Royal Mail Releases Hornby Model Railways 12-Stamp Set on February 19

Royal Mail issued a 12‑stamp Hornby Model Railways collection on 19 February that pairs eight First Class stamps as four vertical se‑tenant pairs with a miniature sheet carrying four additional First Class stamps, and a Presentation Pack that includes all 12 designs. The miniature sheet is explicitly billed as showcasing Hornby packaging, catalogs and promotional artwork from four different eras, and Royal Mail commissioned exclusive photographs of Hornby models set in bespoke miniature scenes for the release.

Design and production credits are specific: Chase creative consultants designed the set and Cartor Security Printers produced it by lithography. The stamps are described as being set against an illustration of a London, Midland and Scottish Railway locomotive in full steam, with each regular stamp featuring a specially commissioned photograph of a Hornby model locomotive. Linn’s Stamp News lists the se‑tenant format and the Presentation Pack as core elements of the issue.

Collectors will want the technical specifications: the eight regular First Class stamps measure 41 millimeters by 30 millimeters with a perforation gauge of 14.5 by 14. The four stamps on the souvenir (miniature) sheet measure 60 millimeters by 30 millimeters, and the souvenir sheet itself measures 192 millimeters by 74 millimeters. Linn’s reports the se‑tenant pairs were printed in sheets of 60 stamps and that most postal outlets will sell them in panes of 30.

The subjects span Hornby’s century‑plus narrative. World‑of‑railways and Linn’s list the No.1 clockwork locomotive (1920) paired explicitly with the Princess Elizabeth (1937); a model reflecting an LMS steam locomotive built in 1933; a British Railways 4MT tank engine (early postwar Dublo, 1954); BR AL1 electric locomotive (1963); InterCity 125 High Speed Train (1977); Merchant Navy Class locomotive (2000); Bournemouth Belle Pullman car (2009); and an experimental LNER “Hush‑Hush”‑inspired 2021 model. Linn’s also notes the Hornby Book of Trains and the Dublo catalog appear on the miniature sheet.

Royal Mail and Hornby packaged multiple collector items with catalog codes and prices listed by World‑of‑railways: AP564 Presentation Pack £21.30; AS14300 Stamp Set £13.60; MZ220 Miniature Sheet £6.80; N3419 Framed Stamps and Miniature Sheet £44.99; AM127 Medal Cover £24.99; AF544 FDC Stamps £17.00; MF209 FDC Miniature Sheet £8.80; AQ380 Postcards £5.85; AW312 Stamp Souvenir £17.00; AW313 Stamp Sheet Souvenir £8.80; AE500 First Day Envelope £0.30; PZ093 Press Sheet £54.40.

Two voices anchor the release: David Gold, Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and policy, said, “Hornby trains have entertained millions and helped to preserve an appreciation for rail travel. The stamps recognise the lasting appeal of model railways and the role the hobby continues to play in connecting people across generations.” Pat Hammond, archivist at the Train Collectors Society and model railway historian and author, added, “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.”

There is one outstanding discrepancy to note: one summary explicitly states the issue was “Issued on 19 February 2025” and gives a face‑value claim of £1.70 per First Class stamp, while World‑of‑railways, Greetings Today and UK Hornby place the release in early 2026 context. Confirm the official release year, face value and any print‑run figures with Royal Mail before arranging purchases or valuation. The set threads Hornby’s 1920 clockwork origins through to a 2021 experimental model, and the Presentation Pack AP564 offers a ready piece for collections at the listed retail price.