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| 2017 Meccano stamp |
Odd then, that the set marks the 125th anniversary of the company founded by Frank Hornby in 1901, "Hornby Hobbies", to sell his Meccano construction toy. According to Wikipedia until 1907 the company produced under the name of Mechanics made easy which is what Meccano was doing.
The first clockwork train was not produced until 1920. but I suppose trains on stamps have more appeal than construction models?
UPDATE on issue day 19 February. I've had three reports so far that post office branches have refused to sell what stamps they have until next week (27th). This is wrong, the issue date is today: we were originally told 27th but this was changed on 19 December. This was the RoyalMailStamps account on X today. The comment from 'M' indicates that this is a failure to update the Horizon system to allow them to be sold.
If only stamps were delivered to branches with enclosures like this!
Update: I understand that PO Branches were told this because the Horizon system wasn't updated in time. Why they processed a date change for the set and not the MS & presentation packs who knows.
From Royal Mail
The clockwork trains were followed by electric models and the iconic Hornby Dublo range in 1938.
These innovations transformed model railways into a cherished pastime, inspiring creativity and technical skills across generations.
Hornby’s story reflects Britain’s engineering heritage and evolving social trends—from childhood play to adult collecting and nostalgia. Despite wartime interruptions and industry challenges, Hornby adapted with new technologies, from realistic detailing to digital control systems, ensuring its continued relevance. Today, Hornby remains a leading name in model railways, celebrated for craftsmanship and authenticity.
This stamp issue honours a brand that has entertained millions, preserved the romance of rail travel, and become a cultural icon of British design and imagination.
The stamps
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| Set of 8 x 1st class stamps honouring the Hornby brand name issued 19 February 2026. |
The set consists if eight 1st Class stamps
GNR No.1 Locomotive (1920) – The original clockwork classic that started it all.
BR 4MT Tank Locomotive (1954) – A post-war favourite from the Hornby Dublo era.
InterCity 125 High Speed Train (1977) – A symbol of speed and innovation.
Bournemouth Belle Pullman Cars (2009) – Luxury in miniature detail.
Princess Elizabeth, LMS (1937) – A majestic pre- war express engine.
AL1 Electric Locomotive (1963) – Capturing the modernisation of British Railways.
Merchant Navy Class (2000) – Heralding Hornby’s new era of authenticity.
‘Hush-Hush’ Experimental Locomotive (2021) – A tribute to engineering ambition.
The Miniature Sheet consists of four 1st class stamps
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| Miniature Sheet of 4 x 1st class stamps honouring the Hornby brand name issued 19 February 2026. |
Hornby Book of Trains – A tribute to the early catalogues that inspired generations of young enthusiasts.
Hornby Dublo Electric Trains – Showcasing the revolutionary 1930s range that brought realism to miniature railways.
Tri-ang Railways Era – Capturing the bold advertising and colourful packaging of the 1960s and 70s.
Modern Classics – Featuring InterCity branding and contemporary designs that reflect Hornby’s evolution
Technical details and acknowledgements
The 41 x 30 mm gummed stamps were printed by Cartor Security Printers in litho in sheets of 60 in se-tenant pairs, perf 14½x14. The 192 x 74 mm miniature sheet contains stamps 60 x 30 mm perf 14½.
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| 2017 Hornby Dublo stamp |
Designed by The Chase. HORNBY®, Hornby Railways, Tri-ang Hornby, Tri-ang, Hornby Dublo and Minic are Registered Trade Marks of Hornby Hobbies Ltd, and are used under licence by Royal Mail Group Ltd; images © Hornby Hobbies Limited, except image of two boys on the Dublo stamp: detail from Hornby Dublo box label © M&N/Alamy Stock Photo.
Products available
Set of 8 stamps, miniature sheet, presentation pack, first day covers (2), press sheet of 10 miniature sheets, (Inter-City 125) medal cover, stamp set and miniature sheet in one frame.
So, with yet another branded stamp issue, will Hornby derail the hobby or just some collectors?
booster-t in the comments wanted to post a photo of his TT-gauge Triang - here it is!
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| TT-gauge Triang 35028 (Southern Region if my memory serves?) |
A decent set of stamps, unlike the all time low of the Stranger Things set. But I can’t think of a single post office in London where I’ll be able to buy them. The Broadway branch, with its philatelic counter, closed, the City branch now a franchise, as is my local on Vauxhall Bridge Road. Just empty display cabinets in both on my last visit.
ReplyDeleteFrom recent past experience both Aldwych and Strand post offices (the latter inside a Robert Dyas) will have these available on the day of issue.
DeleteI shall give both those post offices a try. Fingers crossed they haven't also given up on commemoratives
DeleteNot impressed with this issue, the stamps are more like an advertising poster. They could have put them in build chronological order to tell the story. Some more famous locomotives would have helped sales too, from the Gricers ( train spotters ) , model railway builders, & other railway enthusiasts!
