[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Heroes of the Covid Pandemic

Issue Date: 23rd March 2022 • Webpage for ordering Products
Stamp set AS8300 £6.80
Presentation Pack AP504 £7.70
First Day Cover – Stamps AF484 £8.80
Stamp Souvenir Cover AW213 £8,80
First Day Envelope AE439 £0.30
Postcards AQ320 £3.60
Full Sheet 48 x 1st Class AS8300AFS £40.80
Half Sheet 24 x 1st Class AS8300AHS £20.40
Full Sheet 48 x 1st Class AS8300BFS £40.80
Half Sheet 24 x 1st Class AS8300BHS £20.40

In Spring 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Royal Mail Chief Executive, Simon Thompson launched a special stamp design competition. School children from across the UK were invited to design a postage stamp featuring their own hero or heroes of the Covid pandemic. The response was unprecedented, with surplus 600,000 children taking part.

With over a world record-breaking 600,000 entries, Royal Mail carefully selected 120 regional finalists. From this, a special panel of judges, including the Prime Minister, picked 24 regional winners. The final eight winning designs, featured below, were personally selected by HRH The Prince of Wales, with the finished stamps approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

Stamps Technical Details
Number of stamps: Eight
Design: Royal Mail Group
Illustrations: By competition winners Jessica Roberts, Shachow Ali, Raphael Valle Martin, Alfie Craddock, Logan Pearson, Isabella Grover, Connie Stuart and Ishan Bains
Stamp Format: Landscape
Stamp Size: 37mm x 35mm
Number per sheet: 24/48
Printer: International Security Printers
Print Process: Lithography
Perforations: 14 x 14.5
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Gum: PVA

Presentation PackThe Heroes of the Covid Pandemic Presentation Pack includes all eight stamps in mint condition. Designed to reflect the nature of the children’s competition, the colourful theme from the eight final stamps is weaved throughout the pack too.

As well as the eight winning designs, the pack celebrates the 24 regional winners, presenting 12 winners on each side. The final designs showcase the children’s heroes from all walks of life; from bus and delivery drivers to food banks, NHS workers and chemists.

The text of the Presentation Pack:
“From our family members, teachers, doctors and nurses to our vaccine scientists and fundraisers, we want to recognise and remember them.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Last spring, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Royal Mail Chief Executive Simon Thompson launched a special stamp design competition. School-aged children across the UK were invited to design a postage stamp featuring their own hero or heroes of the Covid pandemic.

The response was unprecedented. By the time the competition had closed some two months later, hundreds of thousands of children, all aged between 4 and 14, had taken part. With a record-breaking 606,049 entries, the competition had even achieved a new Guinness World Records® title. Over the following weeks, 120 regional finalists were carefully selected. From this shortlist, a special panel of judges, which included the Prime Minister, picked 24 regional winners. Finally, the eight winning designs were personally chosen by HRH The Prince of Wales. The finished stamps were approved by Her Majesty The Queen before being printed and issued.

First Day Cover
Includes all eight Special Stamps cancelled with a choice of either the Tallents House or alternative London EC1 postmark, dated 23.3.22.

The First Day Cover also includes:
• First Day Envelope – includes Heroes of the Covid Pandemic titling on the front
• Filler card – brings together a montage of all 24 regional finalist designs, as well as a brief summary of the stamp issue and the names of the competition finalists.

Stamp Souvenir
The Stamp Souvenir is a non-personalised version of the traditional First Day Cover, which unlike the FDC will not have the customer’s name and address printed on the front. This will be on sale for 90 days from the issue date; until 23rd June 2022. It includes the same Filler Card as the First Day Cover (see above) and is cancelled with the alternative postmark.

There is also a set of postcards:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup with Special Stamps
Issue Date: 8 March

• A set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the Emirates FA Cup such a prestigious competition
• A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue
• Stamps in the set show:
• Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
• Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley
• A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
• Classic Finals – Keith Houchen equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final
• FA Cup Upsets – In 2017, Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals
• Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937
• Royal Mail collaborated closely with The FA on the stamp issue
• Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural season of the FA Challenge Cup in 1871/72 compared to the 729 clubs taking part 150 years later in 2021/22
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre order from today (1 March) at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641
• The stamps go on general sale from 8 March

Royal Mail has announced the launch of a set of 10 stamps to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emirates FA Cup’s very first edition.

