Victoria-Era Stamps (UK 2025)

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Revives Classic Stamps of the Victorian Era — with a Unique Additional Feature

  • Issue date: 27 November. This is the final issue of 2025.
  • The set brings together eight classic stamps issued during the reign of Queen Victoria
  • For the first time in the modern stamp programme, this set includes a unique feature: a watermark image printed on the reverse of each stamp, echoing the original security design from when they were first issued
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available from today (20 November) at www.royalmail.com/queenvictoria and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has unveiled a set of stamps that pay tribute to some of the most iconic designs in British postal history.

From the groundbreaking Penny Black of 1840, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, to later classics such as the Penny Red, Penny Lilac, and the elegant 4d ‘Jubilee’ of 1887, the collection charts the evolution of British philately during Queen Victoria’s reign, which transformed communication forever. Each stamp features her unmistakable profile, a constant presence throughout more than six decades on the throne.
The main set includes eight 1st Class stamps:

  • Penny Black (1840)
  • Twopenny Blue (1841), 6d embossed (1854) and 4d first letterpress (1855)
  • 1s small letters (1862) and Penny Red (1864)
  • Penny Lilac (1881) and 4d ‘Jubilee’ (1887)

Together, these stamps tell the story of a period defined by progress, invention and a monarch whose image became synonymous with the very act of sending a letter.

For the first time in the modern stamp programme, this set includes a unique feature: a watermark image printed on the reverse of each stamp, echoing the original anti-forgery design from when they were first issued. Each watermark corresponds to the era in which the original Victorian stamp was issued.

Accompanying the main set is a miniature sheet containing four stamps inspired by Queen Victoria’s personal passion for photography. Featuring four evocative portraits of the monarch, they offer an intimate glimpse of the life and image of a queen whose likeness became emblematic of an empire.

The photographs shown in each of these stamps show Queen Victoria at different stages of her reign — from a young queen in the 1850s to the dignified matriarch of empire in her later years. Alongside the stamps sits a striking portrait of Victoria, framed in a decorative border that reflects the artistry of the age.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Each of these stamps is a miniature masterpiece. Taken together, they tell the story of a communication revolution. By revisiting these iconic designs, we honour the enduring legacy of Queen Victoria, the origins of the modern postal service, and the timeless elegance of British stamps.”

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/queenvictoria and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 12 stamps is priced at £21.30. The stamps go on general sale from 27 November.


In addition to the usual philatelic products, this issue includes a prestige booklet, three different coin covers (the gold one, shown here, is £4,160, or US$5,461), and a press sheet.
The watermarks:

Graphic Novelists (Canada 2025)

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Latest stamp series showcases six more Canadian graphic novelists
The second in a two-part stamp issue features original works from some of the medium’s most celebrated artists

Issue date: 20 November

MONTRÉAL – Canada Post is excited to unveil the second stamp issue in its two-part series celebrating Canada’s best-loved graphic novelists. The set of six stamps highlights the works and cultural contributions of Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley, and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, whose artistry embodies the creativity and originality of the graphic novel medium.

Graphic novels – which can include anthologies, memoirs, and other works – creatively interweave words and art. This narrative art form has rapidly grown in popularity since finding a mainstream audience over the last half-century. The six graphic novelists recognized in these stamps have all earned global acclaim for their works and continue a long line of Canadian artists and storytellers honoured by Canada Post.

The stamp issue features six influential Canadian artists:

