Royal Mail has issued a set of 12 stamps to celebrate the world of Hornby Model Railways, a brand that has shaped British hobby culture for over a century
Royal Mail has issued a set of 12 stamps to celebrate the world of Hornby Model Railways, a brand that has shaped British hobby culture for over a century.
Frank Hornby, the inventor of Meccano, produced his first clockwork Hornby Series trains in 1920. In 1929 the first models representing real British locomotives arrived.
Each stamp features an exclusive photograph of an iconic Hornby model, specially commissioned by Royal Mail.
Stamps in the set are:
- No.1 locomotive, GNR (1920)
- Princess Elizabeth, LMS (1937)
- 4MT tank locomotive, BR (1954)
- AL1 electric locomotive, BR (1963)
- InterCity 125 High Speed Train, BR (1977)
- Merchant Navy class locomotive, BR (2000)
- Bournemouth Belle Pullman cars, BR (2009)
- Experimental ‘Hush-Hush’ locomotive, LNER (2021)
An additional four stamps presented in a vibrant miniature sheet celebrate the rich heritage of Hornby through four nostalgic designs, each featuring classic packaging, catalogue covers and promotional artwork from different eras.
The stamps are set against an illustration of a London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) locomotive in full steam.
Royal Mail worked with renowned model railway historian and author, Pat Hammond, on the stamp issue. Pat, archivist to the Train Collectors Society, said: “The Hornby brand is over 100 years old and that is a major achievement. It is part of Britain’s heritage, and long may it be so.”
