Classic Science Fiction Stamps

Client: Royal Mail

Stamp design celebrating the imagination and artistic legacy of classic British science fiction.

British authors have been at the forefront of science fiction writing since 1818 when Mary Shelley penned what is arguably the first science fiction novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

With such a vast and complete mix of ideas across the six novels our first task was to decide on the key theme or plot point of each text and decide on the best way to illustrate that on a small canvas. To do this we commissioned six artists and illustrators for the collection, with each stamp featuring a scene from a book that marked a “key evolutionary moment” for the genre.

As well as a celebration of British science fiction the release of the collection in 2021 marks the 75th anniversary of the death of famed sci-fi writer H.G. Wells, as well as the 70th anniversary of the publication of John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids.

The full set includes Frankenstein by Mary Shelley illustrated by Sabina Sinko; The Time Machine by HG Wells illustrated by Francisco Rodriguez; Brave New World by Aldous Huxley illustrated by Thomas Danthony; The Day Of The Triffids by John Wyndham illustrated by Mick Brownfield; Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clarke illustrated by Matt Murphy and Shikasta by Doris Lessing illustrated by Sarah Jones.

…the latest batch [of stamps] from the Royal Mail has me
wanting to send letters to every corner of the universe.

mashable.com