A guide to postage stamp values in the UK

There are many different price valuations for British postage stamps, and the Royal Mail is responsible for postage stamp valuations in the UK. Mail in the UK is delivered either by first or second class post, and to overseas destinations by airmail or by surface mail. This article explains the various differences in both postage stamp values and design.

A wide range of UK postage stamp denominations

The lowest price denomination for a British stamp is 1p, and the highest is £5. Because of decimalisation in the UK in 1971, all British stamps are available to collectors in both old and new pence. Another change, after decimalisation, came about when the half penny was no longer issued in Britain, and, consequently, no longer featured on stamps. Throughout the history of the Royal Mail, colours of first and second class stamps in the UK have changed regularly.

Changes in recent years

Second and first class stamps now include '1st' and '2nd' on them, rather than the actual value of the stamps in terms of pence. A large stamp is used to post parcels, and a smaller stamp is used for an envelope containing a letter. First and second class stamps are also available with a self-adhesive backing. The cost of a first class stamp went up to 46p in early 2011, and a second class stamp went up to 36p. The cost of stamps is the subject of some controversy in the UK, due to the rapid increase in price in recent years.

Ways of purchasing stamps

Buying stamps has been done traditionally at a post office in the UK, but it is now easy to buy postage stamps online, or in shops and supermarkets. Online buying of stamps can also be done via the Royal Mail website. It is also now possible to buy stamps online from Royal Mail that can be printed out. These are not, however, postage stamps in the conventional sense, but stamps which have postage values on them, and can be printed onto adhesive labels and put straight onto envelopes. Letters are ready for posting after the stamp has been placed on the mailing envelope.

Stamp collecting

Stamp collecting is still a popular hobby, and as with collecting and selling coins, it still represents a hobby that often starts in childhood and continues into adulthood. A stamp collector will purchase stamps by mail, and some collectors will also swap and sell stamps to other collectors. Stanley Gibbons is a firm famous for selling postage stamps, and they have British stamps for sale dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria. They sell some high value stamps that can cost hundreds of pounds individually. The Royal Mail regularly produce collectable commemorative stamps to mark special occasions.