[Royal Mail press release]
Christmas 2014 Stamp Issue 4th November 2014

Reason and inspiration
Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps feature secular and religious imagery in alternate years. For the 2014 Christmas stamps, design company True North commissioned artist and illustrator Andrew Bannecker to create a series of outdoor Christmas scenes. These charming mini tableaux depict various British family traditions – from carol singing and ice skating to posting cards and buying trees. The stamps are available as part of a miniature sheet, with a gorgeous border also illustrated by Andrew Bannecker.

The Madonna and Child stamps at the 1st and 2nd class rate will also be available

Stamps
Code: AS52A
Price: £7.71

Value / Description
2nd Class – Collecting the Christmas Tree
1st Class – Posting Christmas Cards
2nd Class – Large – 73p Collecting the Christmas Tree
1st Class – Large – 93p Posting Christmas Cards
£1.28 – Airmail worldwide up to 20g Building a Snowman
£1.47 – Airmail to Europe up to 60g Carol Singing
£2.15 – Airmail worldwide up to 60g Ice Skating

Stamps specification
Number of stamps: Seven (2nd Class, 1st Class, 2nd Class Large, 1st Class Large, £1.28, £1.47, £2.15) – Total Value: £7.71
Date of issue: 4 November 2014
Design: True North
Illustrations: Andrew Bannecker
Acknowledgements: illustrations by Andrew Bannecker
Printer: De La Rue Security Print
Process: Gravure
Format Standard: Portrait
Format Large: Landscape
Size Standard:24x28mm
Size Large: 34x28mm
Perforations: 14.5 x15
Number per sheet: 50
Phosphor: bars as appropriate
Gum: self-adhesive

Miniature Sheet
Code: MZ102
Price: £7.71

Royal Mail now receives a stock of Miniature Sheets from its secure printers bearing a tear-off barcode strip at the side for staff at Post Offices to scan to make the transaction easier and quicker. These will be supplied to our customers who can then choose whether or not to remove the strip. Royal Mail will continue to receive a supply of Miniature Sheets without the barcode strip for assembling the First Day Covers and for inclusion in the Presentation Packs and annual products only.

Special Stamps First Day Cover:
Price: £9.73 (Inland), £8.11 (Overseas)
Code: AF387
(TH Postmark)

The First Day Cover Envelope, designed by True North, features a skating pond image created by Andrew Bannecker which complements his illustrations for the Christmas stamps. The filler card shows an extended Christmas scene in the same style.

The Tallents House handstamp carries a graphic representation of a Christmas tree, while the alternative handstamp, bearing the location of Bethlehem, Llandeilo, features a robin.
Mini Sheet First Day Cover:
Price: £9.73 (Inland), £8.11 (Overseas)
Code: MF103

First Day Envelope
Price: 30p
Special Stamps Envelope Code: AE345
Mini-Sheet Envelope Code: ME102

Presentation Pack
Price: £8.25
Code: AP395

Inside the presentation pack (number 504), designed by True North, illustrator Andrew Bannecker brings to life a festive British village scene. The Snowy Village Christmas Fair includes activities such as the lighting of the Christmas tree, carol singing, skating, Christmas jumper competition and tug o’ war involving a giant Christmas cracker. There is a cake sale and a letter-writing workshop, a carousel and a large Ferris wheel – and, of course, children can visit Santa is his grotto.

Retail Stamp Book
12x 1st Class: 12x 2nd Class:
Price: £7.44 Price: £6.36
Code: UB378 Code: UB379

There are 2 variations of retail stamp book for Christmas 2014. The 2nd class book includes 12 of the 2nd Class Special Stamps – Choosing the Christmas Tree. The 1st Class book includes 12 of the 1st Class Special Stamps – Posting Christmas Cards. The stamps have been printed in gravure by International Security Printers.

Stamp Cards (set of 8)
Price: £3.60
Code: AQ214
The 7 Special Stamps, and Miniature Sheet image are reproduced at postcard size in this collectable set of 8 stamp cards.

Generic Sheet
Price: £15.20
Code: AT081
This generic sheet, designed by True North, features all stamps from the Christmas 2014 issue except the £2.15 value, interspersing festive illustrations by Andrew Bannecker with interesting facts related to British Christmas traditions.

Personalised Smilers
Sheet of 20 – 1st Class
Sheet of 20 – 2nd Class
Sheet of 10 – 1st Class
Sheet of 10 – £1.47 (Europe up to 60g)
Sheet of 10 – £1.28 (Worldwide up to 20g)

These sheets of stamps, which can be customised with a personal photograph, are perfect for sending Christmas cards to loved ones. The sheets are available in 2nd class, 1st class, £1.28 and £1.47 values featuring the Christmas 2014 stamp issue designs. The sheet borders have been designed by True North and illustrated by Andrew Bannecker.

Postmarks
All first day of issue postmarking offices will be supplied with the alternative pictorial first day of issue postmark. This will mean that all first day covers posted at the Post Office will be cancelled with the same pictorial postmark regardless of where they are posted.