Rows of Roses - set of 10 and collector sheet - 26 February 2026

This appears to be just another thematic issue from Royal Mail, but it hides a commemoration which isn't mentioned on the stamps or the FDC filler (although it is in the Presentation Pack).  In a move to please many letter writers this set includes a strip of five each 2nd class and 1st class, and delighting collectors there is no miniature sheet - although there is another collector sheet which is at the same time attractive and bland!

From Royal Mail's write up* 

This set of special stamps celebrates the beauty and heritage of roses in the UK.  Roses are among the world’s most beloved flowers, admired for their colour and fragrance. Roses also hold a symbolic place in British history—the Tudor Rose remains an enduring emblem of England.  The UK is home to more than a dozen wild species, and cultivated varieties have flourished for over four millennia.

Featuring ten exquisite watercolour illustrations of different rose breeds, this collection honours both wild and garden roses in brand-new watercolour paintings created exclusively for Royal Mail by acclaimed botanical artist Marie Burke, creating a tribute to beauty, tradition, and horticultural artistry.  

This issue marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of David Austin OBE (1926–2018), the pioneering British breeder whose creations transformed modern rose cultivation.  (Yes that's the commemorative part!)

From the FDC insert, this provides a good historical and geographic background to the development of roses as garden favourites, with a small nod to David Austin at the end.

* Text edited to remove duplication and improve grammar.

The stamps

Set of ten stamps - five 1st class, five 2nd class - depicting rose flowers issued 26 February 2026

2nd class:  Dog Rose (Rosa canina), Queen Elizabeth, Just Joey, Paul's Himalayan Musk, Etoile de Hollande.

1st class:  Rosa Gallica Versicolor, Field Rose (Rosa arvensis), Charles de Mills, Peace, Constance Spry.

Technical Detail and acknowledgements 

The 37 x 35 mm stamps were designed by Charlie Smith Design using original artwork by Marie Burke and printed in litho by Cartor Security Printers on ordinary gummed paper. They are perforated 14½ x 14 in sheets of 50.

Rosa ‘Just Joey’ featured with kind permission of Roger and Joey Pawsey; Rosa ‘Étoile de Hollande’ featured with kind permission of Verschuren Rozen, Verschuren Rosegrowers Heritage Foundation, Koninklijke Kwekerijen HA Verschuren & Zonen and Jac Verschuren-Pechtold BV; Rosa ‘Peace’ featured with kind permission of the House of Meilland; Rosa ‘Constance Spry’ featured with kind permission of David Austin® 

(It is interesting that the permission of the breeders has apparently been required.  Back in 2004 for the Bicentenary of the Royal Horticultural Association I photographed a number of cultivars (no roses) from our garden to illustrate our first day covers.  It never occurred to me that I ought to ask permission from modern breeders to use my photographs of my flowers!)

Collector Sheet (£14)

Predictably as there is a collector sheet it is self-adhesive, although otherwise the size and print details are the same.  Alongside the stamps there are photographs of the same roses, which shows at least how accurate the artist has been, against a background of probably the same roses.   

But there is nothing else - just the caption at the top and the copyright notice at lower left - no explanation.  It's just something to put on the wall - and for this purpose Royal Mail will sell you a framed sheet (or the framed set) for £40.

As I wrote here many years ago about most of the (now abandoned) Business Customised Sheets, they are just posters which happen to have stamps in them.   I mean, just what is the point?

Set of ten self-adhesive stamps (five each 2nd class and 1st class) with attached photographic non-postal labels depicting rose flowers issued 26 February 2026

Products available from Royal Mail

Set of 10 stamps, first day cover, stamp cards, presentation pack, collector sheet.

Microprinting

I mentioned this earlier in the month but I don't intend to study the stamps specifically.  However a friend has pointed out to me that the number on these stamps is '2606', ie the sixth issue of the year - except that it isn't.  On the original plan sent to use it was due for issue a little later in the year, but the programme was altered before wider publication.  We can consequently expect more out of sequence numbers.

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The many trains arriving on 19 February at Platform 1 are from Hornby.

2017 Meccano stamp

This set is all about Hornby Model Railways, perhaps hitching up to last year's Railway 200 celebration of the bicentenary of real railways.  

Odd then, that the set marks the 125th anniversary of the company founded by Frank Hornby in 1901, "Hornby Hobbies", to sell his Meccano construction toy. According to Wikipedia until 1907 the company produced under the name of Mechanics made easy which is what Meccano was doing.

The first clockwork train was not produced until 1920.  but I suppose trains on stamps have more appeal than construction models?