  • Kate Beaton is the creator of the autobiographical Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, which depicts her experience of working in the Northern Alberta oil sands and in 2023 became the first graphic novel to win CBC’s prestigious Canada Reads competition.
  • Jimmy Beaulieu is a prominent figure in the francophone comic book community and with a number of titles to his name, including 2013’s Non-aventures : planches à la première personne, a collection of anecdotes and reflections of the ordinary “non adventures” of his everyday life in Montréal.
  • Guy Delisle uses a simplistic drawing style and sparse, candid storytelling to chronicle his extensive travels in places like North Korea, Burma, as well as parts of Palestine, the West Bank, and Israel, which became the basis of the award-winning Chroniques de Jérusalem.
  • Julie Doucet is included in the Joe Shuster Awards’ Canadian Comic Book Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the Grand Prix for lifetime achievement at the Angoulême International Comics Festival – the most prestigious award in the comics industry. Her autobiographical works include Journal (365 Days).
  • Bryan Lee O’Malley is the writer and illustrator behind the popular Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series, which found a cult audience and spawned a popular major motion picture, video game, and animated series.
  • Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is a multimedia visual artist who created his own illustrative style by blending Asian brush techniques with North Pacific Indigenous iconography, which can be seen in his 2009 graphic novel, Red: A Haida Manga.

About the stamp issue
The stamp issue features a collaborative design approach: Each graphic novelist worked with Canada Post and Subplot Design Inc. to create original drawings, exclusively for this stamp issue, featuring the main characters from one of their most celebrated works depicted reading the novels in which they appear. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of 12 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps (two for each graphic novelist) and six Official First Day Covers – one for each novelist. [see below]

The stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Un jeu de timbres présente six artistes de romans graphiques du Canada
Cette nouvelle émission de timbres, la deuxième d’une série en deux volets, présente des œuvres originales de six bédéistes parmi les plus célèbres.

MONTRÉAL – Postes Canada est ravie de dévoiler la deuxième émission de timbres de sa série en deux parties qui rend hommage à des artistes de romans graphiques parmi les plus populaires au Canada. Le jeu de six timbres met en valeur l’œuvre et la contribution culturelle de Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu, Guy Delisle, Julie Doucet, Bryan Lee O’Malley et Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, dont l’art incarne la créativité et l’originalité du roman graphique.

Les romans graphiques, qui peuvent comprendre des anthologies, des mémoires et d’autres œuvres, intègrent de façon créative l’art et les mots. En réussissant à toucher le grand public, cette forme d’art narratif a rapidement gagné en popularité au cours des 50 dernières années. Mondialement célèbres pour leurs réalisations, les six artistes de romans graphiques qui figurent sur ces timbres s’ajoutent à la longue lignée d’artistes et de conteuses et conteurs du pays à qui Postes Canada rend hommage.

L’émission de timbres met en vedette six artistes d’influence :

  • Kate Beaton est la créatrice de l’ouvrage autobiographique Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (Environnement toxique), qui illustre son expérience de travail dans la région des sables bitumineux du nord de l’Alberta et qui, en 2023, est devenu le premier roman graphique à remporter le prestigieux concours Canada Reads de CBC.
  • Jimmy Beaulieu est une personnalité importante du milieu francophone de la bande dessinée. Il est l’auteur de plusieurs œuvres, dont Non-aventures : planches à la première personne (2013), un recueil d’anecdotes et de réflexions sur son train-train quotidien à Montréal.
  • Guy Delisle raconte, avec des traits simples et une plume franche et minimaliste, ses longs voyages dans des endroits comme la Corée du Nord et la Birmanie, ainsi que dans certaines régions de la Palestine, de la Cisjordanie et d’Israël, ayant inspiré l’œuvre primée Chroniques de Jérusalem.
  • Julie Doucet est intronisée au Temple de la renommée de la bande dessinée canadienne lors des prix Joe-Shuster et a reçu le Grand Prix pour l’ensemble de sa carrière au Festival international de la bande dessinée d’Angoulême, la plus prestigieuse récompense du monde de la bande dessinée. Ses œuvres autobiographiques comprennent Journal.
  • Bryan Lee O’Malley est l’auteur et l’illustrateur de la populaire série de romans graphiques Scott Pilgrim, qui a connu un succès culte et qui a été adaptée au cinéma, en jeu vidéo et en série de dessins animés.
  • Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas est un artiste visuel multimédia qui a créé son propre style d’illustration en combinant techniques de pinceaux asiatiques et iconographie autochtone du nord-est du Pacifique. Il utilise ce style unique dans son roman graphique de 2009, Red: A Haida Manga (Red : un manga haïda, 2020).

