I know we’re a month in already but what do you think to the new stamper? Time and dates are a funny thing, like who decided a year runs from January to December, but maybe we could take inspiration from the Chinese with their New Year starting in February.

I’m also hesitant to name any one year as the Year of the Letter because every year is, but there’s been lots of talk recently about everyone longing for physical permanence (is that the phrase?) in 2026 and not wishing to jump on the band wagon, but I thought it would be fun to help it along by adding letter writing into the mix.

We laid some pretty good foundations in 2025 what with celebrating #PennyBlackDay, the Big Summer Holiday Postcard Drop, and #ChristmasCard Day, as well as the ever popular weekly #PostboxSaturday, so it’s lovely to keep that momentum going.

For Penny Black Day on 6th May, eldest and I went up to London on our first pilgrimage (of sorts) to find Sir Rowland Hill’s grave in Westminster Abbey.

For the Big Summer Holiday #PostcardDrop2025, we received a record number of postcards arriving at THLAS HQ with a grand total of 547 from 32 countries.

And for #ChristmasCardDay on 9th December it was another chance for a little pilgrimage to London to lay a wreath on Sir Henry Cole’s grave in Brompton Cemetery.

So 2026 feels like the perfect year to really go all out in putting letters back on the map for everyone! And not wanting to be pessimistic but having seen what’s happened in Denmark, if we don’t take positive action this could actually be the very last year of the letter, full stop. (Although I sincerely hope not)

So, get those pens and paper and envelopes and stamps out, if you haven’t already, and join us as we continue to inspire and encourage everyone to keep writing letters. You never know, Royal Mail (or any of the postal services worldwide) might even get onboard the idea too!

Dinah

PS If you would like your very own “Year of the Letter” stamper, they are available from our English Stamp Company collaboration page HERE. (We receive 10% on sales to help towards keeping THLAS going)