Pooh - another stamp issue for the bear and friends on 14 October 2026

Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared on a British stamp in 1979 as one of four stamps marking the United Nations International Year of the Child.  More recently Pooh and his friends featured on the 2010 Children's Books Europa set, though why ten stamps were devoted to one set of characters from the books is unclear.  Four years earlier, the Animal Tales joint issue with the USPS covered ten different books, but not including Pooh.

I must confess I thought the bear had made more appearances on British stamps, but I suppose the seemingly unending appearances of Paddington might have confused me.  Add in Rupert, Alice, Peter Rabbit, and many others, going back to the Greetings Booklets, one could - I hope - be forgiven for losing track.

But it would be difficult to argue against at least the basic premise of this issue as 2026 marks the centenary of the first publication of Winnie the Pooh by A A Milne in 2026.  You can read more about the character and the story behind the stores here on our webpage for the 2010 issue.

The new set is illustrated in "the style of E.H. Shephard's original book illustrations "before Pooh got his iconic red shirt".  Some may think the red shirt came with Disney, as shown on the PSB's definitive pane shown below, but the red shirt first appeared in 1932 as shown on the Piglet fan sheet when the characters were drawn in colour by Stephen Slesinger, a US comic book pioneer who bought the copyright to Pooh in 1930.  After Slesinger's death in 1953, his widow licensed the rights to Disney in return for regular royalties, which is why any first day covers or special handstamps now have to be licensed through The Walt Disney Company. 

The stamps 

 

Set of 6 x 1st class Winnie the Pooh stamps issued 14 October 2026.

 Miniature Sheet 

Miniature sheet of 4 x 1st class Winnie the Pooh stamps issued 14 October 2026.

Technical Details 

The set of stamps and miniature sheet is designed by Supple Studio ©Disney. Based on the ‘Winnie the Pooh’ works by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard. The 4x x 30 mm stamps were printed by Cartor Security Printers in lithography on gummed paper, in three sheets of 60 in vertical se-tenant pairs, with phosphor bars.  The 115 x 89 mm miniature sheet contains three 27 x 37 mm and one 41 x 30 mm (Eeyore) stamps perforated 14 (14½ x 14 mm Eeyore) printed in lithography on gummed paper with all-over phosphor.  The Press Sheet contains eight miniature sheets.

Collectors Sheet

The sheet contains 10 first class stamps with four of the stamps included twice, matched with other illustrations as labels.  The lithography-printed sheet is self-adhesive.

Self-adhesive Collectors Sheet 

Prestige Stamp Book

The book describes the evolution of the story over a hundred years from the Milne story and Shephard illustrations to the modern Disney renditions.

Four prestige book panes including the set of 6, plus two extra Pooh & Piglet stamps,
miniature sheet and definitive pane containing 1p, 50p, £2, 2 x £1 definitive stamps.
These are should be coded M26L MPIL - but it's very faint!

The PSB and Limited Edition PSB are delayed until 26 November

 

Commemorative Stamp Book 

Continuing the practice of issuing retail-format self-adhesive booklets which are not sold anywhere but the Royal Mail philatelic service.  As usual 4x identical 1st class stamps but printed in gravure, rather than lithography.

Fan sheets

The four Fan Sheets are in editions of 5,000 priced at £8 each.  Each contains four identical stamps in a relevant background:  Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore.

Products available

Set of 6 stamps, miniature sheet, presentation pack, commemorative booklet, prestige stamp booklet, press sheet of 8 MS, collectors sheet, fan sheets (4), first day covers (3 including the definitive pane from the PSB), limited edition PSB, 50p coinx3 cover (reverse of coins designed by Disney), proof coloured silver and proof gold coin covers Character Packs for set, and MS, limited (5000) edition ingot (£50), framed miniature sheet (£40), framed set (£40).

Australia Post

As the comments make reference to the package issued by Australia Post I thought I would make an exception and show those as well - if only to show collectors of Royal Mail products that things could be worse.

Their Winnie the Pooh 100 Years Stamp Collection is AU$39.99 (£21.05 - plus shipping and import taxes if you choose to buy direct).  This is, of course, much cheaper than even a modest selection of Royal Mail's Pooh products. There is also a numimatic cover for AU£59.99.

The Collection contains these four sheets:

Miniature sheet of four unrelated flower stamps with Disney Pooh design on borders.

Gutter sheetlet of four slower stamps with attached Disney Pooh labels and a gutter strip of four more labels

Sheet of 6 self-adhesive MyStamps with designs depicting different Pooh characters.

Sheet of 6 self-adhesive MyStamps* with designs depicting the same Pooh characters.

