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 feaured 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 s illustrated in "the style of E.H. Shephard's original book illustrations "before Pooh got is 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
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| Set of 6 x 1st class Winnie the Pooh stamps issued 14 October 2026. |
Miniature Sheet
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| 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.
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| 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 should be coded M26L MPIL.
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).
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