This striking set of 18p stamps was issued by Great Britain in 1988 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) — a defining event in Elizabethan naval history. Designed by John Sibbick, the series vividly depicts key battles in dynamic, stylized artwork filled with movement and drama.

1. Armada – Lizard, 19 July 1588
   Shows the first encounter between the English fleet and the approaching Spanish Armada off the Lizard Peninsula.

2. Armada – Plymouth, 21 July 1588
   Illustrates the English fleet sailing from Plymouth to engage the Spanish ships in a fiery sea battle.

3. Armada – Calais, 28–29 July 1588
   Depicts the attack on the anchored Spanish fleet near Calais, where English fire-ships caused chaos.

4. Armada – North Sea, 30 July–2 August 1588
   Portrays the final scenes as the defeated Armada is scattered by storms across the North Sea.

Each design is marked “18p” with the gold silhouette of Queen Elizabeth II, symbolizing the continuity of British naval power from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II.