Sir Walter Scott stamp marks Royal Mail milestone

A STAMP of Sir Walter Scott was unveiled today on a post box in the Scottish Borders, to mark the 50th anniversary of Royal Mail’s modern Special Stamps programme.

Matthew Maxwell Scott, a direct descendent of Sir Walter Scott, as he unveils a stamp plaque of Sir Walter Scott on a postbox in Kelso. Picture: PA

The historic novelist has featured on two sets of Special Stamps in the past - the first was issued in 1971 to celebrate the bicentenary of his birth and the stamp featured on the postbox was issued in 2006, on the set celebrating 150 years of the National Portrait Gallery.

50 special stamp plaques are being installed on postboxes across the UK for the event.

Each plaque features one of the most popular stamps which has a special connection with the UK city, town or village in which it is located.

The postbox featuring the Sir Walter Scott stamp is located on Woodmarket, Kelso, in the Scottish Borders - his home.

Other stamps on postboxes include Winston Churchill, Bagpuss, Dylan Thomas, Robert Burns, the Giant’s Causeway, York Minster and Sherlock Holmes.

Unveiling the new stamp plaque today in Kelso, Matthew Maxwell Scott, a direct descendent of Sir Walter Scott, said: “We are delighted that the Sir Walter Scott stamp is to be included as one of Royal Mail’s special plaques and there is no more fitting place than Kelso, an area which Scott loved and also went to school.

“As a very proud descendant of the great man it is an honour to represent his memory on an occasion like this.”

Watson, Royal Mail manager for the Scottish Borders added: “The UK’s towns and cities have influenced stamp designs over the past 50 years.

“We are proud that one of our postboxes in the Borders features the stamp of Sir Walter Scott.

“We hope that all our customers and visitors enjoy this special stamp plaque and might even take a photo as a memento.”