Video Game Postage Stamps: A New Thing To Collect

In October 2014, Ireland’s An Post issued four stamps celebrating four of the most recognisable game icons in modern history: Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.

The stamps were designed by graphic design studio Zinc Design Consultants, and are available for €2.72 for the set of four at the stamp shop in Dublin’s GPO or online.

Irish Stamps

These aren’t the first retrogaming stamps though, in 2005 the French postal service (La Poste) released a collection of stamps titled “Heros des Jeux-Video” (Heroes of Video Games). The set of ten includes stamps featuring Link, Mario, Pac-Man, Prince of Persia, Rayman, Spyro the Dragon, Donkey Kong, and Lara Croft.

French stamps - combined

But for the ultimate guide to video game stamps visit Computer Stamps’ Video Games Postage Stamps page. Here you will find:

An adorable set of Japanese 8-bit Super Mario stamps from 2006.

japanese stamp sheet

The Celebrate the Century: 1980s set from the U.S. Postal Service, 2000 featuring many icons from the 1980s (e.g. ET, Cabbage Patch dolls, hip hop) – including one with kids playing Defender on the Atari 2600.

1980s stamps - sheet1980s stamps - single

Israel’s ‘Computer Games’ set from 1990.

Israeli Stamps

Palau’s ‘The Information Age: Visionaries in the Twentieth Century’ set from 1999 – of the 25 stamps, two feature Nolan BushnellAtari founder, and Rand and Robyn Miller – developers of Myst.

palau-stamps-sheet

Central African Republic’s ‘Street Fighter 3rd Strike’ set from 1999.

African Street Fighter stamps - sheet

All I can say is – come on Australia Post, where are our video game postage stamps!

Source: Tech Times, An Post Media Release, Joystiq, Computer Stamps
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msausretrogamerMs. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

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