Paddington, Royal Mail Stamp Collection Launched

Royal Mail has revealed images of 10 special stamps being issued to celebrate 65 years of Paddington.

Six stamps in the main set are taken from Ivor Wood’s strip cartoons of Paddington, originally published in the London Evening News newspaper in the late 1970s.

In 1975, illustrator, animator and writer, Ivor Wood, was instrumental in transforming Paddington from a literary character into a star of the small screen. Working with animation company, FilmFair, Wood designed and directed the first “Paddington” television series for the BBC. Four stamps presented in a miniature sheet capture moments from this TV series.

“Paddington continues to bring cheer to generations of children worldwide,” says David Gold, director, external affairs and policy, Royal Mail. “These delightful stamps will brighten up the day of anyone receiving mail with a touch of Paddington’s charm.”

“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,” says Rachel Clarke, senior vice president, licensing and retail U.K., The Copyrights Group.

The stamps are available to preorder from the Royal Mail website.