"Not very long ago, in the top left-hand corner of Wales, there was a railway..." So began the series that first captured the hearts of children throughout the 50’s and 60’s and is still a favourite today: Ivor the Engine. The little green locomotive turns 50 this year and we're celebrating his birthday with this charming Stamp Sheet Presentation Pack.
A Legend is Born
The adventures of the little train with a mind of its’ own was the first production of Smallfilms, formed by Peter Firmin, who did the animation, and the late Oliver Postgate, who wrote and narrated the series. The idea for Ivor came after Postgate heard from a former railway locomotive fireman how steam engines came to life when you spent time steaming them up in the morning. A truly enchanting image we'll sure you will agree - Oliver Postgate certainly did - and so a star was born!
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Firmin and Postgate went on to produce a number of children’s TV classics, many of which are currently experiencing a renaissance, such as The Clangers and Bagpuss.
Supporting Charity
We're working officially with Peter Firmin's favourite charity, SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) to produce this sheet. They do incredible work and their website is truly inspiring - it's well worth taking a look at. SPANA was established in 1923 and is one of the longest serving international animal welfare charities. Through a network of 19 animal hospitals and 21 mobile clinics, SPANA provides free veterinary treatment to around 380,000 animals each year in some of the poorest communities across Africa and the Middle East. Without their help, many working animals would continue to suffer from the effects of poverty and ignorance.
SPANA's education programme teaches owners and schoolchildren - the future generation of owners - the best way to care for their animals. As well as providing long-term support in Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Syria and Algeria, SPANA dispenses emergency relief to animals affected by wars and natural disasters.
Incidentally, Ivor's friend, Bluebell the Donkey, is SPANA's mascot!
Personally Signed
We are delighted to be able to offer a limited number of our sheets signed by none other than Peter Firmin himself, making this an absolute must-have for anyone who loves Ivor and a great addition to any collection of TV memorabilia.
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Frame Yours for the Wall!
These sheets are so irresistible that we know many of you will frame them for the wall. That way, they also make stunning presents.
We don't offer our sheet framed at the moment but we do offer it mounted, ready to frame. That leaves you free to choose a frame YOU like and that suits your colour scheme. Each sheet is lovingly mounted by hand here and sent to you carefully. The mount is cream - nice and neutral, to work with whatever colour of frame you choose.
The mount will not cause any damage to your stamp sheet, allowing you to frame it for the wall without risking your investment. The sheets simply slip into the mount without need for damaging tape.
Choosing the mounted options makes the sheet into an even more beautiful gift.
Total number of sheets printed: 1959
If you are a member of one of our Sheet Clubs, this sheet will be automatically reserved for you.
It pays to buy Buckingham Stamp Sheets as soon as they are issued. If you wait, the chances are they will sell out and you'll end up paying more in the future. If you love our sheets, we recommend you join the Sheet Club. There are lots of perks and no commitment whatsoever!
Our New Presentation Packs
You will notice that our sheets have a new format, which we hope you will like. They are now referred to as Sheet Presentation Packs. The sheets themselves will remain the same, however they will now come in a plastic pocket with a presentation card. The presentation card gives information about the sheet and is also your guarantee that the sheets are genuinely printed by Royal Mail. These are exclusive to us - people who buy our sheets through Royal Mail won't get presentation cards! We are charging £2 extra to cover the cost of the Presentation Packs for one-off sales but club member prices will freeze at £24.95. One more reason to join one of our Sheet Clubs - so what are you waiting for, sign up today!
The Ivor the Engine 50th Collection
We have 6 stunning options in our Ivor the Engine 50th birthday collection. Click on any picture above to find out more - or just hoover your mouse over any picture for a quick description.
