Omnibus issue

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An omnibus issue is a stamp issue released by several countries that shares a common theme and often a similar design. These stamps are usually produced together because the countries or colonies involved work closely together. They are different from joint issues, which are typically narrower in scope.

The first omnibus is said to be the 1898 issue by the Portuguese colonial empire to mark Vasco da Gama’s sea route to India. Omnibus issues became especially common with the former British Empire (now the Commonwealth), since many colonies could take part. In the early days, the designs were the same across all colonies, with only the values, colors, and colony names changing. Over time more design variety was used within the same issue.

The first modern omnibus was the Silver Jubilee issue of 1935. Since then, many others followed, often featuring topics related to the British Royal Family, but also themes like Freedom from Hunger (1963) and the 1966 Football World Cup. Not every colony participates in every issue, but the stamps provide important revenue for smaller countries.

Examples of British omnibus issues include:
- 1935 Silver Jubilee
- 1937 Coronation
- 1945-46 Peace and Victory
- 1948-49 Silver Wedding
- 1953 QEII Coronation
- 1963 Freedom from Hunger
- 1966 Football World Cup
- 1982 Princess Diana
- 1997 Queen Elizabeth Golden Wedding

The omnibus format remains popular because philatelic marketers can push these stamps into large markets like the United States and Europe, appealing to collectors of thematic stamps. They have also faced criticism for sometimes lacking cultural relevance to participating countries, such as stamps featuring Disney characters issued by poorer African nations. While many early omnibus issues were genuine celebrations, their popularity led some issuing authorities to produce more stamps than necessary, and these issues were often heavily marketed.