[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:
