Among the toys to feature are the Merrythought Bear; Spirograph; Space Hopper; Fuzzy Felt; Meccano; and Action Man.
Royal Mail spokesperson Philip Parker says: “British toy makers enjoyed a reputation for quality and innovation, and these nostalgic stamps celebrate ten wonderful toys that have endured through the decades.”
The stamps are on sales now across the UK.
STAMP-BY-STAMP
SPACEHOPPER 
The precise origins of the Spacehopper are uncertain, but what is known is that in the 1960s Aquilino Cosani patented a ‘Pon-Pon’ exercise ball that had many of the Spacehopper’s features. Marketed over the years under different names, the traditional Spacehopper was first introduced to the UK in 1969 by toy makers Mettoy.
MECCANO
The idea for Frank Hornby’s unique construction system originated in 1898, when he was trying to source small parts for a model crane that he was making with his sons. He realised that it would be possible to make all sorts of models if children had immediate access to parts, which could be fitted together with nuts and bolts “in different positions and at different angles”. After the invention was patented in 1901, the first ‘Mechanics Made Easy’ sets were produced in 1902. Five years on, Hornby changed the product name to ‘Meccano’.
STICKLE BRICKS 
Invented in the UK in 1969, Stickle Bricks offered an easy introduction to the world of construction toys.
SPIROGRAPH 
A drawing toy invented in the UK in the mid-1960s, Spirograph was originally developed as a drafting tool. As its design evolved, it soon became clear that Spirograph had even greater potential as a child’s toy.
THE MERRYTHOUGHT BEAR 
Merrythought’s British teddy bears have been hand-crafted in Ironbridge, Shropshire since 1930. Founder of the company, Gordon Holmes, was the owner of a spinning mill in Yorkshire when he realised the possibilities of using mohair in the production of soft toys. The company has continued to produce the soft toys in a variety of shapes and sizes for more than 85 years.
FUZZY-FELT
For more than 65 years, Fuzzy-Felt has been encouraging the creativity of children in the crafting of imaginative scenes using colourful pre-cut felt shapes that can stick on a flocked backing board. Perhaps less well known is the fact that the toy’s origins lie in the production of tanks during the Second World War. The tanks’ gaskets were made of felt and the manufacturing process created small offcuts which the factory workers’ children would play with. Lois Allan, whose outbuildings were used to make the gaskets during wartime, saw the potential for developing the idea, and launched the first Fuzzy-Felt set in 1950.
ACTION MAN 
Two years after the GI Joe toy arrived in the USA, in 1966 Palitoy introduced Britain to Action Man. Action Man’s design was regularly updated.
SINDY 
In September 1963, Pedigree Toys Ltd launched Sindy, Britain’s new teenage fashion doll dressed in a range of outfits created by designers Foale and Tuffin. Later in the 1960s, Sindy was joined by her then boyfriend Paul, sister Patch and friends Vicki, Mitzi, Poppet and Betsy.
W. BRITAIN TOY FIGURES 
It was in the late 19th century that W. Britain Limited (also known as Britains and William Britain) first enjoyed success in the business of making toy soldiers. From 1893, W. Britain began producing hollowcast figures. The company dominated the market with these products until the 1950s, when plastic figures made by firms such as Herald grew popular. W. Britain bought out Herald in 1959 and began a new phase manufacturing 1:32 scale figures in plastic.
HORNBY DUBLO 
Hornby’s first toy trains, powered by a high-quality clockwork motor and ‘O’ gauge in size, were introduced in 1920. Five years later, the first electric Hornby train was produced. In 1938, Hornby Dublo was launched.
IMAGE CREDITS: The Royal Mail
