Sporting occasions are an opportunity to bring the country together in a shared passion as we all get behind a common cause. Of course (and despite the old saying to the contrary), it’s not just the taking part that counts. It’s even better when we win. From football to cricket or horse racing to the Olympics there have been times when our sporting heroes have managed to secure victory – and it’s times like these which often cross over into our other great national pastime, that of stamp collecting. 

A sporting double

To mark the historic significance of England’s men and women’s cricket teams holding the ICC Cricket World Cup simultaneously, Royal Mail has announced a special issue that’s sure to delight both collectors and cricket fans alike. Featuring eight stamps in two miniature sheets, the men’s collection includes scenes of jubilation following the team’s victory against New Zealand in 2019. 

Meanwhile, the women’s collection features the triumphant celebrations following the defeat of India at Lord’s in 2017.

 Sporting legends

Cricket has been a previous source of inspiration for stamp designers. To mark the centenary of county cricket in 1973, a number of stamps were released in homage to one of the greatest cricketers of all time – WG Grace. 

When Andy Murray ended the 77-year wait for a British men’s champion at Wimbledon in 2013 by beating Novak Djokovic, Royal Mail released four stamps to honour his achievement. 

It wasn’t the first time Murray was featured on a stamp. A next-day gold medal stamp was issued after his men’s singles win at the 2012 London Olympic games. 

In fact, this was part of an Olympic-themed series which saw stamps being printed in record time each time a gold medal was won. Other sporting greats to be celebrated in this way include rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, and cyclist Bradley Wiggins. 

World Cup heroes

To celebrate England’s victory in the football World Cup in 1966, there was a rush to print a huge run of commemorative stamps and meet public demand. However, the quick turnaround meant that there were errors – with some misprints and colour variations commanding a greater price in today’s market. 

Contact the experts

If you would like a honest appraisal of your sport-themed stamp collection, just get in touch.   

Tony Lester’s next stamp auction will be held on November 17. For more information, here’s how to contact us.