Royal Mail collaborated closely with the FA, choosing images that celebrate the heritage and tradition of the longest-running and most famous domestic football competition in the world.

The main set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the competition so prestigious, and a mixture of colour and black and white photographs relive some of the most famous moments in its 150-year history.

Stamps in the main set show:

• Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
• Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley
• A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
• Classic Finals – Keith Houchen equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final
• FA Cup Upsets – Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 in 2017 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals
• Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937

A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue.For 150 years, few other sporting events have produced as much joy and heartbreak or as many moments of raw emotion. It is a competition in which amateurs and semi-professionals can play in the finest stadia in the land, and the world’s best players run out in grounds holding only a few thousand people.

Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural 1871/72 edition, and while they might not have much else in common with the 729 modern day sides taking part in 2021/22, they shared the same dream: glory.

The Emirates FA Cup has always been a unique competition. For many fans it is about memories and moments on a football pitch that they associate with a time in their lives. Like the game itself, aspects of it have changed over the course of those years. But when fans of all ages think about the competition, they think of names, places, matches, moments. One thing is guaranteed – the Emirates FA Cup will keep creating memories for generations to come.

Natasha Ayivor, Royal Mail, said: “The Emirates FA Cup has given the world some of the greatest displays of competition football and these stamps celebrate the magic of those moments. We feel there is no more fitting tribute to its 150th anniversary than this collection of Special Stamps.”

The FA’s Director of Pro Game Relations, Andy Ambler, said: “The Emirates FA Cup continues to capture the imaginations of both football fans and the wider public in its 150th anniversary season. Its historic moments from the non-league to the very elite create lasting memories, and we’re delighted that a selection of iconic moments are being celebrated by these Special Stamps.”

The individual stamps in the set:

1st Class – Lifting the Cup
90th FA Cup Final
8 May 1971

1st Class – Wembley Stadium
48th FA Cup Final
28 April 1923

£1.70 – A Big Day Out
87th FA Cup Final
18 May 1968

£1.70 – Classic Finals
106th FA Cup Final
16 May 1987

£2.55 – FA Cup Upsets
FA Cup Fifth Round
18 February 2017

£2.55 – Royal Patronage
62nd FA Cup Final
1 May 1937

The individual stamps in the miniature sheet:

Supporter’s Memorabilia
A ticket stub from the 1959 Final between Nottingham Forest and Luton Town, held at the original Wembley Stadium (then known as the Empire Stadium). Forest beat Luton 2-1

An Everton rosette which dates from 1966 and features an image of the trophy and a Preston North End rosette which was taken to the 1954 and 1964 Finals

Painted rattle: A hand-painted Colchester United rattle, previously an air-raid rattle, which was taken to a Fourth Round home match against Arsenal in January 1959. The game was drawn 2-2.

Winner’s Medal and Trophy
A replica of the first FA Cup trophy, known as the ‘little tin idol’, which was used from 1896-1910 after the original Cup was stolen. A new trophy (the design still used today) was introduced in 1911.

The FA Cup winners’ medal awarded to Bradford City captain Jimmy Speirs in 1911. Speirs scored the only goal in the replay against Newcastle United, which secured a win for the ‘Bantams’.

Official Match-day Items
Manchester City’s distinctive red-and-black striped away shirt. It dates from the 1969 Final, when the club beat Leicester City 1-0

Match ball: The leather football used in the 1903 Final. Bury beat Derby County 6-0, achieving a record winning margin in a Final that was equalled only in 2019 when Manchester City beat Watford 6-0

An ornate gold-wire and silk badge, as given to The FA stewards at the 1903 Final between Bury and Derby County

Cup Final Souvenirs
A souvenir gramophone record and sleeve from the 1932 Final, when Newcastle United beat Arsenal 2-1. Each side includes a ‘meet the team’ feature, with the centre label in each team’s colours

A Leeds United FA Cup winners’ pennant, which celebrates United’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the centenary Final of 1972

A souvenir porcelain replica of The FA Cup trophy, which was made to commemorate Cardiff City’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the 1927 Final

The stamps and a range of collectible products can be pre-ordered now at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641.

The stamps go on general sale from 8 March.

VSC Note: If you click on the link, Royal Mail will also offer you a wide range of collectibles, including a £2 gold coin FDC for just £1,125.00 (US$1488, €1361).

