These stamps have quite attractive photographs and the set includes a mix of 2nd and 1st class stamps which will please letter writers across the country - as well as those collectors who are still buying everything that Royal Mail churns out.
But why? This is a continuation of the Animals and Nature series - but we had Garden WIldlife in March, and Mushrooms in July. At this rate can we expect Royal Mail to be issuing as many stamps as their fulfilment services in Duxford and Edinburgh, and the printers, can cope with?
I've delayed so far and I must now quote to you Royal Mail's justification for this set - aside from the fact that they know collectors will but them there are, apparently a lot of influencers out there videoing ducks - I kid you not!
Reason (slightly edited)
Royal Mail are excited to reveal a set of 10 stamps celebrating the UK species of ducks. Of over 120 duck species globally, 22 are found in the UK, inhabiting our rivers, wetlands, coasts, and estuaries.
Ducks have become surprisingly collectible (albeit mostly the rubber variety!) and are now a full-blown TikTok sensation with adorable ducks waddling through kitchens to pet ducks splashing in bath tubs, the hashtag #ducks has racked up hundreds of thousands of posts and millions of views.
With these stamps we extend our animals and nature series of issues, with a set of ten stamps featuring many of the popular breeds found in the UK both in flight and in their natural environment.
The stamps
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| Set of 5 x 2nd class and 5 x 1st class stamps featuring British ducks issued 11 September 2025. |
2nd Class: Goosander, Indian Runner, Mallard Duckling, Mandarin and Call.
1st Class: Aylesbury, Pintail, Silver Appleyard, Shelduck, and Eider.
Now I know it's fine to show both male and female of the species, but the male eider is one of the most distinctive ducks in the country. Not just for its call but for its striking plumage of black and white, with green patches and a pink lower breast. (What other bird has this colour green?) Seen widely but especially on the east coast from Aberdeenshire to Northumberland this is one you couldn't fail to identify - once seen never forgottne. But not the female on the stamp which, from a distance, looks much like many other female ducks.
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| Male eider duck pictured in a harbour on Aberdeenshire's north coast. |
Technical details and acknowledgements
The 37 x 35 mm stamps are printed in two sheets of 50 in litho with ordinary gum by Cartor Security Printers, perf 14½ x 14. Design was by Michael O'Shea and copyright Royal Mail Group Ltd 2025.
Collectors Sheet
A collectors sheet consisting of the 10 stamps in the set with accompanying labels of ducks in their natural habitat. The stamps and labels are set with the lower border showing a female Goosander carrying her chicks.
Note: The Collector Sheet is printed on self-adhesive paper so these stamps are a print variety.
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Products available
Set of 10 stamps, first day cover, presentation pack, collectors sheet, framed set, framed sheet.
