Royal Mail Christmas stamp design competition receives 240,000 entries

Royal Mail have received more than 240,000 entries for their competition which gave schoolchildren the chance to design two Christmas stamps.

The competition, similar to those run in 1981 and 1966, invited primary school children to create the artwork for official Royal Mail stamps for Christmas 2013, with the theme ‘What does the Christmas season mean to you?’

The competition received over 240,000 entries and now the 120 finalists will have their stamps displayed at Stampex, taking place between 18 and 21 September at the Business Design Centre, in Islington.

VIP Judges will select two of the designs to appear on one of the 1st or one of the 2nd Class stamps this Christmas.

The search for the winning designs was launched by children’s author and illustrator Lauren Child (pictured), creator of the famous Charlie and Lola characters. Lauren Child said: ‘I’m delighted to be part of this fantastic campaign to get children thinking creatively about what Christmas means to them. As well as seeing their stamps on letters and cards in the UK over the festive season, the winning designers will also join a list of the best children’s illustrators who have designed Christmas Stamps for Royal Mail – a great honour indeed.’

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