Royal mail stamp swap out

You're referring to the Royal Mail's stamp swap-out program!

The Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, periodically updates its stamp designs to reflect changes in British culture, history, and society. When this happens, they often swap out old stamps with new ones, which can be a exciting development for philatelists (stamp collectors) and postal enthusiasts.

Here's how the swap-out process typically works:

1. New stamp designs are introduced: The Royal Mail announces new stamp designs, which are often themed around a specific topic, such as a royal event, a historical anniversary, or a popular culture phenomenon.
2. Old stamps are withdrawn: The Royal Mail withdraws the old stamps from circulation, which means they are no longer valid for postage.
3. New stamps are issued: The new stamps are introduced into circulation, and postal customers can use them to send mail.
4. Stamp collectors and enthusiasts rejoice: Philatelists and postal enthusiasts can collect the new stamps, which often become highly sought after by collectors.

Some notable examples of Royal Mail stamp swap-outs include:

• The introduction of the Machin series in 1967, which featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and became a iconic part of British postal history.
• The 2012 Diamond Jubilee stamps, which celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's 60th anniversary on the throne.
• The 2016 Brexit-themed stamps, which marked the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

If you're interested in collecting Royal Mail stamps or learning more about the swap-out process, I recommend checking out the Royal Mail's website or visiting a local post office.