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
The Stamp Designs of David Gentleman
Royal Mail Pays Tribute to the Man Who Changed British Stamp Design

• David Gentleman’s designs have featured on more stamps than that of any other designer – 103 issued stamps
• Royal Mail collaborated closely with David Gentleman to select six iconic stamps for the issue
• Stamps that feature in the set are:
• National Productivity Year -1962
• British Ships -1969
• British Trees – 1973
• Social Reformers – 1976
• 900th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings – 1966
• 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain – 1965
• More than 50 years after his first designs, the impact of Gentleman’s work on Royal Mail’s Special Stamps programme can still be seen
• This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire issue to a designer of its commemorative stamps
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (18 February) at www.royalmail.com/davidgentleman and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641

Royal Mail has announced the launch of a set of six stamps that pay tribute to the designer credited with changing the face of British stamp design, David Gentleman

1962

[Wikipedia article here].

Royal Mail collaborated closely with Gentleman to choose a selection of some of his most iconic and influential images from the world of British stamps.

This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire issue to a designer of its commemorative stamps.

David Gentleman has designed 103 issued stamps for Royal Mail. He has also provided many more artworks for issues that did not come to fruition and is the most prolific and influential British stamp designer.

1965

David Gentleman said: “Stamps were fun to design, though squeezing a lot into a small space wasn’t easy. At first it was difficult to fit in The Queen’s head until I turned it into the simple profile which is still used today. Stamps I particularly enjoyed designing were for the Battle of Hastings 1066, and Social Reformers.”

David Gold, Royal Mail, said: “David Gentleman is one of the foremost artists involved in British stamp design. For over half a century, he has made an enduring contribution to British stamp design. His work continues to influence and inspire designers today.”

David Gentleman:
Prior to 1962, stamp design had been as largely symbolic or stylised, and issues had been

1966

few in number. David Gentleman’s first successful designs had been for the National Productivity Year in 1962, using symbolic arrows.

In January 1965 David Gentleman wrote to the new Postmaster General, Tony Benn, in response to a general invitation for ideas about stamps. Gentleman recommended much more interesting subject matter than had been featured previously: special themes for stamp issues rather than commemoratives for conferences or festivals.

With The Queen’s agreement, Gentleman was then commissioned to produce an album of

1976

experimental designs, which would prove to be a source of inspiration for at least 20 years.

The original themes were an exciting range of ideas, from regional landscapes, plants, trees, birds and animals to the Industrial Revolution, bridges, railway engineering and famous people. Gentleman also proposed a new size of stamp and introduced a small cameo of the Queen, based on her profile as depicted by Mary Gillick on coins from 1953.

After characteristic wood engravings for the Shakespeare Festival, his designs for stamps

1969

featuring Winston Churchill and a set on the Battle of Britain, both issued in 1965, were innovative and revolutionary. The Queen’s head was reduced to a minimum and the concept of se-tenent (joined together) designs was first introduced.

His subsequent stamp designs were equally inventive. For the 1966 World Cup stamps, Gentleman used real-life photographs as the basis for his design. For the 1969 stamps celebrating the first flight of the Anglo-French Concorde, he developed some of his ideas from what became known as the David Gentleman Album, and the design process was featured in the GPO film Picture to Post. British Ships in 1969 followed the Battle of Hastings in having some values much larger in size. Other iconic

1973

stamps featured Gentleman’s watercolour paintings of the oak and the horse chestnut, issued in 1973 and 1974.

In 1976 came the Social Reformers stamps. On these, a coal face, chimney stacks, prison cells and the operation of cotton mills were represented in such a way as to create a continuous pattern over a whole sheet of stamps each. These were all in a new size and shape, which later became standard. David Gentleman’s most recent issued stamp designs were for the Millennium Timekeeper miniature sheet, depicting the stylised hands of a clock and globe.

The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (18 February) at www.royalmail.com/davidgentleman and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641.

