Four of the eight dinosaur stamps showing two with Stegosaurus and Diplodicus in a dry, barren landscape and two with Megalosaurus and Cryptoclidus interacting in a shallow sea. — A selection of the stamps featuring dinosaurs and marine reptiles interacting in their environments. ©Joshua Dunlop/Royal Mail

New Royal Mail stamps will feature dinosaurs and celebrate Mary Anning

By Josh Davis

First published 5 March 2024

Royal Mail is releasing a trove of new palaeontological-themed stamps.

One set will feature the pioneering scientist Mary Anning and three of the fossils she unearthed along the Dorset coastline, while another eight stamps will feature a range of dinosaurs, pterosaurs and marine reptiles.

This year you can get your claws on a range of roar-some stamps, which depict iconic dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus.

In collaboration with The Natural History Museum, Royal Mail is releasing a new series of stamps that showcase a range of ancient animals, in addition to a set depicting a handful of the amazing finds made by palaeontologist Mary Anning.

The Mary Anning stamps with a portraint of Mary and the fossils she found laid out as if on display in the Natural History Museum. — The stamps celebrating Mary Anning show a portrait of the pioneering palaeontologist and a selection of fossils she unearthed. ©Royal Mail

‘It is fitting in the week of International Women’s Day that we pay tribute to Mary Anning with four images of some of the fossils she discovered,’ explains David Gold, the Director of External Affairs and Policy at Royal Mail.

‘She was one of the greatest fossil hunters of the 19th century, making a major contribution to our understanding of the majestic creatures that roamed Earth hundreds of millions of years ago.’

Working with digital concept illustrator Joshua Dunlop to bring these animals to life, the stamps capture a number of exciting scenes.

In one, a Tyrannosaurus faces off against a Triceratops, whilst in another a herd of Iguanodon are set against a fiery background as Coloborhynchus pterosaurs soar through the sky. As this year is the 200^th anniversary of the naming of Megalosaurus, it seems only fitting that the stamps show one wading in the shallow sea and interacting with a Cryptoclidus plesiosaur.

Four of the new dinosaur stamps, featuring a T. rex attacking a Triceratops and a pterosaur flying over a herd of Iguanodons. — All the stamps are available to pre-order on the Royal Mail's website. ©Joshua Dunlop/Royal Mail

‘We were thrilled when Royal Mail approached us to collaborate on these brilliant sets of stamps.’ Says Maxine Lister, the Head of Licensing at the Natural History Museum.

‘It’s perfect timing too, as we have just celebrated the 200th anniversary since the naming of the first dinosaur, Megalosaurus, which features as part of this collection.’

‘Our mission is to create advocates for the planet and we hope these stunning designs inspire everyone to discover a bit more about our natural world, whether that be the creatures that lived here before us, or the pioneering figures who shaped our understanding of them today.”

The stamps are available to pre-order from today on the Royal Mail’s website.