New Wales definitive stamps from Great Britain’s Royal Mail

By David Hartwig

A Nov. 14 stamp issue from Great Britain’s Royal Mail features two new country, or regional, definitive stamps for Wales.

Royal Mail offers the Wales country definitive stamps valued at the first-class rate (currently £1.65) and the second-class rate (currently 85 pence). While these stamps represent Wales, they are valid for postage throughout the United Kingdom.

The Nov. 14 stamps feature designs that Royal Mail has used for several years, with a dragon forged from Welsh steel on the first-class stamp and a leek carved from Welsh sycamore on the second-class stamp.

These are the first Wales country definitive stamps to feature the silhouette of King Charles III. Each stamp also has a barcode separated by a simulated perforation line. The barcode can be scanned with a smartphone.

The new country definitive stamps were designed by Tutssels Enterprise IG, and Cartor Security Printers printed them by lithography in sheets of 25. They have self-adhesive gum. The stamps are perforated 15 by 14.5 and measure 39 millimeters by 30mm.

In addition to the stamps, Royal Mail offers a single first-day cover franked with both stamps. The first-day cover can be canceled with either a Tallents House postmark or a postmark from Cardiff, Wales.

The Wales country definitive stamps and related products can be ordered from Royal Mail’s website. Ordering information also is available from Royal Mail, Tallents House, 21 S. Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB, Scotland.

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