UPDATE on issue day 19 February.   I've had three reports so far that post office branches have refused to sell what stamps they have until next week (27th).  This is wrong, the issue date is today: we were originally told 27th but this was changed on 19 December.  This was the RoyalMailStamps account on X today.  The comment from 'M' indicates that this is a failure to update the Horizon system to allow them to be sold. 

If only stamps were delivered to branches with enclosures like this!

Update: I understand that PO Branches were told this because the Horizon system wasn't updated in time.  Why they processed a date change for the set and not the MS & presentation packs who knows.

Update 20th:  I have been told that POL told RM that "it was impossible to change the date of sale once the original core data had been set up".  Apparently stamps are sold as stamps but the other products, including the pack, are fixed at 27th.  Fortunately enterprising post office staff have found a way to satisfy the customers.  I asked in Dereham today and nobody had asked for them.  Twenty years ago there were three dealers in the immediate area.  Two have since died and the other gets what stamps he needs from Edinburgh.
 

From Royal Mail 

The clockwork trains were followed by electric models and the iconic Hornby Dublo range in 1938. 

These innovations transformed model railways into a cherished pastime, inspiring creativity and technical skills across generations. 

Hornby’s story reflects Britain’s engineering heritage and evolving social trends—from childhood play to adult collecting and nostalgia. Despite wartime interruptions and industry challenges, Hornby adapted with new technologies, from realistic detailing to digital control systems, ensuring its continued relevance. Today, Hornby remains a leading name in model railways, celebrated for craftsmanship and authenticity. 

This stamp issue honours a brand that has entertained millions, preserved the romance of rail travel, and become a cultural icon of British design and imagination. 

The stamps 

Set of 8 x 1st class stamps honouring the Hornby brand name issued 19 February 2026.

The set consists if eight 1st Class stamps
GNR No.1 Locomotive (1920) – The original clockwork classic that started it all.
BR 4MT Tank Locomotive (1954) – A post-war favourite from the Hornby Dublo era.
InterCity 125 High Speed Train (1977) – A symbol of speed and innovation.
Bournemouth Belle Pullman Cars (2009) – Luxury in miniature detail.
Princess Elizabeth, LMS (1937) – A majestic pre- war express engine.
AL1 Electric Locomotive (1963) – Capturing the modernisation of British Railways.
Merchant Navy Class (2000) – Heralding Hornby’s new era of authenticity.
‘Hush-Hush’ Experimental Locomotive (2021) – A tribute to engineering ambition.

The Miniature Sheet consists of four 1st class stamps

Miniature Sheet of 4 x 1st class stamps honouring the Hornby brand name issued 19 February 2026.

Hornby Book of Trains – A tribute to the early catalogues that inspired generations of young enthusiasts.
Hornby Dublo Electric Trains – Showcasing the revolutionary 1930s range that brought realism to miniature railways.
Tri-ang Railways Era – Capturing the bold advertising and colourful packaging of the 1960s and 70s.
Modern Classics – Featuring InterCity branding and contemporary designs that reflect Hornby’s evolution 

Technical details and acknowledgements

The 41 x 30 mm gummed stamps were printed by Cartor Security Printers in litho in sheets of 60 in se-tenant pairs, perf 14½x14.  The 192 x 74 mm miniature sheet contains stamps 60 x 30 mm perf 14½.

2017 Hornby Dublo stamp

Designed by The Chase.  HORNBY®, Hornby Railways, Tri-ang Hornby, Tri-ang, Hornby Dublo and Minic are Registered Trade Marks of Hornby Hobbies Ltd, and are used under licence by Royal Mail Group Ltd; images © Hornby Hobbies Limited, except image of two boys on the Dublo stamp: detail from Hornby Dublo box label © M&N/Alamy Stock Photo.

Products available

Set of 8 stamps, miniature sheet, presentation pack, first day covers (2), press sheet of 10 miniature sheets, (Inter-City 125) medal cover, stamp set and miniature sheet in one frame.

So, with yet another branded stamp issue, will Hornby derail the hobby or just some collectors? 

 

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booster-t in the comments wanted to post a photo of his TT-gauge Triang - here it is!

TT-gauge Triang 35028 (Southern Region if my memory serves?)

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Lord of The Rings - again but different - 20 March 2026

The 2004 Royal Mail issue related to the Lord of the Rings marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of the first books in the series. Consequently they focussed on the books and showed the author'sdrawings illustrating locations in the books.  This set, incidentally, was one of many consisting of 10 x 1st class.

2004 set of 10 x 1st class Lord of the Rings stamps.

Now, it's 25 years since The Fellowshop of the Ring hit a screen near you bringing New Zealand director Peter Jackson to our notice - not his first film, but the series which has featured most on stamps, notably those of New Zealand. 