À propos de l’émission de timbres
Les timbres ont été créés grâce à une collaboration entre les artistes de romans graphiques, Postes Canada et Subplot Design Inc. Les dessins originaux, créés exclusivement pour cette émission de timbres, montrent le personnage principal de l’une des œuvres les plus célèbres de chaque bédéiste en train de lire le roman dont il est la vedette. Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de 12 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur (deux pour chaque artiste) et six plis Premier Jour officiels, un pour chaque artiste.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

US “Shipping Services” Rates Going Up In January

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Competitive Prices for 2026

  • Postal Service continues to offer great values for shipping and reliable service to the American people.
  • Pricing actions are part of a balanced approach under the Postal Service’s 10-year transformation plan for achieving financial sustainability and service excellence.
  • As previously announced, the Postal Service will not raise prices in January for Mailing Services; the price of a First-Class Mail stamp will remain unchanged.

WASHINGTON — The Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for Shipping Services price changes to take effect Jan. 18, 2026. The proposed adjustments were approved by the governors of USPS this week.

The change would raise prices approximately 6.6 percent for Priority Mail service, 5.1 percent for Priority Mail Express service, 7.8 percent for USPS Ground Advantage and 6.0 percent for Parcel Select.

Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the consumer price index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the organization with needed revenue. As the Postal Service previously announced, the organization will not raise prices in January for Mailing Services. This means the price of a First-Class Mail stamp will not change.

As part of the Postal Service’s network modernization and transformation plan, these proposed changes will support creation of a revitalized organization capable of achieving its public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended.

The PRC will review the changes before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filing, with prices for all products, can be found on the PRC website under the Daily Listings section at prc.arkcase.com/portal/filings. The Shipping Services filing is Docket No. CP2026-2. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.


This table was compiled by The Virtual Stamp Club:

Flat-RateProduct
Priority Mail Express
Priority Mail
Current Prices1
$33.40
$10.40
New Prices2
$33.40
$11.90

1 Prices with the holiday surcharges that are in effect until January 18.
2 The Postal Regulatory Commission does not rule on “shipping service” rates. These are a “done deal.”

Diwali (Canada 2025)

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post unveils stamp featuring traditional Rangoli pattern to celebrate Diwali
This is one of several annual stamp issues that mark events of importance to Canada’s culturally diverse population.

SCARBOROUGH, ON, Oct. 15, 2025 /CNW/ – In recognition of the country’s cultural diversity, Canada Post is proud to issue a stamp marking Diwali, a major festival observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and other communities in Canada and around the world.

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a multiple-day festival that highlights the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It usually falls in October or November, coinciding with the arrival of the new moon.

While communities observe Diwali on different days and in different ways, the festivities often include fireworks, gift exchanges between family and friends, and the giving of food to those in need.

During these days of celebration, small clay oil lamps called diyas are often lit in rows in homes and temples or set adrift on rivers. Bright garlands, known as toranas, are often draped across the entrances and facades of homes and temples. Intricate floor patterns called Rangoli are works of art meant to be swept or washed away. Often made with grain, flower petals, coloured sand or rice, they adorn living rooms, courtyards and entranceways during Diwali.

Welcoming Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity
All these auspicious decorations are intended to welcome guests and invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, to bestow good fortune on those who enter.

Canada Post has issued Diwali stamps since 2017. The 2025 issue, designed by Ritu Kanal of Underline Studio, features an image of a Rangoli pattern, and includes the word “Diwali” in Hindi and English.

Cancelled in Scarborough, Ontario, home to a large community of Indian Canadians, the stamp was printed by Lowe-Martin and is available as a booklet of six and an Official First Day Cover [above].

Graphic Novelists (Canada 2025)

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post to Celebrate Graphic Novelists with the Second in a Two-Part Series

MONTRÉAL – Canada Post invites you to the unveiling of the second in a two-part series of stamps featuring the works of talented and influential Canadian graphic novelists Kate Beaton (Mabou, N.S.), Jimmy Beaulieu (Île-d’Orléans, Que.), Guy Delisle (Québec), Julie Doucet (Montréal), Bryan Lee O’Malley (London, Ont.) and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Prince Rupert, B.C.).

