing themselves in a magical world. We are delighted that this creative and exciting role-playing game is celebrated using Britain’s Wayne Reynolds’ unique illustrations.”
Dan Rawson, Global Play Lead, Dungeons & Dragons at Wizards of the Coast: added: “Building on Hasbro’s existing work with Royal Mail, we’re honoured to release this beautiful collection of stamps, officially approved by HM King Charles III, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the world’s greatest roleplaying game.”
Earlier this year, a Lego D&D UK set price and release date was revealed.
First published in 1974, D&D was originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in Wisconsin, USA. It was introduced to the UK in 1975.
The worlds, monsters and gameplay of D&D have influenced popular fantasy tropes in film, television, video games and beyond.
The stamps, and a range of other collectible products, are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/dnd and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 14 stamps is priced at £24.40. The stamps go on general sale on July 25th 2024.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
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