Readers have commented on this blog about the absence of Kanga, Piglet and Rabbit. The Ozzies on the other hand have omitted the key characters of Owl and Christopher Robin, apart from on the throw-away sheet design (assuming you use the stamps, as some people do.)

* "With MyStamps, you can use our template and your own image to create a truly personalised sheet of 20 stamps. With six shapes on offer, each with a different look and feel, and your choice of postage type and rate, you'll be able to celebrate some of life's memorable moments stamped on your post.

"MyStamps are perfect for sending out birthday or wedding invitations, Christmas cards, or simply adding a personal touch to your mail."

These are similar to the original P-(ersonalised)stamps from Australia and Smilers from the UK, but are more like the Commemorative Sheets (for instance marking the Centenary of the Halley's Comet) that Royal Mail issued.  AusPost have made hundreds of such issues featuring all manner of cartoon and sports associations.

---

Planned but not issued Greetings Booklet: Farm Animals 1995 precursor

The recent issue of domestic pets reminded me of a Farm Animals issue.  Not this one from 2005, but an earlier set which was planned for a Greetings Booklet.

Norvic Philatelics limited edition FDC for 2005 Farm Animals set. 

Readers may recall the post back in June of this year about 1995 plans for self-adhesive Priority Service Machin definitives.  When he sent me that information MM also sent an information sheet about a booklet of 10 1st class stamps depicting farm animals; the booklet would follow the style of the time with 20 greetings labels

Greetings in Art booklet issued 1995, 10 stamps and 20 labels.

The issue date was to be 31 January 1995, with the stamps designed by Why Not Associates and printed by Walsall Security Printers in litho.  The animals depicted appear to be, in order, Dog, Duck, Cat, Sheep, Donkey, Goat, Horse, Chicken, Cow, and Pig.

Click on the image for enlargement

In the event, the January 1995 stamp issue (on 17th) showed five cats, and the Greetings booklet issued in March was Greetings in Art, shown above.

The last of this type of booklets was issued in 1997-8 (19th century flower paintings).

In 1999-2000 the 25-set Millennium series were all square stamps and no more Greetings sets were issued until the silver 'Occasions' set issued as five separate sheets.  

Royal Mail eventually returned to the Farm Animals theme 10 years after the initial concept, with stamps designed by by Rose Design using woodcut-style illustrations by Chris Wormell.  

2005 Farm Animals stamps printed in gravure by Enschedé.

 

Woodcut was also the basis of the illustrations used in the Sheep, Pigs and Cattle Post and Go stamps designed by Robert Gillmor.  

As with the previously described priority services definitives, nobody knows Royal Mail decided not to proceed with the 1995 set.  As far as I know this did not go to the proof stage.

  

---

How Royal Mail achieve the perfect handstamp on FDCs - updated

In a 2019 post I described the system that Royal Mail used to achieve mostly clean and legible handstamps on first day covers and other mail, including a video and GPO-published write up of the process.  This is an update of that article.

The handstamps are, for the most part, not handstamps at all, but are applied by foot- and hand-operated machines.  (The changeable date designs are still handstamps as far as I know. *)

You can read a detailed description here in our reference area. This is a pdf file, so you can download it, or read it in your web browser, depending on your system settings.

The article is copyright Royal Mail, 1993 & 2007, reproduced by kind permission.  

This is the machine which was at Europhilex in 2015

(There is a video of the operation on the 2019 post.)

I've now found a picture of a similar machine which was in use at the British Forces Postal Service HQ in Northholt, NW of London.   This obviously isn't identical but the technique is the same as the close-ups show.  If readers read the pdf referred to above in conjunction with these pictures it should provide a clearer idea of the operations.

As described in the article there is a camera in the unit which enables the user to see where the postmark will be applied on the cover.  The article refers to 'clichés' which has the postmark printed on as a, but the handstamp centres referred to them as 'foils'.

BFPS 'handstamping' machine 2010. 

 

This picture shows the handstamp which is on the machine to be applied to covers taped to the screen to ensure proper alignment.  It is similar to this one for BFPS 3107 marking the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Britain 17 September 2009.

BFPS 3017 handstamp

This picture shows one of the pads to which the ink is applied, before transfer to covers, with some foils alongside, presumably ones which have already been used.  

 

---

Digital Switchover - Possible interruption to service

Tomorrow out telephone line will be subject to the Digital Switchover.

Many readers in the UK (and France, Australia etc) will have already experienced this with no problems - we don't expect any problem although our last interaction with the telephone system when we moved to this location left us for a month with no landline.

Our 0845 number (which redirects to our geographical number) will remain the same.  Eventually we will abandon that and switch to an 07 number but for the time being you will notice no difference if all works as it should.  

If anything goes wrong, there will be an interruption where we won't be able to make or receive calls or use our internet connection.

