The team at Tony Lester Stamps were deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. As we leave the period of national mourning and welcome a new monarch, many of you may be wondering what happens to the existing stamps bearing the likeness of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II graced our stamps for the past 70 years, so many will be wondering when we will get new stamps, and what will happen to old stamps now that she is no longer on the throne.
In this guide, we will explore the protocol surrounding the changing of monarchs on stamps, and what this means for collectors.
What will happen to the current stamps?
When a new monarch is crowned, the process of updating stamps begins. Current stamps bearing Queen Elizabeth II will be valid until 31st January 2023. After this point, all stamps issued will have a barcode alongside them, and any stamp issued without a barcode will no longer be valid.
If you’re holding on to stamps and you intend to use them, you will have to mail your items before this date. After this date, your stamps will no longer be valid. You will have the option to swap up to £200 worth of stamps for new issue stamps of the same value, so you’ll have to decide which ones to keep and which ones to update.
To mark the death of the Queen, Royal Mail issued a set of commemorative stamps showcasing images of the Queen from throughout her reign. Until recently, all stamps entering circulation had
to be approved by the Queen, so these are the first stamps to be approved by the new King.
When will new stamps enter circulation?
Stamps bearing the likeness of King Charles III will enter circulation on 10th November 2022. They are now available to pre-order on the Royal Mail website. You’ll be able to order a presentation pack containing all four new designs and these are expected to be very popular with collectors.
What does this mean for collectors?
For collectors, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II marks the end of an era. When the new stamps enter circulation and the old stamps are no longer issued, we anticipate that some rare stamps could soar in value.
If you’re thinking about starting a stamp collection or adding to your existing collection, now is the time to do it. Many of the stamps featuring Queen Elizabeth II will become collector’s items in their own right, so snap them up while you still can.
When it comes to collecting, there are no rules. You can collect whatever takes your fancy. We anticipate that all stamps featuring Queen Elizabeth II will increase in value, not just the rare ones.