Monopoly - how easy is it to buy commemorative stamps?

I was unable to visit my lovely little sub post office for the Monopoly stamps on day of issue, because I was away on a short break. The stamps were issued on 16th October 2025. 

Monopoly stamp with dice

On the 17th, I visited two different post offices. One was in a convenience store but had its own counters. They only had a presentation pack; something I did not want, but luckily did not have long to queue! The other post office was inside a WHS TG Jones, again with its own counters. There was a small queue but when I reached the counter, the clerk said that he did not have the commemorative stamps at his counter, and that I should go wait at the closed travel money counter and await a colleague. I was served after a few more minutes. They had sold some of the Monopoly stamps already so bought a strip of 5 stamps (just in case my lovely sub post office didn't have any left by the time I was able to visit later in the month).  

A Monopoly stamp with dice

On the 18th, a Saturday, I had time before my bus left to go and visit another post office. This one was in its own building, likely to have been a Crown main post office. They thought that the Monopoly stamps were due out later in the month, and had not been brought out of the back for sale. The sheets were dished out between two counters, and I came away with another set of stamps. 

My little sub post office did still have Monopoly stamps when I visited earlier this week, so I even bought more Monopoly stamps, just one more set! They've already had the Christmas stamps in. I mentioned I'd seen the 2nd class and 2nd class large designs for the digital stamp mailings (shown up on the Royal Mail Wholesale website). I'm not convinced that this year's Christmas stamps are a well-designed issue. Perhaps not as good as the selection of Christmas stamps below.

A selection of Christmas stamps

 

Letter writing snobbery

Penfriendship is a wonderful thing; connections across the globe makes the world a smaller place, making me care more about natural events in case a postal friend is affected- floods, forest fires, wind, earthquakes... The uniqueness of people; their lives, hobbies, interests, families... Can get to know people by the written word. It can be a façade, but the written word tends to come out of thoughtfulness, slowed by the flow of ink (or graphite) across the page. In typing, on computer or touchscreen, autocorrect may get in the way. Words appear quicker, maybe even angrier, and less thoughtful, less kind. How many electronic messages have been typed and sent in haste? I know I'm not immune.

I don't take much notice of etiquette guides: these are relics of the past, when misogyny was not considered wrong, a woman couldn't open a bank account on her own, wife-beating was allowed (but not between 10pm to 7am in case it disturbed the neighbours) and the ability to withdraw consent was removed on marriage. You do NOT need expensive heavyweight papers for genuine penfriendship, nor is a fountain pen a necessity. You don't need to have master penmanship nor need to do calligraphy. A letter can be a work of art, mail art, written on almost any paper, lined/plain/dotted/square, monogrammed or with  motif or without, adorned with stickers and photographs and washi tape. 

But, none of that matters if what is written is wonderfully thought out, meaningful. It is the words that matter the most; it is the purpose of the letter. Kind words written on a serviette in a cafe are still kind words. Fuck Off! written in calligraphy on expensive paper is still Fuck Off! no matter how well written (certain bits of this sentence are in a text colour matching the background, so if you really want to see two words, one beginning with F and the other with O....).

On social media, I have come across letter writing snobbery. One post linked to an etiquette guide and complained about not being able to get fountain pen friendly letter writing paper. I'm afraid that is poppycock; the person must be in a very uncivilised part of the world otherwise. I receive a wide range of letters, from college note-taking paper (taking fountain pen ink rather well), to Santoro, to Diddl, to Basildon Bond, to Clairefontaine Triomphe, and others: they are great. To me, it doesn't matter if the paper is lined (some prefer that is it helps the writer to write straight), or having holes punched down the side to go in a ring binder (if I use this, I tend to cover the holes with stickers).  It doesn't even ,matter what writing implement is used - fountain pen, dip pen, gel pens, rollerballs, ballpoints, pencils... yet to receive one in crayon though. 

