Royal Mail has unveiled its new Christmas stamps, celebrating the Nativity story with colourful illustrations.
The five-stamp collection was designed by Gareth Howat and illustrated by Rebecca Sutherland.
The stamps depict key Nativity scenes, including Mary and Joseph’s journey, the infant Jesus, an angel, shepherds, and the Three Wise Men.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first-ever Christmas special stamps, which were issued on December 1, 1966.
In May of that year, a children's art competition was announced by then-postmaster general Tony Benn, and the first stamps were a result of that.
Ms Sutherland said: "It’s an absolute honour to have had the opportunity to illustrate Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps.
"Designing the Christmas stamps has always been right at the top of my list, so to be part of their long and distinguished history really does feel like a career highlight.
"I’ve loved stamps since I was a child.
A brief history of Royal Mail
"I used to collect them from envelopes, carefully take them off the paper, and arrange them into sets, so being asked to create a set myself feels incredibly special."
David Gold, of Royal Mail, said: "There’s something very special about receiving a card or letter through the post at Christmas.
"We hope this year’s Christmas stamps will add an extra touch of festive magic to the millions of greetings sent to family and friends at home and around the world."
Royal Mail celebrates Winnie the Pooh's 100th anniversary with stamp collection
Childhood favourite Winnie the Pooh was celebrated on a set of stamps in October this year as the storybook character celebrates 100 years of existence.
Royal Mail issued a collection of 10 stamps to honour the centenary of A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, which was originally published on October 14, 1926.
The stamps feature the illustrations of E. H. Shepard that introduced generations to the adventures of Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Which postage stamps are your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
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