[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates Marmalade-Loving Paddington with a Set of Delightful Special StampsIssue date: 5 September

• The 10 stamps also mark the 65th anniversary of the publication of A Bear Called Paddington, written by Michael Bond
• Six stamps include images from Ivor Wood’s cartoon strips of Paddington from the late 1970s, while a further four stamps, presented in a Miniature Sheet capture moments from the 1970s BBC TV series, Paddington
• The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/paddington

Royal Mail has revealed images of 10 Special Stamps being issued to celebrate 65 years of the most 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 newspaper in the late 1970s.

In 1975, illustrator, animator, and writer Ivor Wood was instrumental in transforming Paddington from a beloved 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.

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, said: “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 and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is priced at £17.70. The stamps go on general sale on 5 September.

About Paddington
For 65 years, British-born writer Michael Bond has delighted readers all over the world with his stories about Paddington, the bear from Peru, famous for his love of marmalade. The kindness and humour in the stories appeal to children and adults alike, ensuring Paddington’s enduring popularity from one generation to the next.

HarperCollins Children’s books have published Paddington’s adventures continuously since 13th October 1958 when, as William Collins, they first introduced A Bear Called Paddington to the world.

Since then, Paddington’s adventures have been adapted several times for television and at the end of 2014 Paddington made his debut onto the big screen, a further film “Paddington 2” followed in 2017 with a third in the works. The movies were produced by STUDIOCANAL, European leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and series, part of CANAL+ Group, major player in the creation and distribution of content worldwide. In 2020, a brand-new Paddington TV series designed for a pre-school audience, “The Adventures of Paddington” launched on Nickelodeon, introducing him to a whole new set of fans.

From VSC: Other products include first day covers of both the set of stamps (£13.40) and the minisheet (£8.10), each available with a choice of two different postmarks, a medal FDC (£19.99), postcards, and various sheets with some or all of the stamps.