Welcome to Buckingham Covers Paddington Site

Back in 1958 Michael Bond could never have imagined that his marmalade loving bear from darkest Peru would become a British icon, loved and collected worldwide. Many collectors now specialise just in Paddington Bear and with his 50th anniversary upon us, any limited edition Paddington collectables are hot property.

Of course, most Paddington collectors have bigger concerns than finding a great investment. They buy because they love Paddington and cherish each item in their collection. And they also like their purchase - and Paddington - can do some wider good in the world. After all, Paddington is a bear who cares.

That's why excitement is building about the latest release from the award winning design team at Buckingham Covers. Buy it Now

It is a limited edition stamp sheet (one of the newest, most exciting collectables around) celebrating Paddington's 50th anniversary.

Each gorgeous sheet stars Paddington as we remember him on TV and is raising funds for his favourite charity, Action Medical Research.

Only 1000 exist worldwide
(Each is a certified, numbered copy)
Rare and exclusive. You won't see it in the shops.
An heirloom of the future
Investment-quality.
Stamp sheets are often worth more in years to come
At least £3 per sale goes straight to Action Medical Research

And with prices starting from just £24.95 (+ Postage & Packing) if you order pre-release, you need to order NOW!

The sheet is released on 25 June 2008.

A very limited number will be available personally signed by Paddington's creator, Michael Bond. These are surprisingly affordable - only £34.95 for a GENUINE signature on this highly collectable sheet. Signed sheets are raising even more for Action Medical Research (a minimum of £7 per sale).

What is a stamp sheet?

You might not have come across "stamp sheets" before. They are fairly new on the collectables scene but already hot property! Limited edition sheets are desirable and often go up in value over time. They are officially printed by Royal Mail but exclusive to the designer.

A stamp sheet is around A4 size and contains 10 genuine first class stamps contained in a special design. The stamps are valid for postage, but you don't want to be ripping this up! Most people frame their stamp sheets or keep them in an album.

Next to each stamp are what collectors call "Cinderellas" or "Smilers stamps". These decorative labels are not valid for postage but make part of the whole unique design.

Sheets from Buckingham Covers ("Buckingham sheets") have a BIG following. All are investment-quality. Because their sheets so often sell out, they build up a waiting list of disappointed collectors who missed out first time around. That means that prices tend to rise, meaning their sheets have good long-term investment potential. Buckingham Covers is known to actively buy back their own stamp sheets.

If you are interested in learning more about Buckingham sheets, then we have a whole website dedicated to it! Learn more about Buckingham stamp sheets. If you get hooked, there is even a lively "sheet club" to join!

Action Medical Research

Michael Bond, who created the iconic bear, says Paddington chose to support Action Medical Research because he is a bear who believes in value for money, and this is a charity that touches the lives of nearly everyone. They played a crucial role in developing hip replacement surgery, the polio vaccine in the UK, ultrasound scanning in pregnancy and far more. Their research also discovered the benefits of taking folic acid during pregnancy. Find out more.

As far as we're aware, the limited edition Paddington Bear stamp sheet is the only 50th anniversary collectable raising money for Action Medical Research. Each sheet carries a minimum of £3 per sale. We hope that the sheet will raise at least £3000 for them.

Find out more about
how YOU can help

Signed Editions - EXPECT DELAYS

Michael Bond, who created Paddington Bear 50 years ago, has very generously agreed to sign just 200 copies of our limited edition stamp sheet. Signed copies will be hugely desirable and will sell out.

BUT orders for signed copies are STRICTLY PROVISIONAL with priority going to members of the Buckingham Signed Sheet Club. The reason they are provisional is that Michael is now in his eighties and demand for his autograph, always high, has reached crazy levels now Paddington is turning 50. Everyone wants Michael to sign!

We are very grateful and touched that Michael is prepared to sign 200 of our sheets by hand and we've told him there is NO RUSH at all. He plans to sign them here and there in small batches over a long time period.

So anyone ordering a signed edition needs to be prepared to be very patient. You may have to wait until December 2008 or beyond. But it will be worth the wait to be one of just 200 collectors worldwide lucky enough to have this exceptional sheet, personally signed.

Sheets signed by Michael cost an amazing £34.95 (yes, really!) and at least £7 per sale goes to Action Medical Research. We do NOT charge credit or debit cards until the order is ready to send, so you don't need to pay in advance (unless you pay by cheque).

Find out more
about Michael Bond

Reserve one online now!

Paddington Covers

The Making of an Icon

Legend has it that Michael Bond based Paddington Bear on a lonely teddy bear he noticed on a shelf in a London store near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956. He bought the bear home as a present for his wife - and just ten days later, had written the first book. Paddington Bear has since become one of our best loved children's characters, a British icon and a treasured memory for millions of people worldwide.

Our first cover of 2006 stole hearts everywhere and unsigned editions are now completely sold out. But we do have a very limited number personally signed by author, Michael Bond OBE still available.
BC321S £34.95.
Buy it Here

Real
American Postmarks!
Two of the stamps in the Animal Tales set (released January 2006) were jointly issued by the American Post Office AND Royal Mail. We arranged to get a number of our Paddington Bear covers postmarked in Britain and the USA.

This is a genuine American postmark. We sent the covers over to the States to get a special handstamp there. BC231DBL £25 - Buy it Here.

"USA" postmarks from Edinburgh
Why do we stress that our American postmarks are genuine? Well, Royal Mail offered an "American" postmark, which was actually applied in Edinburgh. This always happens with joint issues! We are a bit scathing about the "Scottish USA" postmark but if you'd like one for completeness sake, we did produce a very small number with this (in our opinion) rather naff postmark. This is NOT the one illustrated above. We have to say we recommend our genuine USA version above it however!
The illustration shows the GENUINE USA cover, not the "Edinburgh USA" version.

To receive more information about Buckingham Covers and Paddington's Anniversary please follow this link.