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Royal Mail Burns Stamps

No, not actually burning stamps, but celebrating Scotland’s favourite son and hero Robert Burns who was born 250 years ago in 1759.

Also known as Rabbie Burns, he is seen by most as Scotland’s national poet and is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement. Dying in 1796 at the young age of 37, he produced some brilliant work which is celebrated today throughout the world.

Inspiring poets and politicians alike (he influenced members of the liberal and socialist movements), his life is marked every January with Burns Night.

And to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Burns, the Royal Mail has a special stamp issue which consists of a special miniature sheet which has six stamps, two of which are completely new designs.

The special sheet went on sale just in time for this year’s Burns Night.

The first of the new stamps features the famous portrait of Burns by Alexander Naysmith and the other consists of a quotation from A Man’s a Man for a’ That, one of his best known works.

The other four stamps on the sheet show well known Scottish images, including Rampant Lion, Saltire, Tartan and Thiostle.

Alongside the stamps will be a number of other Royal Mail souvenir products including three new postcards. One will come with an illustration of the Burns stamp sheet, and the other two will be for the two new stamps.

Furthermore, there will be a special first day cover with commemorative Edinburgh postmarks, together with a haggis illustration. There will also be one from Alloway, with red roses. The Burns Federation will additionally use a special Kilmarnock postmark.

There is also available a special souvenir presentation pack which includes a coin cover, the miniature sheet of stamps and one of the new Auld Lang Syne £2 coins which has also been created to commemorate the anniversary. This cover will come complete with its own Alloway postmark.

And for those that want something really special and ideal for framing, they can buy a limited edition press sheet (2009 only) of the new stamps, which contain 21 miniature sheets.