24 May 2017
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Songbirds, issued on 4 May 2017
A new ten-stamp issue celebrates the distinctive sounds of Britain’s songbirds, from those with simple songs to others with more complex repertoires, who together characterise our summer mornings with their dawn chorus.
A new ten-stamp issue celebrates the distinctive sounds of Britain’s songbirds, from those with simple songs to others with more complex repertoires, who together characterise our summer mornings with their dawn chorus.
It’s a sound which predates the existence of makind, heralding the start of our summertime with bright mornings and long sunny evenings. The dawn chorus of our British birds is a musical mixture of the melodies of a variety of species, and the closer you listen, the richer it gets, with simple songs sounding alongside more elaborate repertoires.
Songbirds is a set of ten colourful 1st class stamps illustrated by Italian wildlife artist Federico Gemma, who is well-known for her bird-themed watercolours. The ten birds depicted rang from well-known species such as the Wren and Song Thrush, through to more endangered birds including Nightingale and Yellowhammer.
Nine of the birds are shown perched on the branch of a tree in summer foliage, with the tenth bird, Skylark, soaring into the blue sky, as its name suggests.
Songbirds issue details
Issue date: 4 May 2017
Design: Osborne Ross
Illustrations: Federico Gemma
Stamp size: 35mm x 35mm
Printer: International Security Printers
Print process: Lithography
Perforations: 14.5 x 14.5
Phosphor: Bars as appropriate
Gum: PVA
1st: Great tit
1st: Wren
1st: Willow warbler
1st: Goldcrest
1st: Skylark
1st: Blackcap
1st: Song thrush
1st: Cuckoo
1st: Yellowhammer
For an in-depth look at the Songbirds issue, read the June issue of Stamp & Coin Mart magazine, available now.