New Issue: Love the Postbox (South Africa)

To mark World Post Day (9th October), South Africa has issued a set of two stamps called "Love the Postbox".

What is not to love about postboxes?

I have never been to South Africa but they clearly have red postboxes too. And, if you look at the First Day Cover, you will see that they have a mixture of traditional as well as modern postboxes just like in the UK.

Some of these are from the time when parts of South Africa were colonies of the British Empire, so perhaps it is not surprising that they are quite similar to British postboxes.

On the stamps we see cartoon versions of two postboxes. One is a more traditional pillar-style, while the other is more modern. Both are smiling while birds fly around with letters in their beaks.

Design Quality: The designs are simple, but also fun, quirky and immediately eye-catching. Red is the main colour, so the postboxes stand out strongly against the white backgrounds of the stamps and the blue sky on the first day cover. Just in case anyone misses the message, “Love the Postbox” is written in large, flowing red lettering.

The artwork is especially clever because it celebrates both old and new postboxes. One stamp features a tall, traditional pillar box, while the other shows a more modern postbox. Both have faces, which make them appear alive and gives them very different personalities. The older box looks quite thoughtful, while the modern one seems cheerful and friendly. After all, we know that postboxes have character!

The letter-carrying pigeons are another great touch. One letter has a heart-shaped sticker on the back, which connects the word "Love" with not just the postbox but letter writing too. 7/10

Theme and Subject Choice: Telling us to “Love the Postbox” is a brilliant theme! Postboxes are fantastic but perhaps not loved as much as they should be. These stamps encourage us to stop and appreciate them.

Postboxes play an important part in connecting people. Every letter dropped inside one might contain important news, a birthday greeting, a thank-you note or a message for someone far away. Even in the modern age, postboxes are still important and they deserve to have a stamp issue dedicated to them as well as a bit of love. 10/10 Historical and Cultural Relevance: Postboxes are iconic and an important part of postal history. The first day cover focuses on the historical theme by showing a line of South African postboxes in many shapes and sizes. Together, they suggest how the country’s postal system and its postbox designs have developed over time.

Some are tall and decorative, while others are plainer and more practical. Looking at them is almost like seeing a miniature timeline of postal history. It would have been interesting if the cover had included dates or labels identifying the different boxes, but the illustrations still help tell the story of South Africa’s postal heritage. 7/10 Innovation and Creativity: These stamps are creative because they turn ordinary street objects into cartoon characters. Giving the postboxes eyes, faces and expressions makes them more memorable and encourages us to imagine the stories they might tell after years of collecting people’s letters.

Although cartoon characters on stamps are not completely new, using cartoons to give old and modern postboxes their own personalities is an unusual and fun approach. 6/10 Collectability: Postboxes are a popular subject with stamp collectors, particularly those interested in postal history.

However, unlike most of this kind of stamp, these are not realistic pictures of famous postboxes. Their faces and cartoon style may not appeal to traditional collectors who prefer detailed or historically accurate images. On the other hand, the unusual approach could make the set more interesting to collectors who enjoy humorous stamps, character designs or modern artwork. The first day cover, with its row of historic postboxes, adds extra interest. 6/10

Personal Appeal: I think these stamps are rather odd but also quite interesting. The postboxes’ faces are slightly strange, yet that is part of what makes the designs so memorable.

More importantly, they make a really important point: we should value our postboxes and the service they provide. These may be South African stamps, but their message is as important here in the UK as it is in South Africa. Postboxes connect communities and help people send thoughts, news and even love across long distances. Perhaps showing them with faces helps us to see postboxes differently—and to give them the appreciation they deserve? 7/10 Overall Score: 43/60