As part of the celebration, event emcee and director of Québec BD Thomas-Louis Côté will facilitate a panel discussion with Jimmy Beaulieu, Kate Beaton and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas.

What: Graphic novelists stamp unveiling event

Who: Graphic novelists Kate Beaton, Jimmy Beaulieu and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas; Simon Brault, member of Canada Post’s Stamp Advisory Committee; Olivier Gougeon, General Manager, Salon du livre de Montréal; Thomas-Louis Côté, Director of Québec BD

When: Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm; the stamps are expected to be unveiled before 4 pm

Where: Salon du livre de Montréal, Palais des congrès (5th floor, Room 510AB), 1001 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal (H2Y 0A3)

The information on last year’s Graphic Novelists stamps is here.

Chrismtas (Canada 2025)

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Stamps Celebrate the Upcoming Winter Holiday Season
A timeless Christmas stamp and a classic storybook issue bring the spirit of the holidays to life

FOX CREEK, Alta., and HOPE, B.C. – Canada Post released two new stamp issues November 6 to mark the winter holiday season.

New holiday stamps tell a nostalgic winter tale of friendship, while the newest Christmas stamp features a whimsical illustration of the Nativity scene.

The stamps are part of an annual tradition from Canada Post, which has released new stamps celebrating Christmas and the holidays every year since 1964. These popular stamps are issued in advance of the holiday season so that they can be used on Christmas and holiday mail.

Set beneath the bright shining star of Bethlehem with the Magi approaching in the distance, this year’s Christmas stamp depicts a simple and nostalgic take on the Nativity scene. The subtle use of colour and shading brings the characters to the forefront, including Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus and the angel announcing Jesus’s birth.

The Christmas stamp was illustrated by Bex Morley and printed by Colour Innovations. The issue includes a booklet of 12 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover. The stamp was cancelled in Hope, British Columbia, in reference to the message of hope found in the Nativity story.

The new holiday stamp issue celebrates the holiday spirit through the storybook tale of a sly fox, a playful rabbit and two productive squirrels busily decorating their forest home for the festive season.

Designed by Kristine Do and illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey, the issue includes a booklet of 12 Permanent domestic rate stamps, a sheetlet of 6 U.S. rate stamps, a sheetlet of 6 international rate stamps, a souvenir sheet of three stamps and a souvenir sheet Official First Day Cover. The cancel location of Fox Creek, Alberta, was chosen to acknowledge the fox in this year’s stamp story.

As one of Canada’s storytellers, Canada Post is proud to showcase meaningful topics for Canadians, like the community spirit of Christmas and the holidays, through its national stamp program.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
De nouveaux timbres célèbrent l’arrivée prochaine des fêtes de fin d’année
Un timbre de Noël intemporel et un conte classique donnent vie à l’esprit des Fêtes.

FOX CREEK (Alberta) et HOPE (Colombie-Britannique) – Postes Canada a lancé deux émissions de timbres pour marquer l’arrivée prochaine des Fêtes.

Les nouveaux timbres des Fêtes illustrent un conte hivernal nostalgique sur l’amitié et le plus récent timbre de Noël représente une scène chaleureuse de la Nativité.

Les timbres font partie d’une tradition de Postes Canada qui émet de nouveaux timbres chaque année depuis 1964 pour célébrer Noël et les Fêtes. Ces timbres populaires sont émis suffisamment en avance pour être utilisés sur le courrier envoyé pour la période des Fêtes et Noël.

Cette année, le timbre de Noël illustre une scène de la Nativité empreinte de simplicité et de nostalgie, illuminée par l’étoile de Bethléem et montrant au loin les Mages qui s’approchent. L’utilisation subtile de couleurs et d’ombres fait ressortir les personnages, y compris Marie et Joseph avec l’Enfant Jésus et l’ange annonçant sa naissance.

