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A new set of Christmas stamps depicting Nativity scenes has been unveiled by Royal Mail ahead of the festive season.
Created jointly by designer Gareth Howat and illustrator Rebecca Sutherland, the five colourful stamps illustrate the traditional biblical narrative.
Featured images include Mary and Joseph on their journey, the infant Jesus, an angel, the shepherds, and the Three Wise Men, capturing familiar moments from the Christmas story for senders this winter season.
David Gold, of Royal Mail, said: “There’s something very special about receiving a card or letter through the post at Christmas.
“We hope this year’s Christmas stamps will add an extra touch of festive magic to the millions of greetings sent to family and friends at home and around the world.”
Sutherland said: “It’s an absolute honour to have had the opportunity to illustrate Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps.
“Designing the Christmas stamps has always been right at the top of my list, so to be part of their long and distinguished history really does feel like a career highlight. I’ve loved stamps since I was a child.
“I used to collect them from envelopes, carefully take them off the paper, and arrange them into sets, so being asked to create a set myself feels incredibly special.”
This year also marks six decades since the introduction of Christmas special stamps.
First issued on 1 December 1966, those initial stamps were the product of a children’s art contest announced by then-postmaster general Tony Benn in May that year.
The unveiling of the Christmas stamps comes just days after Royal Mail revealed they would also be releasing new stamps for Armistice Day.
The stamps go on issue on Armistice Day, 11 November.
This year, Armistice Day marks 110 years since the Battle of the Somme, which began on 1 July 1916 and became one of the defining battles of the First World War.
Specially commissioned artworks by British artist Matthew Cook feature on all six stamps, reflecting different aspects of remembrance.
Each has been painted with a colour palette inspired by the red poppy.
“Remembrance holds a profound place in our national life,” David Gold of Royal Mail said.
“Through these stamps, we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country through two world wars and many other conflicts.
“Matthew Cook’s poignant artworks provide a fitting and powerful way to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many courageous men and women across the generations.”