Selection of New Zealand Lord of the Rings stamps depicting Frodo, Gandalf, Aragon and Legolas.

New Zealand Post has issued several sets of LOTR stamps.  How will Royal Mail's stamps compare?  Time will tell, and they will be revealed around 11 March.

(Incidentally, in each of NZ Post's LOTR issues they had six gummed stamps, the same six stamps in individual miniature sheets, the same six stamps in a single self-adhesive miniature sheet, and a self-adhesive folded booklet containing four of the lowest value, two of one other, and one each of the rest. There are also official maximum cards which had a stamp stuck to the picture side and postmarked, and also printed in black & white on the address side; the cards are thus prepaid for posting to anywhere in the world.)

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Microprinting is back - and has been for some time.

Royal Mail has used microprinting in the past to 'hide' the year of issue in many of its special stamps - those printed in litho being more common than gravure.  But this stopped a few years ago.

But the Modern British Philatelic Circle has discovered that each litho- printed stamp in the 2025 Queen Victoria set has had a hidden micro-printed ‘2516’ (16th issue of 2025) added within the stamp.  I wasn't aware of this as I don't read all the MBPC very often, but here is a 2400 dpi scan of one of the Stranger Things miniature sheet stamps (2601).  

2601 microprint on Stranger Things miniature sheet

Gibbons Stamp Monthly later announced similar date codes have appeared since the Valour and Victory set.  

I understand this is always printed in black so some will be easier to see than others. I have found the printing on all the Concorde MS stamps, and some of the sheet stamps.  (Also six of the Hornby stamps and all of the roses; the latter have a white background making the task much easier.)

See if you can find them on the stamps already issued (starting with the Valour and Victory issue).

 

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Slogan Postmarks for February 2026 - and other postal markings

February should start (as January ended) with the default British Heart Foundation slogan, but I have reliable information that it will change very soon to the BHF Revivr slogan similar to last year's. This will likely be interrupted by National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) which this year runs from 9-15 February, so we can expect the slogan to approximately follow those dates.  But will we get anything for St Valentine's Day?

While I have nothing yet to show you, this at least puts readers on alert for a new slogan this week, another one next week, and then a reversion to this week's the week after that.  Hopefully Sheffield Mail Centre will fall into line.

UPDATE 6 February.  By chance the first example of the Revivr slogan is from Sheffield!  Thanks LT for this one dated 03/02/2026.

British Heart Foundation RevivR slogan Sheffield Mail Centre 03/02/20226

UPDATE:

The slogan actually started on 2nd February and ran until 6th, but will return. Thanks to JE for this example from Bristol.

British Heart Foundation RevivR slogan Bristol Mail Centre 02/02/20226

And here, thanks to RW is the alternative layout from Norwich, although unfortunately not clear.

British Heart Foundation RevivR slogan Norwich Mail Centre 03-02-20226 (digitally adjusted)

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UPDATE 11 February 2026 - National Apprenticeship Week returns with a slightly different slogan.

Royal Mail supports
National
Apprenticeship Week
9 - 15 February
careers.royalmailgroup.com

In previous years the last line has had the URL of nationalapprenticshipweek.co.uk, but as you can see this year Royal Mail are promoting their own apprenticeship efforts.  JE provided this example from Bristol for 9th February (the campaign started on 7th).

National Apprenticeship Week slogan Bristol Mail Centre 09/02/2026

UPDATE 16 February.   Thanks to RS for the other layout of this slogan from Warrington Mail Centre 10th February.

National Apprenticeship Week slogan Warrington Mail Centre 10-02-2026

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UPDATE 20 February.  Revivr has been reintroduced.  Thanks to JF for this very clear example of the reverse layout on a square envelope from South East Anglia used on 13 February. 

British Heart Foundation RevivR slogan South East Anglia Mail Centre 13/02/20226

 

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Other postmarks and postal markings, etc

1. The first example this month repeats the Apprenticeship week slogan from above.  JE sent a stack of four examples all posted by the same person in a weekly batch.  

The large number at the foot of the postmark shows the first two are consecutive with the added novelty of each using a different monarch's stamp.

"Then ... and entering proper nerd territory :-) ... the number changes from 1144202784 at 20:37:02 to 1144202840 at 20:37:09. They all come from the same person in one batch (they post out once a week), so assume all cancelled on the same machine which therefore seems to process around 8 letters per second, give or take. "  

That equates to 28,800 per hour, or approximately the 30,000 that Royal Mail laud as the capability of these machines. It's not often we get the opportunity to see this amount of detail unless we have access to the mail centre!

Four covers from one batch of posting showing consecutive numbers on two, and demonstrating the speed of processing letters through the machine.

