Royal Mail has revealed images of 10 special stamps being issued to celebrate 65 years of the beloved, marmalade-loving bear Paddington.
Six stamps in the main set are taken from Ivor Wood’s strip cartoons of Paddington, originally published in the London Evening News in the late 1970s.
In 1975, the illustrator, animator and writer was instrumental in transforming Paddington from a beloved literary character into a star on the small screen. Working with animation company, FilmFair, Ivor designed and directed the first Paddington television series for the BBC. Four stamps presented in a Miniature Sheet capture moments from this TV series.
David Gold, director of External Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail, said: “Paddington continues to bring cheer to generations of children worldwide. These delightful stamps will brighten up the day of anyone receiving mail with a touch of Paddington’s charm.”
Rachel Clarke, SVP Licensing and Retail UK at The Copyrights Group, added: “Paddington is a real heritage brand with a modern hero and we are delighted to be partnering with Royal Mail to celebrate 65 years since Michael Bond first introduced us to the beloved bear.”
The stamps are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/paddington, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and at 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK.
A Presentation Pack including all eight stamps in the set is also available. The stamps go on general sale on 5th September.
