The 2009 calendar, photographed by Peter Beard in Botswana, was the result of a 10-day photo shoot and has been described as "a living sculpture".

The calendar’s 28 leaves were printed on both sides using four-colour process and no sealers.

Manufacturing director Mike Wells said: "To get the right curve at repro stage using just four-colour process on uncoated stock was a challenging task and required colour management expertise.

"Our goal was to keep as much of the detail open while working with heavy ink densities and minimal dot gain to produce a very punchy, vibrant and sharp result that makes a statement," added Wells.

Julie Naylor at Pirelli said: "We have known Beacon Press for their long track record in high-quality award-winning print.

"They were the natural choice to bring the best out of Beard’s creative genius and we were impressed with the amount of care and attention they put into this very special project."