UPDATE - because of our peculiar configuration (there are two lines to the property but only one landline number) it took all morning, but with the technical expertise in the family all is now well!

---

For sale again: Aerogrammes for collecting or use and this time more organised!

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who responded to the August offer of aerogrammes.  We had many satisfied customers who wanted some to use for postage, some to collect, and some to write messages, especially the thematic ones.

Now, what was unsold before has been supplemented by a dealer stock of a lot more individual titles many pristine in unfolded condition, ideal for use or display.

In addition to the special commemorative pictorial examples there are many different definitive ones, which I have tried to identify accurately in line with Collect British Postal Stationery.

This is a good opportunity to acquire additions to a thematic collection, to surprise friends abroad, or simply to use on parcels for postage as shown previously. 

Because this is such a comprehensive selection I have compiled a priced list which can be downloaded here.  

The buying process is not the same as before  - 

Send an email to my usual address with your order and address details (it's  ian@norphil.co.uk). At the same time leave a comment on this post [you MUST use a name, not Anonymous] to say that you have sent the email.  Blogpost comments always reach the right folder in my inbox: emails sometimes go to spam, and this will avoid my missing them.

Once your comment is published you will know that I have seen it and the email, and I'll answer emails as soon as possible. 

As before, bulk purchases of 10 or more NVI aerogrammes will be £1.50 each: these will be our choice but you may indicate a preference for general type - commemorative, definitive, Christmas, Scottish, Welsh, sport etc.  We'll try to accommodate these requests,

If you require specific editions they are as priced on the lists with NVIs (definitive or commemorative) being £2 each (discounts for larger quantities).   

A reminder that the face value of these is currently £3.60 and will probably rise next April.

Postage is extra and will be advised when we tell you what is available and how to pay. 

Many are unfolded, including some of the earliest ones, the Forces, and the more recent.  Please let us know if you want them sent unfolded - the most recent ones are 420 x 340 mm and cannot be sent as Large Letters.  They will be sent as Small Parcels with a minimum postage of £4 (inland). 

The lists only include mint aerogrammes.  I also have a bundle of (mainly) first day used - if interested in any, please ask.  Many have specific and relevant special handstamps or local postmarks.

If you have any questions, please ask.

I have now had the opportunity to photograph some of the listed stock. Due to their large size they are not suitable for scanning.  Click on the image to see them enlarged.

 AP21, 26, 28, 30, 31, 40, 42 includes Burns, Golf, 

AP 63, 64, 65 - Christmas 1985, Northern Lighthouse Board, Scottish Enlightenment

AP 66, 67, 68 - Christmas1986, Mary Queen of Scots, J M Barrie

AP69,70,71 - Christmas 1987, Year of the Bible, Glasgow Garden Festival

AP72, 73, 82 -Christmas 1988, National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, Wm Henry Playfair

AP83, 84, 85 - Christmas 1989, Forth Railway Bridge, Glasgow European City of Culture

AP86, 87, 88 - Christmas 1990, Rugby World Cup, Gaelic Society Centenary

AP90, 92, 96 - The Nature of Scotland, Christmas 1992, 150th Anniversary Caledonian Curling Club

AP 99, 100, 101 - Robert Louis Stevenson, Alcock & Brown, Regimental Centenries

AP 109, 110, 111 - Christmas 1994, Glasgow School of Art, Youth Olympics

AP 112, 113, 120 - Prehistoric Scotland, Christmas 1995, Scottish Football

AP 135, 136, 137 - English Crafts, Welsh Crafts, Scottish Crafts

AP 131 Christmas 2000, AP 117 Christmas 1997, AP 118  Nature of Scotland

---

Good news on prices from October 2026

As has been the custom in recent years Royal Mail has published a new Tariff leaflet which is effective from 5 October 2026.  And as was the case last year, it is generally good news for consumers and collectors with most prices unchanged from those published in April. It can be downloaded from their website now.  (Thanks to JohnH for alerting me to this new publication.)

Inland Mails 

Standard letter and Signed For Letter and Large Letter rates are unchanged.  There are small rises for parcels, with the basic small parcel rising from £5.45 to £5.90 for 1st class and from £4.25 to £4.60  for 2nd class.  There are similar rises for Signed For parcels.

There are rises in the Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 services often used by online marketplace sellers, who don't want to worry about using stamps for postage.  These remain cheaper than the Signed For service for Large Letters (the first weight step is up to 750 g) but a Signed For basic Letter is still slightly cheaper.  Whether it is also value for money is up to the user to decide.

The basic Special Delivery service is up from £9.95 to £10.55 for letters up to 100g, and from £10.94 to £11.35 for up to 500g.  There are also increases in the premium SD service such as Saturday Guarantee, an the weekday 9am service rises from £53,95 to £58.95 - expensive, but nationwide, so cheaper than flying it yourself and possibly even cheaper than driving at today's diesel prices!

