Royal Mail issued Animail Stamps, a set of six colourful, characterful animal character stamps bringing some more fun to the post.

The stamps features animal characters that can wrap around the edge of an envelope or cling on to a postcard.

The stamps were designed by Andrew Ross, of London based design company Osborne Ross.

Animail stamps – colourful and characterful

To add some more fun to sending and receiving post, Royal Mail launches its ‘ Animail stamps ‘ – a set of six animal character stamps.

The colourful, characterful stamps feature a Woodpecker, Snake, Chimpanzee, Bat, Orangutan and Koala Bear.

The stamps are designed to brighten up the letters and cards, particularly for children.

The self-adhesive Animail stamps are in the shape of the animal, and not the usual rectangular format.

The special animal shape of the stamps allows its hands, feet or indeed tail can fold over the edge of the envelope or card.

The Design Challenge

The stamps were designed by Andrew Ross, of London based design company Osborne Ross, who were given the challenge of devising interactive stamps that would brighten up letters and cards, particularly for children.

Wanting to ‘push the envelope’ he had to work within the constraints of the technical requirements around postage stamps, including the need for them to be easily read by Royal Mail’s sorting machines.

Andrew came up with the idea of engaging, friendly and fun animal characters that could ‘cling’ to the top or side of envelopes.

He wanted to create a variety of shapes and colours to generate interest but was mindful that each character had to sit comfortably alongside each other and have a degree of consistency so that they clearly looked like they were part of a set.

Designer, Andrew Ross, said: “This was an exciting challenge and one which shows the continued importance that the Royal Mail places on design. We wanted the simple act of folding the stamp around the envelope to make these little characters come alive. We hope they will appeal to people of all ages.”

Philip Parker, Stamp Strategy Manager, Royal Mail, said: “We’re sure that these quirky stamps will brighten up the sending and receiving of mail, whether you are six years old, or 60.

“The designers of these unusually-shaped stamps have created some eye-catching images to add fun to the sending and receiving of mail.

“Each of the six Animail stamps is a unique shape, so the creature looks as if it clings or hangs on to the edge of the mail. We hope these raise smiles around the UK and the world.”

About Andrew Ross – Stamp designer

The stamps were designed by Andrew Ross of London based design company Osborne Ross, who has worked on many projects for Royal Mail’s Stamps and Collectibles team.

His first project was the National Portrait Gallery Presentation Pack and FDC in 2006, followed by the 2007 Sea Life stamps and products, the 2008 Action for Species: Insects stamps and the 2009 Christmas stamps.

Andrew has worked at a number of prestigious design companies, including Pentagram, The Partners and Johnson Banks, where he worked on the Fun Fruit and Veg stamps.

Title: Animail stamps from Royal Mail
Date of Issue: 17 May 2016
Country: Great Britain
Denominations: 1st x 2, £ 1.05 x 2, £ 1.33 x 2

Source: Royal Mail Stamps

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