LONDON - ICONIC British designs such as red telephone boxes and the London Underground map are to feature on stamps in the New Year, the Royal Mail said on Monday.

The set of 10 stamps, featuring classic designs from the 20th century, will go on sale from Jan 13.

The mini skirt, the Mini car and the Concorde aeroplane will also feature.

'Special stamps mark unique moments, great anniversaries and vital cultural themes,' said Julietta Edgar, head of special stamps at the Royal Mail.

'Next year's programme will take stamps further than before with a unique collection of fascinating images and subjects.

'For many, stamps are seen as one-inch (2.5cm) square works of art, and we are confident that the 2009 stamp programme will live up to our customers' expectations.'

Later in the year, the Royal Mail will depart from the traditional rectangular stamp shape for a set of jigsaw piece-shaped stamps marking the bicentenary of the birth of naturalist Charles Darwin, and the 150th anniversary of his seminal work 'On the Origin of Species'.

Further stamp sets planned for 2009 include mythical creatures, post boxes, eminent Britons, Royal Navy uniforms, industrial revolution pioneers and the House of Tudor. -- AFP