ReplyDeleteHornby Plc (the parent company of Hornby Hobbies) is primarily owned by Phoenix Asset Management Partners.
ReplyDeleteStanley Gibbons is currently owned by Strand Collectibles Group Ltd, which acquired the business via a pre-pack administration on December 22, 2023. This new entity, backed by Phoenix Asset Management, was formed to secure the company's future following financial distress, ensuring the continuation of its operations, including the Royal Warrant.
An attractive, colourful set to be sure, but as they are all denominated 1st class I can't see too many actually being used (except by stamp dealers perhaps). Most people I know (collector and non-collector alike) prefer to send things by second class mail these days. Almost as quick (and, very often, just as quick) as first class, for little more than half the price.
ReplyDeleteTBH I'm more surprised there isn't both a collectors sheet and a prestige book
ReplyDelete@Robin Pullen - please don't give Royal Mail ideas. There are already too many of those. I despair. I barely have time to get stamps that I have bought used even with my Postcrossing activities before there is another issue. I'm not that fond of these, but the Concorde ones are still firm favourites for me. We've got another issue coming too soon though ...
ReplyDeleteTrust me they need no help in that quarter and we all know they don't listen to the customer anyway ha ha
DeleteI must now face the fiddly job of extracting the stamps from the miniature sheet without tearing any of them. Some of us are eccentric enough to use stamps for postage on letters.
ReplyDeleteI cut from the edge to perforations on both sides then fold the 'flap'; creasing the perforations both ways makes it much easier to separate the stamps, even on ordinary sheets.
DeleteWhen I was a kid, my father got Triang models which were TT gauge in the early 1960s. One of them was 35028. I still have it. Wish I could post a photo.
ReplyDelete35028 Clan Line in what was called spam can condition before it was rebuilt , still running trips today mainly on the Belmond Pullman. she looks grand.
DeleteSo if Royal Mail now have an 'in' with Hornby Hobbies, I presume we can look forward to similar Scalextric and Airfix issues - both are parts of the Hornby empire alongside the railway models.
ReplyDeleteThat would be all right with me. I like these stamps and they remind me of trips into town at the weekend to get the latest issue of Practical Model Railways, the latest commemorative stamps and some bits & pieces from the model shop. They are colourful - which is æsthetically beneficial for using on white envelopes - and attractively laid out too.
DeleteAll RM's publicity material states the sheet stamps to be 41mm x 30mm whereas they are obviously 50mm x 30mm ("It's all in the details" they say!)
ReplyDeleteStevenage main Post Office had Mini Sheets, but said they could not sell them until the 27th February. They had received a message from Royal Mail, and they did not appear on their list of saleable items. What is going on?
ReplyDeleteI had a similar report re Grantham, Lincs, while Lincoln was quite happy to sell everything. I'm working on it.
DeleteMy lovely little post office said the system wouldn't allow them to sell the miniature sheets as such!! But did sell to me as a £6.80 stamp...
DeleteShe's had the Roses in and she thinks they are nice. She's also had the LOTR in.
Yes we were originally told in January that the issue date was the 27th Feb, which I knew to be wrong, then the next week we were told that Royal Mail had brought the date forward to the 19th Feb, but they wouldn’t be able to update Horizon in time, so we were told we could sell loose stamps, stamp cards and first day envelopes but everything else would have to wait until the 27th Feb. We have regulars for the presentation packs so I’ve been selling them as stamps through the till until I can put them through properly!
DeleteThat’s ridiculous. We were told in December 19th. Two months should be plenty of time to adjust the system
ReplyDeleteRobert
ReplyDeleteMy local Village Post Office would not sell me the M/Sheet until the 27th Feb but could sell the single stamps, i did try and get them as just stamps but would not move on that, however another PO a couple miles away said they would sell the Pres Pack as normal with the M/S in it as they did not have just the M/S.Also seen the Roses very nice they too. RW
My local post office in Hythe, Kent, had the sheet stamps yesterday but told me the miniature sheets won't be available until the 27th. The lady at the PO counter in TG Jones (formerly WH Smith) in Folkestone (which just a few years ago had a Crown post office that always had a wide range of stamps and coins) told me "We don't sell the miniature sheets any more - there was no demand for them!"
ReplyDeleteThis seems right. I tried 2 post offices yesterday whose postmistresses had no idea what I sought, but finally at Dartford I was told the same as NumisRob. the helpful postmistress there added that the customer before me had bought three whole sheets of them and that they were popular: as I could see from the scanty gleanings which were left. I got one of each though. I expect that all this confusion with sale dates will lessen the sales of the Roses issue which otherwise would have done well.
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