Winnie the Pooh
The Royal Mail issue for this year’s Europa theme, which is children’s books, honours one of Britain’s most popular pieces of literature for the young and young at heart, the Winnie-the-Pooh series by A A Milne.
Released on October 12, it comprises a total of 10 stamp designs, all reproducing E H Shepard’s original illustrations for Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), Now We Are Six (1927) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).
The six sheet stamps show Pooh with one of his animal friends, while the four stamps in the miniature sheet focus on his relationship with Christopher Robin. The latter additionally have the opening lines of Milne’s poem, Wherever I am, There’s Always Pooh running through them.
Philip Parker, Head of Stamp Strategy for Royal Mail, said: ‘We know that Winnie-the-Pooh is a stamp issue that will rekindle many fond memories for people of all ages.’
The stamps were designed by Magpie Studios and printed in lithography by Cartor. The Europa logo is included on both 1st class values.
COMMEMORATIVE WORTH 
This is British literature and art worth celebrating, but did it require 10 stamps?
QUALITY OF DESIGN
These are extremely simple stamps, but that is perfectly in keeping with Pooh himself!
WOW FACTOR
We were all young once, and these distinctive images will strike a chord with many
1st class Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet & Christopher Robin
Pooh, Piglet and Christopher Robin skipping around, from the book of verse Now We Are Six.
58p Winnie-the-Pooh & Piglet
Pooh and Piglet walk off into the wind on their way to Kanga’s house, in The House at Pooh Corner.
60p Winnie-the-Pooh & Rabbit
Pooh informs Rabbit about the ‘Expotition to the North Pole’, in Winnie-the-Pooh.
67p Winnie-the-Pooh & Eeyore
Pooh sings ‘Cottleston Pie’ to Eeyore, in Winnie-the-Pooh.
88p Winnie-the-Pooh & friends
Pooh is joined by Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, Owl and Piglet for a Pooh party, in Winnie-the-Pooh.
97p Winnie-the-Pooh & Tigger
Pooh discovers that Tiggers don’t like honey, in The House at Pooh Corner.
MINIATURE SHEET
1st class Winnie-the-Pooh & Christopher Robin
The two friends playing together, from Now We Are Six.
60p Christopher Robin reads to Winnie-the-Pooh
Pooh is too fat to get out of Rabbit’s burrow, and Christopher Robin reads to him while he waits to slim down, from Winnie-the-Pooh.
88p Winnie-the-Pooh & Christopher Robin set sail
Floating in an umbrella named 'The Brain of Pooh', from Winnie-the-Pooh.
97p Christopher Robin Pulls on his Wellingtons
Preparing for ‘The Expotition to the North Pole’ in Winnie-the-Pooh.
Other products
In the presentation pack, which contains both the set of six and the miniature sheet, Brian Sibley takes a closer look at the Pooh stories and the lives of the author Milne and the illustrator Shepard.
As usual there’s a first day cover envelope and stamp cards.
PRICES
Sheet stamps £4.11
Miniature sheet £2.86
Presentation pack £7.50
Stamp cards £4.40
First day envelope £0.30
First day cover (set) £5.31
First day cover (miniature sheet) £3.84
TOTAL £28.32
