‘It’s an exciting new era – stamp collecting will live on in the digital age’

As barcodes become obligatory on letters, one philatelist hails a new era

The first stamp I remember had an orange tree on it. I was three years old and my uncle had returned from South Africa to Brighton with a tobacco tin full of them.

I don’t have many memories of being three, but I do remember that 6d stamp for letters between South Africa and Britain. I got to keep it and my interest in stamp collecting was born. Now my collection spreads across three rooms.

Years later, the Royal Mail’s new barcoded stamp (which, since Tuesday, is the only stamp valid for postage) is the start of a new era. It shows the service trying desperately to modernise its systems so it can encourage more people to use the post in the age of social media.

It’s good to see they’re having a go, because it’s an uphill battle. Young people no longer wait excitedly for the mail to drop through the letterbox. Nevertheless, the stamp collecting fraternity lives on.