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).
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| Original back cover showing dimensions for which the stamps are valid, phone & textphone numbers and website |
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| Book of 8 Christmas cover showing phone & textphone numbers, website, QR code for last posting dates and URL for postcode finder |
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| 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.)
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| 2nd x 8 booklet with revised text spring 2026. |
These won't be of interest to most serious collectors until we know the date codes, as with the SG supplements not providing spaces for sources after 2024. We will just have to wait.
ReplyDeleteCollectors of booklets - and there are many - will want to have at least the first ones with the new font and crown.
DeleteAhh yes of course I forgot those my apologies to all booklet collectors
DeleteMost of these items have already been issued with the 2025 rebrand - isn't the change likely to be the revised Textphone info as appeared on the covers of the two Christmas books of 4?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed - nor had Royal Mail told us about - that change, Robert, and now I have returned all my Christmas stock. I'll get someone to check.
DeleteI can confirm that the Textphone info was present on the 8x Christmas booklets, but dropped on the 4x. I think Robert may be correct that this is the "visible change" (except possibly the 1st Large Business Sheet which seems to have been in storage for over a year?).
DeleteJohn
RM advice note confirms 3 booklets to be issued 20/03/26. 4x 1st L (UB476), 4x 1st (UB476) and 8x 2nd (UB481).
DeleteCan you disclose the year codes for these yet please Ian?
ReplyDeleteI was going to do it when we had all items. The 8x2nd is M25L.
DeleteWe already know that the 1st class Large business sheet has M24L. This example I have seen retains the Textphone number, so it will be interesting to see whether this is the one sent out in the latest batch, or whether there has been another reprint. If so it is likely that the year code may be M25L.
Thank you very much Ian
Delete