Why Britain’s new stamps are causing outrage and upset

In February 2022 Royal Mail introduced barcodes to stamps. These will include regular ‘everyday’ Definitive stamps – the ones with the profile of HM The Queen, as well as Christmas stamps.  

Each barcode is unique and an integral part of the stamp, so when using these new stamps you must keep the barcode attached otherwise they are invalid.

Stamps without a barcode can be used until 31 Jan 2023 and will continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted. Barcoded and non-barcoded stamps can be used together on one item if required. 

Royal Mail are encouraging customers to use up their non-barcoded stamps before 31 Jan 2023. Where this is not possible, non-barcoded stamps can exchanged using Royal Mail’s 'Swap Out' scheme. Please note, stamps cannot be exchanged in Post Office branches 

From The Guardian: Royal Mail’s stamps are finally entering the digital world, with printed codes that can be used to track letters or linked to videos. Collectors, traditionalists and royalists are not amused...

www.theguardian.com