La vignette de Noël est illustrée par Bex Morley et imprimée par Colour Innovations. L’émission comprend un carnet de 12 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel. Le timbre a été oblitéré à Hope en Colombie-Britannique en référence au message d’espoir qu’inspire l’histoire de la Nativité.

La nouvelle émission de timbres des Fêtes illustre l’esprit de la saison à travers un conte mettant en scène un renard rusé, une lapine enjouée et deux écureuils travaillants qui décorent leur forêt avec entrain pour les Fêtes.

Conçue par Kristine Do et illustrée par Alexandra Finkeldey, cette émission comprend un carnet de 12 timbres Permanents au tarif du régime intérieur, un feuillet de 6 timbres au tarif des envois à destination des États-Unis, un feuillet de 6 timbres au tarif du régime international, un bloc-feuillet de 3 timbres et un pli Premier Jour officiel du bloc-feuillet. Fox Creek, en Alberta, a été choisie comme lieu d’oblitération pour faire référence au renard (foxen anglais).

Postes Canada raconte l’histoire du pays et est fière de présenter dans le cadre de son programme des timbres-poste des sujets importants pour la population canadienne, comme l’esprit communautaire qu’inspirent Noël et le temps des Fêtes.

Hanukkah (Canada 2025)

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post Unveils Hanukkah Stamp Celebrating Jewish Heritage And Resilience
Design features historic Montréal hanukkiyah, honouring the Festival of Lights

Issue date: 13 November

OTTAWA – Canada Post is marking Hanukkah this year with a new stamp that honours Jewish heritage, resilience and the enduring symbolism of the Festival of Lights.

The new stamp features a brass hanukkiyah adorned with decorative lions alongside elements related to the story of Hanukkah. Crafted in Western Europe in the early 1900s, the artifact is now part of the Aron Museum’s collection at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montréal, which houses more than two dozen Hanukkah menorahs.

Celebrated over eight days and nights, Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of the oil during the reconsecration of Judaism’s holiest site, the Temple in Jerusalem, in 165 BCE. According to Jewish tradition, the Temple’s menorah burned for eight days despite there being only enough oil for one.

This year, Jewish people around the world will celebrate Hanukkah from sundown on December 14 to sundown on December 22. Central to the celebration is the lighting of a hanukkiyah, a candelabrum with eight candles or oil holders and a central candle, called a shamash, to light the others.

A symbol of the Jewish people
Lions figure prominently in the design of the brass hanukkiyah featured on this year’s Hanukkah stamp. Long seen as symbols of strength and courage in many cultures, lions also represent the Tribe of Judah and, by extension, the Jewish people. The central lion figures on the hanukkiyah echo the throne of King Solomon, which was said to be flanked by lion statues.

Other design elements reflect the Hanukkah story. The crown symbolizes the Torah and the return of Jewish kingship after Jewish fighters reclaimed Jerusalem from foreign rule. The menorah below the crown recalls the menorah that burned continuously in the Temple. The Star of David holds the shamash.

The hanukkiyah was donated to the Aron Museum at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montréal in 1960.

Canada Post is proud to showcase this historic hanukkiyah, celebrating the faith and cultural legacy at the heart of Hanukkah. This stamp is part of a series of annual issues commemorating holidays cherished by Canadians of diverse faiths, including Christmas, Diwali and Eid.

About the stamp
The stamp was photographed by Matthew Liteplo, designed by Subplot Design Inc., and printed by Lowe-Martin. The issue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in Montréal.

Available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada dévoile un timbre célébrant le patrimoine et la résilience du peuple juif
Le motif célébrant la fête des Lumières présente une hanoukkia historique de Montréal

OTTAWA – Cette année, Postes Canada souligne Hanoukka avec un nouveau timbre qui rend hommage au patrimoine et à la résilience du peuple juif, ainsi qu’au symbolisme intemporel de la fête des Lumières.

