Slogan postmarks for July 2026 - and other interesting postal markings.

We are a third of the way through July but so far I have had no reports of new slogans.  Royal Mail has featured in many news articles about dog attacks on postal workers, and by now we would have expected to see a Dog Awareness slogan, but no.

So once again we have the British Heart Foundation, and I can show both examples received here. Bristol Mail Centre 04/07/2026 and Norwich Mail Centre 08-07-2026.

BHF Norwich Mail Centre 08-07-2026

BHF Bristol (BA,BS,GL,TA) Mail Centre 04/07/2026

 

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OTHER POSTMARKS AND POSTAL MARKINGS

Our reader in Canada (SS) has sent a picture of a cover with a counter datestamp.  This is another case of not identifying the town or area because the inscription on the SID is simply VICTORIA ROAD.  This could be in north London, in Romford, Leeds, Swindon and Kirkby in Ashfield. Fortunately, being tracked, we can see that it was posted in the Swindon area.

Victoria Road, Swindon, self-inking datestamp 01 07 2026

International Tracked and Signed letter from Swindon to Vancouver, Canada.

Victoria Road, Swindon, from Google maps.

 

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Remember, slogan postmarks appearing in July 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.  

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

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Ireland's version of Post and Go - Stamps on a Roll.

I was asked by a couple of collectors of Irish stamps to buy some of their Stamps on a Roll (SOAR) during my visit to Ireland last month.

I had bought one batch previously, but this gave me the opportunity to look more closely and learn about the stamps and the machines.

Aside from being a different format and type of machine to Royal Mail's Post and Go stamps, one important thing about these is that they are available at counters and from self-service kiosks - but the overprinting is different, of course, so there is plenty of scope for study.

The machines are also used for dropping off packages and bill-payment.  This is one at Ennis the county town of County Clare.

 

The machines dispense three pre-set values - Domestic and Northern Ireland (€1.85), Europe (€3.50) and Worldwide (€3.95) for 100g.  

At the counter you can theoretically buy stamps of any value, although your experience may vary.  At the larger office in Castlebar (Co. Mayo) I was able to buy a set of 1c stamps.  At Ballycroy (near Westport, Co. Mayo)) I was offered 10c stamps, and at Shannonbridge (Co. Offaly) they were reluctant to sell me anything less than 20c stamps. 

The stamps shown are from the Art on a Stamp series.  The 1c stamps are phase 3 which is a set of 4, the other two are phase 2, which is a set of 8.  These were the stamps generally available from branch counters.

However, at Letterkeny, Co Donegal, the machine held the set of Irish Culture and Objects series 3 from 2019. For the purist a continuous strip of 16 to incorporate all the designs is desirable but due to the uncertainty of the operation of the machines, two strips of 8 are highly collectable.

Irish Culture and Objects series 3 from Letterkenny's self-service kiosk

I was always in a hurry, not wanting to delay a family holiday too much, so ordered 8 first (because that was all I needed if it had been the other set), and - not remembering all the detail (I don't collect them) - ordered another set and then 4 in case the set total was more than 16.

Sometimes An Post presents a particular challenge to collectors.  The History of Ireland in 100 Objects series started in 2017 and many of the stamps are issued in the SOAR range. 

However, others are issued in booklets, some NVIs with Domestic, Europe or World values I believe. Obviously the international ones will not be found as easily in Ireland, and the domestic ones not as easily outside Ireland.

A fascinating area of collecting.  (But I'm not going to start now!)  

I should have asked if any readers here wanted me to get any - I'll try to remember next time we visit.

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A batch of King Charles Business Sheet stamps available

Due to a cancelled order I can offer again some of the King Charles stamps which I offered back in the spring.  There are two of each of these, in horizontal pairs which can be supplied as is, or split if nobody wants the pairs.

Business Sheets

M24L - 1st and 1st Large*  -  £19  (£38 for two)

M25L - 1st class - £2.50 (£5)

M26L - 2nd and 1st Large - £5 (£10)

Counter Sheets

M24L -  2nd Large, 1st Large £5.70 (£11.40)

M25L - 20p, 2nd, 1st - £3.40 (£6.80) 

Booklets

M24L - 2nd and 1st MEIL - £3.25 (£6.50)

M25L - 2nd £1.50 (£3)

M26L - 1st, 1st Large - £6.25 (£12.50)

I would like these to be taken as a lot, or three lots as grouped above, but will consider other options.

Payment in UK by Bank Transfer or cheque.

Payment from international customer by UK or Euro Bank Transfer or PayPal.  

 

Please email (addresses at top of right hand column). 

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Flying in the post - Moths set of 10, 9 July 2026

According to Royal Mail

"There are over 2,500 moth species recorded in the United Kingdom, compared with around 80 butterflies, and they exhibit astonishing diversity, which is largely hidden to us humans because moths are mostly nocturnal. 

Yet many moths do fly by day and are as beautiful as butterflies, including the emperor moth and the hedge beauty moth. Bizarrely, the female of the lesser bagworm moth does not have wings, legs or scales, the very things that define moths and butterflies as Lepidoptera, the scale-winged insects. 

The number of species in the UK is rising as our warming climate encourages moths to move north from Europe, and as the warmth is allowing once rare southern species, such as the dark crimson underwing moth, to become much more widespread. 

Moths have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon), and adult – which are typically, though not always, winged (like butterflies). During the caterpillar stage, they consume food, grow, and later undergo metamorphosis to emerge as adult moths. 

Moths have a bad reputation as clothes-munchers, yet only two species in the UK eat wool and feathers. Caterpillars of others eat a remarkable range of food, including leaves, fruits, living and dead wood and even fungi. 

The complete set of ten Moths stamps showcase beautiful illustrations by renowned wildlife artist Richard Lewington, bringing each moth species to life with exceptional detail and scientific accuracy. 

This set is a vibrant celebration of British biodiversity, capturing moths in their natural settings and will appeal to nature enthusiasts and philatelists alike. 

The stamps

Set of 5 x 2nd class and 5 x 1st class stamps showing moths, issued 9 July 2026

2nd class: Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia, Puss Moth Cerura vinula, Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris fuciformis, Dark Bordered Beauty Moth Epione vespertaria, December Moth Poecilocampa populi;
1st class: Dark Crimson Underwing Moth Catocala sponsa, Scarce Crimson and Gold Moth Pyrausta sanguinalis, Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria, Hedge Beauty Moth Alabonia geoffrella, Buff-tip Moth Phalera bucephala.

Technical details

The 37 x 35 mm stamps, designed by Frontmedia Studio using artwork by Richard Lewington, have been printed in litho on ordinary gummed paper by Cartor Security Printers in two sheets of 50 , se-tenant strips of 5.

Products available

Set of 10 stamps, first day cover, presentation pack, stamp cards - no collector sheet or framed products! 

 

For more information on the United Kingdom's butterflies and moths visit Butterfly Conservation. 

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