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St. Valentine's Day  Apprenticeship Week gets in the way of Royal Mail helping out the greetings card industry with a special slogan, but RW has sent this example of a slogan that the US Postal Service is using.  They also issue Love stamps every year (which may be something we don't want to encourage) and notecards.  

2026 USPS Love stamps and notecards

2026 USPS Love stamps slogan, used at Seattle.

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St Marychurch Post Office - a different type of handstamp.

Thanks to JH for this image from St Marychurch Post Office, Torquay dated 5 Feb 2026.  It is unlike anything else I have seen from a sub-post office, and I suspect it might be a local production by the postmaster.

St Marychurch Post Office 05 FEB 2026 Tel: 01803 327786

Here's the Google streetview image of the post office branch, and below it from a different website, the branch's silver van complete with Post Office logo.

St Marychurch Post Office van (Geograph.co.uk)

I have some examples of what I suspect are also locally acquired rubber stamps used on certificates of posting at March, Cambridgeshire 30 years ago.  These were used alongside self-inking datestamps (SIDs).  The Parcel Post stamp looks like a conventional one, and may well be, but by the time SIDs were being introduced rectangular Parcel Post handstamps were being phased out as Horizon labels made them unnecessary.  I suspect the first and third of these were produced for applying to forms and bag labels etc, rather than for cancelling stamps.

 

 Any other examples of locally produced handstamps being used on stamps?

 

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Remember, slogan postmarks appearing in February will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing.

A reminder of what these monthly listings are for.  

For each month I record the different slogans in use, plus the default slogan that is used when there is nothing else.

For each of these I try to record only one of each of the basic two types, plus any that are reversed on square envelopes, which normally only gives three or four.  

Occasionally a slogan appears with different line spacing in the same format. 

I do not record multiple versions of the same as any of these unless I later get a much better example of one that I showed purely for the record, but which is otherwise not very clear.

The only exception to this, which doesn't seem to happen much these days, is when a slogan is used well out of time, such as the Air Ambulance Week slogan below which is from September 2024!  

I mention this only to avoid readers unnecessarily duplicating what has already been provided.

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Update on the 1st Large Business Sheet - and other new products

The King Charles 1st class Large Business Sheet - missing from the original printings of business sheets and first reported here - will have an official distribution on 20 March - along with several other 'new' products which have the new font (and presumably the new crown).

Royal Mail have said that these will have a 'first day of (philatelic) availability' although some have been available in Post Offices and other retailers over recent months.

These are not all available yet from Tallents House, so there is no point in phoning for them!

Full list - product codes will be provided later:

Business Sheets:  1st class, 2nd class, and 1st class Large

Booklets:  4 x 1st, 4 x 1st Large, 8 x 2nd. 
 

More details when available.

UPDATE 3 February

Royal Mail have said that this is simply a font change, but Robert writes:

"Seems likely to me the Textphone info is the real visible change here as most of these items have already appeared with the 2025 Rebrand." 

As John H confirmed:

"the Textphone info was present on the 8x Christmas booklets, but dropped on the 4x. " 

Here is an earlier 2nd class booklet, followed by the Christmas 1st class x4 and x8 without the Textphone line showing all the changes. (Thanks to Robert and John H).

Original back cover showing dimensions for which the stamps are valid, phone & textphone numbers and website

Book of 8 Christmas cover showing phone & textphone numbers, website, QR code for last posting dates and URL for postcode finder

Book of 4 Christmas cover which has dropped the textphone number and provided the Relay UK number for deaf, hearing or speech impaired users.  The phone number and website are retained, and the QR code for last posting dates and URL for postcode finder on the book of 8 continue.

If that's the only change it remains to be seen whether Stanley Gibbons will identify these by a separate number or sub-number.  But As there is much more too it than simply the removal of the Textphone number, it seems that this should qualify for a new catalogue sub-number.  

Whether the Validity (size) details return on the post-Christmas definitive booklets produced in 2026 remains to be seen.

Back in 2019 I reported that when the Printer's imprint was removed and the FSC logo was added these were both identified in the Concise.  But when the phone numbers changed from 0845 to 0345 this was consigned to a footnote, even though collectors usually wanted both.  So because of this inconsistency, we will have to wait and see!  I think the difference is enough to warrant a new catalogue number.

UPDATE 15 February

Royal Mail have started delivering these new products to dealers with standing orders, and from this we can see that the text panel is the same as the (later) 4 x 1st Christmas while the Validity text returns to normal.   Here's the 2nd class book of 8, with cylinder numbers.  (Click on any image to see an enlarged version.)

2nd x 8 booklet with revised text spring 2026.

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