Snobbery also haunts another associated hobby - philately. On stamp messageboards, there's sad news about 2 philatelists, men, of a good age, passing away, but very little sadness around the death of another philatelist - a woman, aged 34, who was the managing director of a stamp auction house. She was so young, so full of life, so full of colour and adventure. She touched me postally with a few postcards, with humour. Punk Philatelist wrote some words about her at https://punkphilatelist.com/2025/02/02/vale-constanze-dennis-the-greatest/

2024 starts with no Old Spice!

So, Royal Mail have finally announced their 2024 stamp programme, although images of the Spice Girls stamps appeared on ebay last month. 

11 Jan - Spice Girls

1 Feb - Weather Forecasting (170th anniversary of the Meteorological Office, and also the centenary of the Shipping Forecast)

20 Feb - Viking Britain (Jorvik Centre in York opened 40 years ago this year)

12 March - Age of the Dinosaurs

16 April - 100 Years of Commemorative Stamps

16 May - Peppa Pig (20 years of Peppa Pig!)

6 June - Dogs

20 June - Red Arrows-60th anniversary.

25 July - Dungeons & Dragons (wonder which will be better, RM's stamps or USPS's)

13 Aug - Tower of London

3 Sep - Porridge (the TV series, first aired in 1974)

26 Sep - Spiders

17 Oct - The Who

5 Nov - Christmas 2024

30 Nov - Winston Churchill

A mix of themes, but missing is a stamp set commemorating 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), but other postal authorities are.

It is also the 200th anniversary of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), so wonder if that can be bundled in with the Dogs. 

Another 200th anniversary that could be celebrated is one for The National Gallery. 

I hoped there would be a nature/environmental theme, but hadn't expected Spiders. Also, the Europa theme this year is Underwater Flora & Fauna, so nothing here (though there is a diving bell spider).

I was hoping for Bagpuss, first aired in 1974. 

2023 almost at an end

Incowrimo - someone wrote in their address post about wanting long-term penpals, but although received a fair few letters, and replied, however none of the replies were responded to. The Feb projects do seem to have more participants only wanting a one-off letters. OK, there’s no contract to continue correspondence, nor to respond by the next day. Life/events do happen, and snail mail is a hobby, not a full time job with wages based on how many letters get written. This month, I received a letter in reply to an incowrimo missive I sent this February. Although it may be nice to receive letters sooner rather than later, late is better than even later/never!

I did throw my hat in the ring for the Feb letter projects but haven’t decided if I will participate in 2024. Early days. I am possibly at my limit of penfriendships I can manage in a timely manner (yes, I know what I wrote above, but I still would prefer to get replies out within a month of receipt). 

There were 2 postage rate rises. 1st class was 95p, then up to £1.10 and has finished the year on £1.25. 2nd class was 68p, now 75p but there’s rumours of it increasing more than by a few pennies next time. I am sending domestic post mostly by 2nd class post. International rates also increased, from £1.85 to £2.20 for airmail, and economy from £1.60 to £2 for letters outside of Europe. Royal Mail say that it is still offers good value, but putting £1.25 into a currency exchange, brings it out as more than the price of a global forever stamp from the USPS. 

On the stamps front, Royal Mail changed the silhouettes over in March for the Flowers issue. QEII’s last silhouette was on The Flying Scotsman issue. I like the flowers, and am finding it psychologically difficult to use them for postage, and same also for Discworld. There have been some curious values of stamps issued. £2 is OK, as that is the international surface mail rate, but £1… what is that? Half-way between 2nd and 1st class! The stamps celebrating the coronation were uninspiring. I don’t really know what Royal Mail is playing at. 

We approach the end of the year and we are none the wiser for next year’s stamp calendar. Deutsche Post’s was up by the end of May. USPS end of October with more issues announced later. Stamp dealers get advanced news but they can’t say have agreements with embargo dates perhaps lifted just under a week before the stamps’ issue. Less than a week, well, how can I plan which stamps I want to buy? As a stamp user, I need to know what values the stamps are, as well as the themes. 

Then there’s been the debacle over non-barcoded ordinary stamps. Those just with the Queen’s head, or country icons for the country definitives. Stamps Royal Mail have supplied in their exchange scheme, when used, some have been marked as counterfeit/fake, and others that are fake/counterfeit/used have been let through as OK. A right Royal (!) Fail. 

