22 December 2020
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A set of three new Machin definitives, and four new country definitives have been issued to cover new postal tariffs which come into force at the start of 2021.
The Marine Turquoise £1.70, Aqua Green £3.25, and the Plum Purple £4.20 were issued on 23 December and are each self adhesive, measuring 20mm x 24mm with perforations of 15 x 14, and are available as a stamp set, in a presentation pack and on a first day cover.
The new country definitives each have a denomination of £1.70 and feature the 2013 designs showing:
- an English oak (England)
- a linen slip case courtesy of the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum (Northern Ireland)
- the thistle sculpted by Tim Chalk (Scotland)
- the daffodil created in Welsh slate (Wales).
These new country definitives are also available in a set, in a presentation pack, and on a first day cover.
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Stamp price rise
Meanwhile, Royal Mail recently revealed an increase in the price of 1st and 2nd class stamps despite considering ‘any pricing changes very carefully’ and seeking ‘to minimise any impact on our customers’ in the current economic environment.
On 1 January the price of a 1st class stamp will increase by 9p to 85p
The price of a 2nd Class stamp will go up by 1p to 66p.
Nick Landon Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail said:
‘Like other companies, 2020 has been a challenging year for Royal Mail. Our people have worked tirelessly to keep the UK connected throughout the pandemic and associated restrictions. These price increases will help us continue to deliver and sustain the Universal Service in challenging circumstances.’
Fall in letters being sent
According to the Royal Mail, 2020 has seen a 28% fall in the sending of letters.
A statement read:
‘The Universal Service Obligation, which requires Royal Mail to be able to deliver to 31 million home and business addresses across the UK, comes with high fixed costs…
'The reduction in letter volumes has had a significant impact on the finances of the Universal Service which lost £180 million in the first half of the year. This demonstrates the need for change in the Universal Service. We are working tirelessly to deliver the most comprehensive service we can in difficult circumstances as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact our operation.’