[press release][click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Barcodes All Definitive Stamps In Advance Of Further InnovationsKey points of the announcement, provided in an email to the press, are:

• We are announcing a permanent move to adding unique barcodes to all of our ‘every day’ (Definitive) stamps, as part of our extensive modernisation drive.
• The move follows a successful national trial.
• The barcodes sit alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line. They will match the colour of the stamp.
• The unique barcodes lay the path for further services and innovations which will be announced in due course.
• Non-barcoded Definitive stamps will be phased out but will remain usable until 31 January 2023.
• We are encouraging customers to find any non-barcoded stamps they have at home so they can use them up.
• Unused stamps will be exchangeable under a ‘Swap Out’ scheme.
• Each stamp contains a special video of Shaun the Sheep, which the recipient of the stamped item can watch using the Royal Mail App on their smartphone. Further videos will follow later in the year.

The formal press release follows:

• Following a successful national trial, barcodes will be added to all Definitive stamps, the ‘everyday’ stamps featuring the profile of HM The Queen
• Recipients of mail featuring a barcoded stamp can watch an exclusive video featuring Shaun the Sheep by scanning the stamps in the Royal Mail App
• The video was created exclusively for Royal Mail by the multi- award-winning British animation studio, Aardman
• Non-barcoded Definitive stamps will be phased out but will remain usable until 31 January 2023
• Royal Mail is encouraging customers to find any non-barcoded stamps they have at home so they can use them up, unused stamps will be exchangeable under a ‘Swap Out’ scheme

Royal Mail has announced that following a successful national trial, it is adding unique barcodes to all its Definitive stamps.

The move is part of the Company’s extensive and ongoing modernisation drive and will allow the unique barcodes to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers.

Scan the App for an exclusive video featuring Shaun the Sheep
Recipients of mail featuring a barcoded stamp can watch an exclusive video by scanning the stamps in the Royal Mail App. The video features Shaun the Sheep, created exclusively for Royal Mail by the multi-award-winning British animation studio, Aardman. The video is the first in a series of planned videos to be released during 2022 that will allow customers sending stamped mail to choose which video the recipient can see when they receive an item of mail.

The new barcoded stamps will have a digital twin and the two will be connected by the Royal Mail App. The barcodes match the stamp colour and sit alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line.

Definitive stamps are the regular ‘everyday’ stamps featuring the profile of HM The Queen created by the sculptor Arnold Machin. The design has changed very little since it was introduced in June 1967. The image has become one of the most iconic pieces of artwork in the world and has been reproduced in excess of 175 billion times.

Non-barcoded Definitive and Christmas stamps will remain valid until 31 January 2023. Customers are encouraged to use their non-barcoded stamps before this date. Alternatively, non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through Royal Mail’s ‘Swap Out’ scheme.

The ‘Swap Out’ scheme will open on 31 March 2022. Customers will be able send unused stamps via a Freepost address. Forms will be available via a variety of channels, including: local Customer Service Points; the Royal Mail website and via our Customer Experience team. Further details will be announced shortly.

Nick Landon, Royal Mail Chief Commercial Officer said: “Introducing unique barcodes on our postage stamps allows us to connect the physical letter with the digital world and opens up the possibilities for a range of new innovative services in future.”

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with Eight New Special Stamps

• The set of eight stamps use photographs of Her Majesty The Queen, marking the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952
• The stamp issue celebrates The Queen’s dedication to service during her reign. Each stamp shows a different facet of her work from Trooping the Colour to visits across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider world
• The Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees were also marked with special stamp issues
• This is the first time a Platinum Jubilee has been celebrated in the UK and will be both of national and international significance
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (4 February) here and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641

Royal Mail is celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with eight new stamps featuring a selection of images showing The Queen’s dedication to service during her 70-year reign.

Each stamp shows a different facet of her work, from Trooping the Colour to visits across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider world.

This is the first time a Platinum Jubilee has been celebrated in the UK and will be both of national and international significance.

Accession Day falls on 6 February. Celebrations are planned to take place throughout 2022, including a special extended Bank Holiday weekend, from 2 to 6 June. The weekend will feature celebratory activities throughout the UK and across the Commonwealth.

Simon Thompson, CEO, Royal Mail, said: “These stamps are a celebration of the second Elizabethan Age and a tribute to a remarkable lifetime of duty and public service. We are honoured to be releasing them to mark the occasion of the first Platinum Jubilee in the UK’s history, a momentous occasion.”