September round-up

Tomorrow is World Postcard Day, a celebration for the anniversary of the postcard. This year’s theme from Postcrossing for it is Postal Hugs. A lovely thought as a postcard can feel like a hug from a stranger. I am a Postcrosser but due to postage costs, am not as active as I used to be. Postage then was 50p to Europe but now that rate is £2.20. I will still send a few postcards now and again, and will write some tomorrow. 

Postcard designed by Christina Liew Jia Hui

Nowadays, I prefer to send letters, and getting to know strangers around the world. I am generally not looking for new penpals but sometimes it is hard to say no to a quality letter. A letter I am partway through replying to was written in August but for InCoWriMo (life got in the way sometime during February for the correspondent). 

3 stamp combination for postage from 2nd October

For the first rate of international postage, Monday will feel somewhat like a postage rate decrease, because the domestic first class stamp price will increase from £1,10 to £1.25. I have used mostly first class stamps, the current rate of airmail being 2 x 1st, but that will overpay on Monday. Domestic mail, what with all the woes Royal Mail have, especially overwhelmed with parcels they neglect to deliver letters daily quite often, I will be using 2nd class mostly - this remains at 75p (for now!). I know that Covid is doing the rounds again, and some posties call in sick, but there’s no cover available to do those rounds. 

Some stamps issued September 2023

September saw 2 stamp issues, one celebrating Paddington, and the other Dame Shirley Bassey. I wasn’t intending to buy that many Paddington stamps, but in the end, I bought a few, ahead of the price rise. Next up will be a stamp issue celebrating Harry Potter (yet again). All first class stamps. I will buy a few stamps, but not as many, perhaps, due to the price rise. The stamps are all 1st class. 

Today is also the last day of Stampex, a stamp exhibition in London. I have never attended, but have seen pictures and heard stories. I’ve imagined it to have been a grand affair, with stamp dealers selling old stamps, auction houses promoting upcoming sales, and Royal Mail selling modern stamps. However, the latter hasn’t happened this year because Royal Mail, in their wisdom (or lack of it), have not attended this year. A shame, not only because there are still some people collecting modern Royal Mail offerings, but also because there was a Postcrossing meet up with many postcards being written & signed needing postage to be sent on their way. 

Elsewhere, I find it a little sad someone with a stamp collection has never actually used a stamp, and has no interest at all in correcting that. Still, there are some people out there who will use stamps. I guess many of the postal authorities will have stamps for sale on their websites, and offer a decent choice of stamps available to use for postage. Surely there is at least one “adequate” issue they would be happy to use for postage… I know I buy more stamps from the issues I really like, and not so many of issues I’m not keen on. 

Has the snail mail revival failed?

I wonder, has the attempted revival of snail mail come to an end? At least one penpal mourns the closure of the Letter Writers Alliance, but other societies have sprung up on the web, and then there's groups on various social media platforms. The more the merrier perhaps, but maybe also is a disadvantage, with enthusiasm/effort being fractured all over the place. I live somewhere it is not feasible to have monthly meetups like at least a couple of societies in the US have. 

Due to history/circumstance, I do not want to put my face out there, and I also dislike my accent; the sound of my voice. I have my own little snail mail forum, and has been up for over 8 years now, but maybe it is a lost cause. Someone commented before I started the forum that for a forum to do well, it needs at least 100 very active members, but sadly, my forum doesn't get a fifth of that visiting daily, and not even 50 members have logged on in the last month. I know... snail mail is an offline hobby. However, those I do postally know who have logged in, I could describe as lovely. I can't use that word for some people on reddit as various groups there seem cliquey and at times, downright unpleasant, but that was a while ago. I've heard about others being bullied there too.

I'm still having problems with Instagram on my computer. It only shows my 9 top posts for a hashtag, and I'm missing out on what my friends post unless I grab my mobile. The mobile screen's keyboard is not as nice as my computer's keyboard. 

And then there's Royal Fail Mail who refuse to go to the Stampex this autumn. They seem to have no clue what stamps are valid for postage and what is fake/reused. 