Le nouveau timbre illustre une hanoukkia en laiton ornée de lions et d’éléments liés à l’histoire de cette fête juive. Fabriqué en Europe de l’Ouest au début des années 1900, l’artéfact fait maintenant partie de la collection du musée Aron du Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom à Montréal, qui abrite plus d’une vingtaine de ménorahs.

Célébrée pendant huit jours et nuits, Hanoukka commémore le miracle de l’huile lors de la réinauguration du Temple de Jérusalem, lieu le plus sacré du judaïsme, en 165 av. J.-C. Selon la tradition juive, la ménorah du Temple a brûlé pendant huit jours, même s’il ne restait de l’huile que pour un seul jour.

Cette année, le peuple juif, partout dans le monde, célébrera Hanoukka du 14 décembre à la tombée de la nuit jusqu’au 22 décembre à la tombée de la nuit. Au cœur des célébrations, on allume une hanoukkia, un chandelier de huit chandelles ou contenants d’huile en rangée et un chamach, ou « serviteur », utilisé pour allumer les huit autres chandelles.

Un symbole du peuple juif
Les lions occupent une place importante dans la conception de la hanoukkia en laiton qui figure sur le timbre de cette année consacré à Hanoukka. Depuis longtemps considérés comme un emblème de force et de courage dans de nombreuses cultures, les lions représentent également la tribu de Juda et, par extension, le peuple juif. Les figures centrales sur la hanoukkia rappellent le trône du roi Salomon, qui aurait été flanqué de statues de lions.

D’autres éléments de conception évoquent l’histoire de Hanoukka. La couronne symbolise la Torah et le retour de la royauté juive après que les combattants juifs ont libéré Jérusalem du joug étranger. La ménorah sous la couronne rappelle celle qui a brûlé sans interruption dans le Temple. Une étoile de David accueille le chamach.

La hanoukkia illustrée sur le timbre a été donnée en 1960 au musée Aron du Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom à Montréal.

Postes Canada est fière de présenter cette hanoukkia historique, qui célèbre la foi et l’héritage culturel au cœur de Hanoukka. Ce timbre fait partie de notre série d’émissions annuelles consacrées aux fêtes préférées des Canadiennes et Canadiens de diverses confessions, y compris Noël, Diwali et l’Aïd.

À propos du timbre
La photo ornant le timbre a été prise par Matthew Liteplo, la conception est signée Subplot Design Inc. et l’impression a été effectuée par Lowe-Martin. L’émission comprend un carnet de six timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à Montréal.

Le timbre est en vente sur le site postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

December Stamps (Netherlands 2025)

[from press materials] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
December Stamps 2025
(Decemberzegels 2025)

Issue date: 10 November 2025
Appearance: Sheet of 20 stamps in 10 different designs, with special December rate for destinations within the Netherlands
Item number: 451061
Design and illustrations: Sander de Bruijn, Efteling, Kaatsheuvel

Each year, PostNL issues new December stamps allowing consumers and businesses to send Christmas and New Year cards at a reduced rate. The special December rate of €1.21 [about US$1.41] per stamp is valid through 3 January 2026. A sheet of 20 December stamps costs € 24.20. When purchasing two sheets of December stamps in-store, each customer receives a unique fairy tale book as a gift, featuring the ten fairy tales illustrated on the stamp sheet. The illustrations were created by designer Sander de Bruijn from Efteling, who also designed the accompanying book.

Efteling began in 1952 as a modest fairy tale park in Kaatsheuvel, North Brabant, featuring ten fairy tales designed by Anton Pieck. In its first year, the park welcomed 222,000 visitors. Today, Efteling is an international theme park with more than 62 attractions, including eight rollercoasters and four dark rides. The Fairy Tale Forest remains the green heart of the park, now featuring 31 fairy tales. Each year, the park attracts over five million visitors. In 2024, the iconic Haunted Castle was replaced by the dynamic dark ride Danse Macabre. In 2025, the Efteling Grand Hotel and the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea opened their doors, while the existing Efteling Hotel was transformed into the Efteling Wonder Hotel.