The stamps: [Click on each for a much larger version]

During a visit to the headquarters of MI5, London, February 2020

With His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh during a tour of the United States, Washington, October 1957

On a walkabout in Worcester, April 1980

During Trooping the Colour, London, June 1978

After touring the Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, May 2005

During the Silver Jubilee celebrations, Camberwell, June 1977

During a tour of the West Indies, in Victoria Park, St Vincent, February 1966

At the Order of the Garter ceremony in Windsor, June 1999

Two platinum “stamps” are being offered, one for the 1978 Trooping the Colour, the other with the 2020 MI5 visit. Each costs £150 (approximately US$203.46).

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail to Honour Rock Legends, The Rolling Stones, with a Set of 12 Special Stamps

Issue Date: 20 January

• Royal Mail reveals images of 12 stamps being issued as a tribute to one of the most enduring rock groups of all time – The Rolling Stones
• Eight of the stamps will feature images of some of their legendary performances over the years:
  • Hyde Park, London, UK, July 1969
  • East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, August 2019
  • Rotterdam, Netherlands, August 1995
  • Tokyo, Japan, March 1995
  • New York City, USA, July 1972
  • Oslo, Norway, May 2014
  • Knebworth, Hertfordshire, UK, August 1976
  • Düsseldorf, Germany, October 2017
• A further four stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, feature two shots of the band together and two of their vintage worldwide tour posters
• Royal Mail collaborated closely with the band members and their management team on the stamp issue
• The Rolling Stones become only the fourth music group to feature in a dedicated stamp issue – following on from The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016 and Queen in 2020
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available for pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/rollingstones and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641
• The stamps go on general sale from 20 January 2022

Royal Mail has revealed 12 new special stamps to honour 60 years of the legendary rock group, The Rolling Stones. The main set of eight stamps features images of the band performing at venues all around the world at various points during their illustrious career:

• Hyde Park, London, UK, July 1969
• East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, August 2019
• Rotterdam, Netherlands, August 1995
• Tokyo, Japan, March 1995
• New York City, USA, July 1972
• Oslo, Norway, May 2014
• Knebworth, Hertfordshire, UK, August 1976
• Düsseldorf, Germany, October 2017

An additional four stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet, feature two shots of the band together and of two of the many posters which have promoted their worldwide tours over the years.

Since the late 1960s, people have called The Rolling Stones “The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World”. The phrase began as a hyped-up onstage introduction but stuck, despite the Stones’ occasional protestations to the contrary.

In 2005, the Rolling Stones were awarded the accolade of greatest touring band of all time at the World Music Awards. They have sold an estimated 250m records and in the UK have eight no.1 singles and 13 no.1 albums. Their countless awards include four Grammys, three MTV Music Awards and nine NME Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Since they began as a group, their singles and albums have produced a string of evergreen rock classics, powered by some of the greatest guitar riffs ever written.

Celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2022, the Rolling Stones become only the fourth music group to have a dedicated Royal Mail stamp issue – following on from The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016 and Queen in 2020.

The gradual shift from young upstarts to elder statesmen of rock has done nothing to dent The Rolling Stones’ image as the definition of a certain kind of cool – and of rock and roll itself.

David Gold, Director of Public Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Few bands in the history of rock have managed to carve out a career as rich and expansive as that of the Rolling Stones. They have created some of modern music’s most iconic and inspirational albums, with ground-breaking live performances to match.”

The collaboration was brought together and facilitated by Bravado, Universal Music Group’s leading brand management and lifestyle division.

The stamps are available to now at www.royalmail.com/rollingstones and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641.

The stamps go on general sale on 20 January.

Additional information from other sources:

According to the Reuters news service, “the Stones’ oeuvre, rooted in American blues and rhythm and blues, has yielded hits like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “Sympathy for the Devil” from their peak 1960s and 70s era but also curios like the reggae-infused track “Send It To Me”, apparently about a lonely man looking for a mail-order bride.”

The site AllMusic says “the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, heavier-driven sound that came to define hard rock.”

The original personnel were Mick Jagger (vocals), Brian Jones (multiple instruments), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass), and Charlie Watts (drums). Only Jagger and Richards are still with the band. Jones died in 1969, Wyman left as a regular in 1993, and Watts died in 2021.

