PEACE – a state of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence.
This statement appears clearly in the brochure accompanying the release of the Barbados Dove of Peace stamp in December of last year, yet ironically this stamp caused more friction and aggravation than any other stamp issue I have even known. At one point I was receiving threatening emails from individuals who couldn’t get hold of the stamp!
Whilst the stamp was issued in December 2025, stocks did not arrive in the U.K. until late January 2026 and every last stamp I had pre ordered for stock was sold out within days. As I write this in February 2026, further stocks are yet to arrive and the First Day Cover (FDC) is completely sold out worldwide.
Coming straight after the We gatherin’ stamp issued in November, the Barbados Dove of Peace stamp immediately became a worldwide best seller.
This was based, in part, on the fact that it was the final piece of a jigsaw; an omnibus set issued across 14 countries or organisations. Starting in September last year, the initiative by The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) and Universal Postal Union (UPU) included ten countries and four organisations, all of whom agreed to issue the same ‘Dove of Peace’ embroidered stamp.
The ten countries included were Aland (Finland), Armenia, Austria, Barbados, Cyprus, Faroe Islands (Denmark), Greenland (Denmark), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. In addition to this there were also stamps from the UPU, and three branches of the United Nations.
What does the stamp represent?
The stamp is described by the Barbados Philatelic Bureau as;
“The “Dove of Peace” stamp features an embroidered white dove carrying an olive branch outlined in blue symbolizing a shared commitment to promoting peace and unity.”
Initially, all other administrations other than Barbados issued their stamp in September, but those individuals who collected this series then started to clamour for the final stamp. Enquiries to this website increased dramatically and when an issue date was finally agreed I allowed people to back order from the website, and within days I have hundreds of collectors vying to secure the limited numbers available.
Eventually, and after a wrangle with customs getting the stamps into the U.K. from Barbados, all orders were fulfilled at the end of January, but not before I had to disappoint some people who had ordered as the FDC as I simply could not secure enough to meet demand.
As you can see from the image above sent by one of my customers, Werner Leis from Austria, the whole set makes a great display and is a lasting reminder of what the stamp was designed to reflect. Again, from the promotion brochure it says:
“We all want to live in peace. We want peace with ourselves, in our communities, and in the world. However, we are often surrounded by conflict, whether on a personal level or between nations. In the midst of these challenges, we ask ourselves the question: what can we do to raise awareness of the value of peace and harmony?”
“To raise awareness and promote the value of peace an international collaboration between several postal administrations, the United Nations (UN) the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Austrian embroidery manufacturer Hämmerle & Vogel, launched the “Dove of Peace” limited-edition stamp to send a powerful message of peace to the world.”
“Like the elaborate and skillful embroidery, peace requires patience, daily effort and commitment. Just like real doves, the stamp transcends borders, acting as unique postage ambassadors unifying people from around the world, spreading a powerful message of love, tolerance, humanity and understanding.”
“The Dove of Peace stamp is a bright symbol of hope and unity and embodies the shared idea of a better world – one stitch at a time.”
A lovely sentiment and a beautiful stamp for everyone to enjoy. If you have secured one, well done. Keep hold of it as a lasting reminder that peace throughout the world is something worth cherishing.
All three images are shown here; the mint, used (cancelled to order) and FDC.
Technical Details
- Country: Barbados
- Issue Title: The Dove of Peace
- Artist: Iris Hämmerle
- Designer: Hämmerle & Vogel
- Printer: Hämmerle & Vogel
- Process: Embroidery, fabric
- Material: 100% recycled polyester (GRS certified) with adhesive backing
- Stamp Size: 55 mm x 42 mm
- Denomination: $2.20
- Release Date: 8 December, 2025