International Mails

Letter and Large Letter prices for all services are unchanged: International Tracked, International Tracked & Signed, Standard (Airmail) and Economy (ostensibly surface).  This means that 2 x 1st class stamps still provide the exact postage needed for a standard airmail letter or postcard.

---

Orkney's ex-Crown post office, operated by UOE, closes without notice.

Orkney's main post office shuts 'without warning'

The BBC reports that the main post office in Kirkwall, formerly the Crown Office but now operated by UOE, has closed unexpectedly due to staff shortages.

Kirkwall main post office, Orkney, from Google maps, 2014.

London-based Universal Office Equipment (UOE) took over the running of the former Crown Post Office as a franchise last autumn.

The handwritten note posted in the window said: "We are very sorry. UOE and Post Office have made the decision to close this branch until further notice.

"If you have a parcel, currency etc to collect, please contact Post Office directly."

The Post Office said the branch was closed due to staffing issues.

A PO spokesperson apologised for any inconvenience caused and directed customers to alternative branches at Papdale Stores or in Balfour village, despite that being a ferry ride away in Shapinsay.

They added that any parcels inside the branch would be collected by the relevant courier companies.

Betty Muir, who runs the nearest alternative branch in the town's Papdale Stores (8 Hermaness, Kirkwall KW15 1XA), said no prior warning was given and her staff had no time to prepare for the extra customers.

She told BBC Radio Scotland's Around Orkney programme: "The first we knew about it was yesterday morning. We were extremely busy and the girls wondered what on earth was going on because it felt like Christmas.

"You would have thought at least they would have given us some prior warning of what was going to be happening so we could have prepared ourselves for the influx of people."

Mark Kirkbride, who runs Finstown Post Office (Post Office, Finstown KW17 2EL), said the Junction Road branch provided driving licence, foreign currency and passport services.

"It is absolutely key to the whole post office system," he said.

The Post Office spokesperson said: "Kirkwall Post Office [15 Junction Rd, Kirkwall KW15 1DD] has experienced staffing difficulties over a long period of time and now, regrettably, the branch has had to temporarily close.

"We want to thank our partner UOE for helping us to operate this branch on a temporary basis to provide continuity of service to the residents, businesses and tourists in Orkney since last November."

They added: "In the longer term, there are plans to modernise the branch at a new location, and we expect to be able to share further details later this year."

 

Update 25 September - thanks to Trevor I can provide a short recap on the recent history of the main Kirkwall post office. 

13 August 2025 - I’m writing to let you know that we are changing the way we operate Kirkwall Post Office. The branch will soon be operated by an independent franchise retail partner, Universal Office Equipment (UK) Ltd (UOE), and in the short term will remain at their current premises, offering the same wide range of services, and extended opening on Tuesday mornings. 

We anticipate this change will happen by November 2025. Over the following months, we will review the right long-term arrangements and premises for Kirkwall Post Office branch. This may either be the existing buildings or a new site very nearby, either with UOE or a different long-term franchise partner. Any proposed move to a new location is unlikely to be before spring 2026 and would be subject to local public consultation in line with our Principles of Community Engagement. 

19 September - We are writing further to our previous communication advising changes to the way we operate Kirkwall Post Office and to enable this transition we can now confirm the branch will close on Thursday, 13 November 2025 at 15:00 and will reopen on Friday, 14 November 2025 at 13:00.

10 November - Further to our previous communication the dates for the transition of this branch has changed, the branch will still close on Thursday 13 November 2025 at 15:00 but will now reopen on Saturday 15 November 2025 at 09:00. 

14 November - Further to our previous communication, this branch closed on Thursday 13 November 2025 and was due reopen on Saturday 15 November 2025, however due to unforeseen circumstances there is a further delay in the reopening of the branch, we are working hard to restore services as soon as possible and will share further updates once the reopening date have been finalised.

19 November - Due to unforeseen operational reasons this branch currently has reduced opening hours. Our retail partner, Universal Office Equipment, is working hard to restore full opening hours as soon as possible.
The new opening hours: - Monday – Friday 10:00 -15:00, Saturday & Sunday - Closed.

24 November -  

The alternative branch identified is the one at Papdale Stores 8 Hermaness, Kirkwall KW15 1XA.

It seems a pity that Post Office Ltd could not retain control of such a remote branch: that would at least have given them the opportunity to temporarily parachute someone in from a bigger branch, say in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

UPDATE 5 OCTOBER

A postmaster from Lerwick in Shetland will be operating the Kirkwall post office from tomorrow, 6th October.  (Thanks to Malcolm for spotting this.) 

 

 

---