[press release]
Royal Mail Announces Young Artist Finalists In Heroes’ Stamp Competition
Secures Guinness World Records® Title For Largest Postage Stamp Design Competition
Competition for UK children to design stamps marking the amazing work of key workers and others during the pandemic received 606,049 entries

• Royal Mail has announced details of the 120 regional finalists in its Heroes of the Pandemic stamp design competition
• 

  from North East

  Each of the 120 regional finalists will receive £100 in gift vouchers and £100 for their school

• Entries were submitted from 7,479 schools, helping Royal Mail to secure the Guinness World Records title for Largest postage stamp design competition
• The competition was open to UK children aged 4-14 to design a stamp to celebrate their ‘heroes of the pandemic’
• Eight designs will be chosen as part of a special set of stamps
• The designs highlight the amazing work played by key workers and others in keeping the UK connected during these unprecedented times
• Only five times in Royal Mail’s 500-year history have designs created by children been used on stamps; 1966; 1981; 1992; 2013; and 2017
• The winners will follow in the footsteps of highly acclaimed children’s illustrators who have designed stamps in the past, such as: Quentin Blake; Nick Park; and Axel Scheffler
• Full details can be found at www.royalmail.com/stampcompetition

Royal Mail has announced 120 regional finalists in its stamps design competition to celebrate the heroes of the pandemic.

from London

The 120 regional finalists will each receive £100 in gift vouchers and £100 for their school and will go forward to the next stage of the competition with a chance that their design will appear on a stamp next year.

All 120 images can be viewed or downloaded by region:

• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• Wales
• England: East Midlands
• East of England
• London
• North East
• North West
• South East
• South West
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire & Humber

from North East

The announcement comes as Royal Mail secured a Guinness World Records® title of Largest postage stamp design competition, which received an incredible 606,049 entries. An astonishing 7,479 schools submitted entries.

The previous highest number of entries received for a stamp design competition was 239,374, achieved for Royal Mail’s Christmas Stamp Design Competition held in 2013.

Royal Mail’s Heroes of the Pandemic stamp competition is now officially:

from Wales

The largest postage stamp design competition consisted of 606,049 completed submissions and was achieved by Royal Mail Group Limited and iChild Limited (both UK), London, UK, on 1 July 2021.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “It is of great credit to the children of this country that in world record breaking numbers they picked up their paintbrushes, pens and paints and paid artistic tribute to the heroes of our coronavirus response.

“Their brilliant efforts represent the collective gratitude of the nation to everyone who went above and beyond during the pandemic.

“Congratulations to all those who have made it to the next round and thank you to everyone who has taken part and to the teams at Royal Mail for managing this record number of entries.”

from Scotland

Simon Thompson, Royal Mail CEO, said: “We would like to thank all of the 606,049 children who submitted such brilliant designs to the competition. We have been amazed and impressed by the sheer volume of entries. And to have achieved a Guinness World Records title in the process shows how much the UK’s children value those heroes who have kept the nation moving during such a difficult period. To the 120 regional finalists – Well Done! We are really looking forward to seeing the winning eight designs!”

To arrive at the 120 regional finalists, a network of judges, consisting of current and retired art teachers, evaluated each of the 606,049 entries. Over a three-month period, the best entries from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England were chosen from each age group.

From the 120 regional finalists, a special panel of judges will now determine the winning 24 regional designs in November.

from Northern Ireland

From these 24 entries, eight winning images will be chosen as official Royal Mail stamps. They will then appear on millions of items of mail across the UK when they are issued in the Spring of 2022.

The competition was open to UK schoolchildren to mark the important role played by key and frontline workers, as well as others, during the pandemic. Children, aged 4 to 14, were given the chance to design an official Royal Mail stamp as part of a special set of eight. Children were asked to think about who their hero or heroes were, and to design a stamp in their honour.

The designs received celebrate a wide range of heroes, including: NHS workers; mums; dads; carers; refuse collectors; cleaning staff; teachers; su

from East of England

permarket workers; public transport staff; delivery drivers and, indeed, postmen and postwomen. Also depicted on

the designs were many volunteers who have helped in their local communities or raised money for charity, such as Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Full details can be found at www.royalmail.com/stampcompetition

from East Midlands

As with all Special Stamps issued by Royal Mail, the final eight stamps will be sent to Her Majesty The Queen before they can be printed and issued.

Only five times in the company’s 500-year history have children designed official Royal Mail stamps: 1966; 1981; 1992; 2013; and 2017.

The winners will follow in the footsteps of highly acclaimed children’s illustrators who have designed stamps in the past, such as: Quentin Blake; Nick Park; and Axel Scheffler.