Lucky Luke is taking aim at his own shadow once again — this time on a San Marino stamp. To mark the 80th anniversary of the character created by Morris, Poste San Marino is unveiling a new issue that will be available from October 28, 2026, timed to coincide with the opening of Lucca Comics & Games. The event will also mark the company’s debut at the festival, where it will have its own stand for the first time.
The scene unfolds across two 1.85-euro stamps that make up the souvenir sheet: the first depicts the cowboy in the act of drawing his gun, while the second shows his shadow. The print run totals 15,000 sheets, each with a combined face value of 3.70 euros. Rounding out the design are an illustration of Lucky Luke on horseback and the logos marking both the character’s 80th anniversary and the 60th edition of the Lucca festival.
Dreamed up by Belgian artist Maurice de Bevere, known as Morris, Lucky Luke first appeared in 1946 in the magazine Spirou. His white hat, waistcoat and red neckerchief have made him instantly recognizable to generations of readers. A solitary figure capable of outdrawing his own shadow, he rides in to restore order before heading off once more into the sunset, asking for nothing in return.
The tribute to the cowboy marks the second release of 2026 in the “Comics” philatelic series, following the one dedicated to tokidoki. Revived in 2022, the series celebrates the characters of the ninth art and the creators behind them.
Production has been entrusted to Cartor Security Printing, using four-colour offset printing with invisible fluorescent yellow ink. Each stamp measures 30 by 40 millimetres, while the souvenir sheet measures 140 by 70 millimetres.
Starting October 28, the issue can be purchased at the Poste San Marino stand at Lucca Comics & Games, at the Philatelic and Numismatic Shop at Piazzetta Garibaldi 5, in the City of San Marino, and on the official Poste San Marino website. The company’s presence at the festival will continue through its closing day, November 1, 2026.
