Royal Mail –
Sir Winston Churchill
Marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of one of Britain's most iconic figures.
Working as creative custodians, we helped Royal Mail to tell the remarkable life story of one of our most iconic public figures.
Sector
Arts & Culture
What we did
Discovery & Definition
- Audits
- Consultation
Design Development
- Creative concepts
- Art direction
- Packaging design
- Print design
Delivery
- Artwork
Context
In July 1965, Winston Churchill featured on the first British stamp to focus on a contemporary individual and he has since appeared on four special issues. With November 2024 marking the 150th anniversary of his birth, Royal Mail felt the time was right to celebrate the life and legacy of the man who led the nation through its darkest hours.
One hundred and fifty years after his birth, this stamp issue celebrates the enduring legacy of a leader who shaped the course of history and left an indelible mark on the hearts of the British people.
Solution
The story of Churchill’s life is a remarkable one, from his early years as a soldier and statesman to his leadership during the Second World War and beyond. We decided to tell this unique story by highlighting eight of the roles played by Churchill through his life – soldier, leader, tactician, husband, artist – across eight special issue stamps. Each stamp in the collection features carefully chosen photographs of Churchill at defining moments in his life, accompanied by some of his most memorable quotes from articles, books, letters and speeches.
Impact
Beyond the stamps themselves, our work on this very special project included the design of a Prestige Stamp Book – which tells Churchill’s story in meticulous detail – and First Day Cover, three Hand Stamps featuring some of Churchill’s most famous quotes and a Presentation Pack. Perhaps unsurprisingly given Churchill’s continued status as one of the 20th century’s most iconic figures, the official announcement of this special stamp issue generated news coverage all over the world.
I think Winston Churchill would have been rather pleased to be the subject of these stamps, one hundred and fifty years after his birth.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Royal Mail’s design supremos Marcus and Catharine and to wrangler of words Bob for entrusting such a significant and iconic project with the Baxter & Bailey team. A joyous project from beginning to end.