Then, there's the post offices where it is an inconvenience to them for you to buy stamps, and most won't have the commemorative stamps plus can't be arsed to order even though you could become a regular customer. However, one lovely little post office I visit is bothered, and on a couple of occasions they've not had the miniature sheet on day of issue when I arrive (within 30 minutes of opening), they have ordered them in for me to buy on my next visit. I usually spend in exess of £50* on a stamp issue I (or even my penfriends) like. It might only be a few pennies a post office makes from their sale, but it all adds up.

*If I want stamps for letter postage, it costs the same to use commemorative nice one(s) as ordinary one(s).

A bit late as we are coming to the end of the summer holiday season, but if you do go away for even a short break, do consider sending postcards. Be careful though of stamps offered by tourist shops/attractions, as they might be ones supplied by Universal Mail - their International Postcard stamps, and will only be valid to use for postcards going abroad (and they'll go the long way). I have no idea how much they are charging for them, maybe even more than Royal Mail's. They are not valid for domestic postage, although I did see some postcards with them on in a London postbox, but their destinations were somewhere in England. 

Blackadder stamps..

Today, Royal Mail issued stamps celebrating the TV series Blackadder. So, forth I went to a little post office to buy the stamps and the miniature sheet. There was however a problem - they didn't have any of the Blackadder miniature sheets for me to buy, so I will have to be patient, and wait until next month as the post office will order in the miniature sheet for me to buy when I go for the next issue of stamps. Fine! 

But what about the other stamps?  I bought 8 first class stamps, and 8 £2.20 stamps, although there were also 2nd class stamps, and £2.00 which is the current international surface mail rate for letters/postcards outside Europe, but didn't buy these values. I can't see many people using the £2.00 rate. Before the postage rate change in April, airmail first rate was £1.85 but that covered 20g worldwide, whereas the surface mail/international economy rate was £1.60 for 100g. 100g airmail was £2.55 so quite a difference.

What did surprise me was that they still had 6 miniature sheets of A New Reign issue. My local main post office was only sent 2 miniature sheets and they sold out within the first hour. The little post office had been sent over a dozen. So, I bought 2 sheets. Maybe I'll buy the rest if they have any left next month when Warhammer comes out. 

My Postcrossing anniversary

Earlier this month, I celebrated my Postcrossing anniversary. I hadn't sent any Postcrossing postcards out this year, so thought I should request a few addresses on my anniversary. I was not disappointed with who the system paired me up with. I went down a rabbit hole of looking up the writres mentioned on a couple of the profiles, out of curiosity leaving me with books to add to my wish-list. At least one of the writers is one I hope to mention in a future blog post. 

I had somewhat forgotten how much space (or lack of space) there is on a postcard for the postage. Lucky that the postage rate for international airmail is also 2 x 1st class, so I have a wealth of choice for making up the postage. 

Where possible, I try to match the stamps to the interests mentioned on the profile. Sometimes, it takes me longer to choose the postage than it is to write the postcard. 

I am still very fond of Postcrossing, but the postage rate to send just a mere postcard overseas does seem to be a bit on the extortionate side. What else can I get for that price? A cup of dishwater one coffee chain purports to be tea costs more, and isn't as nice as the feeling you get when you get the Hurrah email from Postcrossing informing you a postcard has arrived, plus the recipient's message! 

Musings for the new year, 2023

Snail Mail, the sending of letters through the post may seem outdated in the digital & internet age, but there are people finding doing this offline activity enjoyable, and stress-reducing. The analogue nature, the wait for the response adds to the relaxing nature of the hobby. Letters can demand to be answered but usually there is not the urgency that emails command. 

How do we attract new people to the hobby, when there is a cost of living crisis? As I type, to send a regular letter within the UK costs 68p with a second class stamp. What else can you get for 68p? The cost of stationery used for a letter can be mere pennies. You don’t need expensive paper, nor costly pens to write a letter. You don’t need to use papers specifically designed for letters, though when I have bought such sets (paper with matching envelopes), the ratio of sheets to envelopes is wrong for my requirements (2 pages of A5 is not enough, and these writing set sheets are mostly decorated on one side, and/or perhaps the other side is not suitable for writing on). Then, there are notecards, but for longer missives, paper needs to be added in. 

