Everyone enjoys receiving Christmas cards from family and friends but this tradition is now at risk.  The steady and steep rise in the cost of postage has sadly led to a significant decline in the number of Christmas cards being sent each year in the UK.  We are calling on Royal Mail to introduce a special 50p stamp specifically for Christmas and Seasonal Greetings cards that would be valid for a one-month period each year, say from 15 November to 15 December.  

Sending and receiving Christmas and Seasonal greetings by post is not just a much loved tradition, but a vital means of connection for many.  For the elderly, lonely and those who live far from loved ones and friends, receiving a card at Christmas can bring immense joy and comfort. For businesses it is a tangible reminder to valuable customers that they are appreciated.  Over 300 charities are involved in Christmas card fundraising schemes in the UK and benefit from both the revenue generated by sales and the increased awareness to their cause. Museums, galleries and public organisations also benefit from producing and selling seasonal greetings cards.  

Why have we started this petition?   Sir Henry Cole, the man behind the first commercial Christmas card, was our great, great, great Grandfather. Not only was he the inaugural Director and Founder of the V&A Museum, but most importantly, in the 1840s he also played a pivotal role in reforming the British postal system.  He helped to set up the Uniform Penny Post, introducing the Penny Black stamp and flat rates for postage, making the cost of sending a letter affordable to everyone.   History has shown that the impact of the Uniform Penny Post caused a massive increase in mail volume, stimulated business, allowed families to stay connected, and encouraged literacy.

We believe that if the Royal Mail created a time-limited stamp each year for Christmas post, this small change could make a very big difference.  As well as being a positive message to its customers and encouraging them to use its service, it would be a means of reconnecting people and supporting charitable causes during the festive season. It’s time to revive the tradition of sending Christmas cards, making them accessible to everyone again. An electronic message only lasts as long as it is visible on a screen, a card sent by post can be displayed and enjoyed until the festive season is over and it is time to take down the decorations.

Please sign this petition and join us, our family and hopefully many, many others in encouraging Royal Mail to introduce a special Christmas stamp so that sending Christmas cards becomes more affordable at the most expensive time of the year.

We hope you will spread the word and encourage others to sign this petition, so we can make this happen.

With many thanks
Jo, Issy, Charlotte and Veronica

Johanna Mackie
Isobel Bircher
Charlotte Graham
Veronica Olszowska