It is a common mistake to believe that old stamps are worth more than new stamps. Stamps often increase in price over time, but it is the less common stamps that have and hold the real value.

Personalised stamps have been very common since the late 1990’s, and originated in America. It was not long before they arrived in Britain in the form of “Smilers”.

Drugs entering prisons has always been a problem, and stamps have played a part in that. For many years secret messages have been written on the backs of stamps, away from the prying eyes of prison warders. This has been featured in films and TV shows, and is probably still a major part of prison life.

Penny red stamps are amongst the most famous in the world, made in the image of the first ever stamp, the Penny Black.

This was a set of four stamps, released on the 3rd September 1985, designed by Yvonne Gilbert.

This was a set of four stamps, released on the 30th July 1985, designed by P. Hogarth.