Tuesday, 4 January 2011

Thunderbirds are Go Again in 2011


Royal Mail is launching a set of lenticular stamps featuring key characters and scenes from Gerry Anderson puppet TV shows of the 1960s. The lenticular set is part of the 50th anniversary range of stamps featuring Stingray, Joe 90, Captain Scarlett and Thunderbirds, and Royal Mail's first 'motion stamps'. The four-stamp miniature sheet features Thunderbird 5 on its border and Thunderbirds 1-4 on the individual stamps. The range marks the 50th anniversary of the TV shows and will be available next year between first class and 97p denominations. The stamps are printed by Outer Aspect Ltd, of Aukland, New Zealand and contain 36 microthin key frames that make up the motion sequence that lasts several seconds.
These microthin slices were placed side by side and printed onto the back of a special clear magnifying lens in reverse so that they read correctly through the lens from the front.
The lens refracts the light in such a way that different but complete frames are displayed depending on the viewing angle, and by changing this angle the frames play in sequence.

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