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
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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.
Update: Reader Chris has commented that this is incorrect, the sheet has PVA gum and so the stamps are (more or less) the same as those in sheets - it is quite likely that the phosphor is differently spaced or the perforations might even be different, but I don't buy them for anyone so I cannot confirm.
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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 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:
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| Miniature sheet of four unrelated flower stamps with Disney Pooh design on borders. |
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| Gutter sheetlet of four slower stamps with attached Disney Pooh labels and a gutter strip of four more labels |
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| Sheet of 6 self-adhesive MyStamps with designs depicting different Pooh characters. |
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| 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.
The stamps are SO much better than the Disney-fied issue Australia Post has seen fit to issue (with no recognition for the original book or its author).
ReplyDeleteMy only gripe is that the four characters accorded the accolade of a miniature sheet stamp are also featured on stand-alone stamps - no stamp(s) for Kanga, Roo or Rabbit (although they are, at least, present in the MS). I can barely believe I am saying this, given that I usually condemn Royal Mail for over-expansive exploitative issues, but I wish this issue featured MORE stamps!
P.S. On a more philatelic note, I was actually offered the chance to buy some of these stamps yesterday (and I was shown the Christmas stamps) in my local Post Office. (Not much of an anecdote, I know, but I just thought I would mention it.)
Lucky you Pete. Will they do a Xmas stamp for abroad this year, did you notice?
DeleteThere is a £3.60 stamp - the usual five, repeated in the MS.
DeleteI've just written my own review of these.
DeleteI almost agree with you but I think the characters on the stamps should all be characters from the original 1926 book. Tigger was not in that book, so he should probably not be in this set. Kango, Roo and Rabbit were and they should definitely be!
I like the MS best so shall buy some and await the Xmas MS: useful and I hope that the 2026 one will be as pretty as the 2025 one.
DeleteI think they've done a superb job and so much better than the Disney-ified AUS Post release. Love the designs and palettes.
ReplyDeleteI do agree, with PETE re stamp numbers! I'd actually want a set of eight for the main set. I know, be careful what you wish for.
An awfully oversaturated amount of products on the RM website, I noticed!
Great stamps. Only 1 thing surely the stamp should read Piglet not Piglit!
ReplyDeleteNo, I think that was how it was in the original books and was the way that Pooh spelled it, ditto WOL and eOR.
DeleteHave the books of four first class Pooh stamps only been supplied to Post Offices specifically ordering them, i.e. hardly any, or sent out for a while as a replacement for books of four definitives, i.e. with a chance that we'll actually see some used postally ?
ReplyDeleteNo, and no. As with all similar books since Datamatrix was introduced, none are on retail sale.
Delete"Continuing the practice of issuing retail-format self-adhesive booklets which are not sold anywhere but the Royal Mail philatelic service. "
Ah yes Ian, I somehow overlooked the obvious fact that the normal books are of barcoded stamps but Pooh ones aren't. Sorry !
DeleteI think these CS booklets are under valued by RM, whose marketing is generally woeful. Even HMV has a deal offer on WTP books, presumably aimed at grandparents.
DeleteI’ll skip the Disney-fied miniature sheet but the main set are perfect. And refreshingly only 6 stamps. This issue could’ve been so much worse (looking at you, Australia Post)
ReplyDeleteWise...the stamps can be had but MS's these days are often not supplied to Post Offices.
DeleteAll are available from Royal mail philatelic service with a postage charge for under £50 but a well known auction site has all from Royal Mail post free
ReplyDeleteThe Collectors Sheet is PVA gummed not S/A. Yet again RM have failed to provide the correct details.
ReplyDeleteThat is a big delay in the release of the prestige booklet is there a particular reason for this.
ReplyDelete