[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: