The Royal Mail issued a set of stamps in January 1993, to celebrate the 600th Anniversary of the foundation of Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset. The set shows mute swans and cygnets in their natural habitat. Abbotsbury swans are unusual in that they do not belong to the Crown, but to the heirs of the Seventh Earl of Ilchester.

The head of a mute swan male (cob) appears on the 18p stamp, together with an illustration of St. Catherine’s Chapel. The 24p stamp features a cygnet with the duck decoy and reed bed at Abbotsbury Swannery in the background. The 28p stamp depicts  a breeding pair of mute swans, together with cygnet and nest at the Swannery.

The tithe barn at Abbotsbury and a nest of mute swan’s eggs, appear on the 33p stamp. The head of a young first winter mute swan appears on the 39p stamp with an image of the Fleet Lagoon. Crafty Stamps is pleased to present a mounted set of the stamps, available to buy for £21.00 including packing and posting (UK only).