Each of the 10 stamps 2025 features a scene from a well-known fairy tale, illustrated in muted tones based on the typical red, yellow, and green-blue colours used by Anton Pieck for Efteling. The stamps depict fairy tales shown in Efteling, plus a newly created tale, Journey of the Well-Wish. The other nine fairy tales are Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Frog King, Tom Thumb, The Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats, and The Six Servants. The stamps have unique free-form shapes inspired by heraldry, such as oval shields, rounded-top shields, and flatiron-shaped shields. Each illustration is designed as a medieval miniature with a gold-coloured frame. The festive December atmosphere is enhanced with snowflakes, holly branches, Christmas trees, and envelopes containing December cards. The reverse side of the stamp sheet includes mailing recommendations for December post, illustrated with a medieval miniature and an enlarged initial letter. At the bottom is a detail from the Journey of the Well-Wish stamp, showing a mouse and a squirrel reading the fairy tale book gifted with the purchase of two stamp sheets.

The December stamps 2025 were designed by Sander de Bruijn, Manager of Design & Experience at Efteling. He first visited Efteling at the age of four, an experience that deeply influenced his life and career. “As a child, you accept that magical world as a given,” he says. “But my father explained that the park was created based on designs by the legendary illustrator Anton Pieck. That’s when my love for drawing and illustration began.”

In his proposal to PostNL, De Bruijn introduced the concept of the stamp as a romantic journey, like in a fairy tale. “The stamp crowns the long journey between sender and recipient, with the act of sending as an expression of affection. The stamp itself had to be an adventure – a sheet that makes you feel like a child in a sweet shop. That’s how the unusual shapes came about, to evoke a sense of another world. A world full of wonders, fairy tales, and stories.”

The stamps will remain valid indefinitely, but will need additional postage after 3 January 2026. A sheet of 20 December stamps costs €24.20 [currently US$28.20].

Technical Data:
Stamp size: 29.63 x 25.20 mm, 22.73 x 32.91 mm, 22.60 x 34.22 mm, 22.76 x 36.02 mm, 23.85 x 31.49 mm, 21.65 x 39.90 mm, 22.49 x 31.10 mm, 22.95 x 34.17 mm, 22.49 x 31.10 mm, and 26.06 x 31.46 mm
Sheet size: 144 x 180 mm
Paper: standard with phosphor suppression (red)
Gumming: self-adhesive
Printing technique: offset
Colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and gold
Print run: 2,850,000 sheets
Format: Sheet of 20 stamps in 10 different designs
Design and illustrations: Sander de Bruijn, Efteling, Kaatsheuvel
Printer: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item number: 451061

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Collectors may also wish to contact the U.S. firm Bombay Stamps, which can also obtain first day covers upon request, with lower shipping fees. The email is sales@bombaystamps.com Again, The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Speculation: U.S. Issues at Boston 2026

by VSC editor Lloyd A. de Vries

Here’s what we know:

  • The show is May 23-30.
  • The winner of the “Encore” vote will be announced and issued, at the same time, during the show.
  • There will be 6 or 7 first-days during the show, and all but one will be se-tenant issues.
  • The illustration of the full pane for the American Bison stamp says “Boston 2026 World Stamp Show.”
  • There are rumors that Route 66 will be issued at the show.
  • We’ve heard that the USPS does not want to release a new issue on the last day of the show, because at the 2016 U.S. international in New York, the cancelers were struggling to finish up all the cancellation requests before the end of the show, and ended up taking some of the covers back to Kansas City to complete them.
  • Nothing says “stamp show souvenir” like a 25-stamp issue (Figures of the American Revolution).
  • When the USPS issues press releases listing a bunch of new issues, they are roughly in chronological order.

Therefore, I will predict these announced issues will be released during the show:

    • Encore
    • A Day at the Beach
    • Route 66
    • Figures of the American Revolution
    • Bald Eagles
    • American Bison
    • International Peace (even though that would be a second single-design issue)