Special first day cover to mark 125th anniversary of Bridgnorth Cliff Railway

The collectors’ item will feature a design of the railway dating back to Victorian days.

The souvenir will take the form of a First Day Cover, which is a stamp collectors’ term referring to the date of issue of a stamp.

The items will also be carried on the railway by owner Dr Malvern Tipping in cliff railway uniform on the day of the anniversary.

Dr Tipping said he is "delighted" with the design of the covers which he expected to be popular with both stamp collectors and Bridgnorth residents.

He added: "Buckingham Covers approached us about making the covers.

"I had wanted to do something to mark the occasion but I wasn't sure what and I have been very busy.

"Buckingham Covers asked permission to produce this cover so we found old photographs of the cliff railway for them to use.

"We're delighted about it, we love the design, we're really pleased.

"All of our family will be getting one, it'll be very collectible.

"You will see both stamp collectors buying it and Bridgnorth people who want something from their home town.

"We're very pleased to be able to support it."

Dr Tipping said he also hopes to arrange for a birthday cake to be made to serve to the invited guests on the day.

Bridgnorth Cliff Railway is the oldest and steepest inland electric funicular railway.

Jake Harvey, marketing manager at Buckingham Covers, said: "We produce a number of collectibles every year so we look for the landmark anniversaries that are coming up.

"We've done funicular railways before and they proved really popular so we thought we'd go down that route again."

Katherine Pitt, graphic designer at Buckingham Covers, designed the cover.

She said: "We've chosen this lovely Victorian era image, it really shows the history from when it began and it really shows how far back it stretches. It's quite lovely."

The Bridgnorth Cliff Railway opened on July 7, 1892.

The opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor John Anderson, using the golden key which had been presented to him by George Croydon Marks.

In 2011, the heritage and care of the railway was taken over by the Tipping family who are cousins of the founder, George Croydon Marks, later Baron Marks of Woolwich.

The covers will be available at £10.95.

More information about the limited edition collectable can be found at buckinghamcovers.com/bridgnorth