As sweet as marmalade: Paddington is the latest star of Royal Mail’s anniversary stamps

Today (24 August), Royal Mail has released a set of 10 special edition stamps, featuring the nation’s favourite fictional bear, Paddington. The stamps celebrate the 65th anniversary of the character, when he first hit the children’s literary scene in 1958 with writer Michael Wood’s A Bear Called Paddington. “Michael Bond has delighted readers all over the world with his stories about Paddington, the bear from Peru, famous for his love of marmalade,” says Royal Mail. “The kindness and humour in the stories appeal to children and adults alike, ensuring Paddington's enduring popularity from one generation to the next.”

Alongside Bond, the animator Ivor Wood was integral in bringing Paddington to the masses. Six of the illustrated stamps come from his classic comic strips published in the Evening Standard in the 1970s. The other four stamps depict moments from Wood’s 1975 animated television series, made in collaboration with FilmFair.

Since his first appearance on the small screen, Paddington has since continued to capture the hearts of audiences. He made his big screen debut in Paul King’s 2014 Paddington, followed by Paddington 2 in 2017, with a third currently being produced. In 2020, a Paddington TV show for pre-schoolers dropped on Nickelodeon.

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

The stamps are available to pre-order from today (24 August) 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.