Maybe letter writing is an excuse for some people to use their fountain pens. It was someone associated with the fountain pen industry who started the February letter writing project called InCoWriMo, where participants write a letter every day in the month. A way to practise penmanship, cursive handwriting, or even calligraphy. The latter is more of an art form rather than a flow of words. 

But this can give the impression letter writing is a snobby hobby! I have received letters written with fountain pens worth over £1000. Does that make those letters worth more than ones written with cheap ballpoint or gel pens? No. It is the words / content of the letter that matters to me, but if writing with a nice pen brings joy to the writer… I’m all for that. 

How do you find penpals? There are various penpalling sites out there, both more traditional sites, and places on social media. I have tried a few, with very much a mixed success. One size does not fit all. My way of snailmailing may not suit everyone. It may also take you time to find your style as well. Friendships take time, and may not work for everyone. How many people in your classes at school would you refer to as good friends then, and how many of them now? 

When I started this blog, there were several more snailmail blogs. Now, there aren't that many regularly updated. A shame. Everything seems to be on Instagram, with pretty pictures, rather than words and something to read & engage the mind. I'm tired of the algorithms social media use making it harder to see what I want to see and so I missed out on many posts by penfriends & other snailmail people I was following. Pictures, images, instant gratification. And as for the birdplace, well... that is another kettle of fish.

Snailmail is not an elite hobby.

Summer update

Summer weather has arrived in the UK, with sunshine and warm temperatures, I have been able to enjoy the outdoors, from walking well-trodden routes, to gardening closer to home. So much time taken away from letter writing, but I have written bits of letters in the outdoors; overlooking the Irish Sea, or the great Welsh countryside.

I've also been writing letters in cafes, while sipping lovely cups of tea. Something quite civilised in it, deep in conversation with a friend over drinks, even if that penfriend is asleep on the other side of the world. I may look to be sitting on my own, but I am in good company. However, I see people sitting together but they are looking at their smartphone screens rather than taking notice of each other: there's nothing more lonely than being alone in a crowd. 

Over the summer, there has been a lot of misinformation about Royal Mail stamps. 

Yet, not all stamps without the datamatrix code (barcode) will be invalidated. The special issue stamps are fine for the moment, as are Christmas stamps (though they had been for the chop). However, the country definitive stamps (small stamps with symbols/icons associated with the nation, e.g. for Wales, this is the leek, dragon, and daffodil) will go, but new ones with datamatrix codes have been issued to post offices.

Deutsche Post has datamatrix codes on some of their stamps, and I think they look rather good. Definitely not as intrusive/ugly as those Royal Mail have issued.

I'm especially liking the new definitive stamp series, Welt der Briefe, World of Letters. Wow, the ones I've seen so far look great. Perhaps this spells the end of the Flower series. 

Sunday Stamps - Birds

For today's Sunday Stamps theme, Birds, set by See it on a Postcard I have delved through my blog archives and have come across these:

The Taiwan Blue Magpie miniature sheet from 2008. A postcrosser had sent them to me along with a postcard, all because I mentioned that we like stamps and my son also had an interest.

Sunday Stamps - Wildlife

Today's Sunday Stamps theme is wildlife, set by See it on a Postcard so I've chosen a couple of stamps I've received on mail.

There was a stamp issue from Royal Mail with owls, and I think this is one of the nicer issues RM have issued.

I'm also in awe at the bioluminescent life issue from the USPS. I am not sure if I have a complete set on envelopes.

Sunday Stamps - Transportation

See it on a Postcard sets the theme for Sunday Stamps, and today's is Transportation so I've gone a bit loco. 

Royal Mail have issued miniature sheets, Classic Locomotives and here are just three of the sheets (I do have the Welsh one somewhere or perhaps I've used the stamps).

And below a few more trains, although I am not a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine and friends, I still think the stamps are nice! 

