Royal Mail’s Oct. 1 definitive meets new international standard rate

By David Hartwig

Great Britain’s Royal Mail issued a £2.80 definitive stamp Oct. 1 to meet postage rates taking effect Oct. 7.

The stamp features a portrait of King Charles III initially created by Martin Jennings for new coinage from the Royal Mint. Royal Mail calls the stamp’s background color slate blue.

The king’s effigy appears to the left of a barcode printed in the same color as the stamp and separated by a simulated wavy-line die cut. The barcode can be scanned with a smartphone.

The £2.80 denomination pays the international standard rate for letters, which increases from £2.50 with the Oct. 7 price change.

Cartor Security Printers printed the stamp by gravure in sheets of 25. Each stamp is perforated 15 by 14.5 and measures 39 millimeters by 30mm.

Royal Mail offers an official first-day cover franked with the stamp. An available presentation pack contains the stamp and information about the king’s portrait.

The stamps can be ordered online. Ordering information also is available from Royal Mail, Tallents House, 21 S. Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB, Scotland.

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