I really miss train travel. Maybe can do some this year. I haven't been on a train in very almost 2 years. 

Sunday Stamps - Love / Hearts

 As Valentine's Day approaches, time to celebrate Love and Hearts on stamps, a theme set by a blog See it on a Postcard

The US Postal Service loves stamps and loves issuing love on stamps. So, here is a small selection I have received on letters. 

I don't have a huge choice of Royal Mail issued stamps for the theme, the best I could find was this one celebrating Shakespeare. 

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs

Sunday Stamps - Winter Sports

Well, the Winter Olympics have started, and I remembered that there are stamps with the games and sports on them. Today's theme is Winter Sports, set by See it on a Postcard

I've watched a few ends of Curling, and think it could be interesting to try. Quite a bit of skill. Fascinated by the way they glide and sweep on the ice. Never played myself but did play some lawn bowls in town several years ago. 

Then, there's the lenticular Alpine Skiing stamps from Finland issued in 2008. I think I have received them all one way or another on Postcrossing postcards. I have never been skiing. Although the hills/mountains near where I live do get snow, in recent years not usually enough for skiing. There are some dry ski slopes within 30 miles though. 
 

Sunday Stamps - Flags

 For Sunday Stamps, the theme set by See it on a Postcard is maps, flags. 

So, I bring you the one and only Y Ddraig Goch, the Welsh flag; the best there is! Cymru am byth!

Sunday Stamps - Writers/Composers

Sunday Stamps is set by the blog See it on a Postcard and today's theme is Writers, Composers, so I bring you a mix.

I have not read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works, but have heard/seen adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. This stamp was one of 10 commemorating 10 Eminent Britons back in 2009.

Next up is Benjamin Britten, a composer and pianist. This stamp was one of 10 commemorating 10 Great Britons in 2013.

These stamps, Hollywood Composers, I found in an antiques store, a whole sheet for less than face value at the then exchange rate. I bought it, and started enclosing a few stamps to a couple of US penpals for them to use (to me or to anyone else, or even to scrapbook/journal). 

Sunday Stamps - Blue

The theme for Sunday Stamps is set by See it on a Postcard, and this time, the theme is blue.

A Postcrossing friend wanted to thank me for some information and had this postcard sent to me with a special postmark cancellation.

Also via Postcrossing, I received many postcards from Thailand, and on this one, was a stamp made with Thai Silk. Other nations have issued fabric stamps. 
 

Sunday Stamps - New / Recent

 See it on a Postcard sets the themes for Sunday Stamps. Today's is new / recent stamps, so first I'm bringing you one of my favourite issues of 2021 from Royal Mail.

I think this is a well designed miniature sheet, issued in August 2021. I haven't used any from the miniature sheet, I don't think. Maybe an electric bill payment could be sent in with the 2nd class stamp!

The DC Comics stamps are another recent issue, from September 2021 and I have been using some of these stamps on outgoing mail.

I don't show much received post these days so I thought I'd show an envelope from the US received last month. All three stamps had been issued last year, the Raven Story, a Japanese American soldier in WWII, and a Heritage Breeds stamp with a Milking Devon Cow. 

Sunday Stamps - Christmas

See in on a Postcard sets the Sunday Stamps theme, and today's is Christmas. I hope you've all had a pleasant 25th December.

We didn't put up a Christmas tree this year, although did have a little festive decoration up. I have a USB string of lights attached to my computer, and we have other festive lights up on the dining table. I do still quite like illuminations, cheering up a corner or a street or a square, whether with patterns or shapes*. Long gone are the days I'd be taken to Oxford Street or Regent Street in London and gaze up at the lights or look in the shop windows at their displays. I could spend hours and hours in Hamleys. I think at least one of my string puppets came from there, but hasn't been played with much in over 40 years.

*The lights can be mesmerizing.

Christmas can be full of characters. I haven't read this particular Little Miss, but have read some of the others in the series. I like Mr Messy, which can sum up Christmas Day and neighbouring days, what with food preparation (I remember the first time I cooked Christmas dinner...) and with wrapping/unwrapping...