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.

Stamps spokesperson Philip Parker said: "I'm delighted that Royal Mail is celebrating [Gerry Anderson's] ingenuity and inventiveness with our first stamp issue of 2011, and our first motion stamps. I'm sure that collectors and TV fans alike will enjoy the chance to see the opening credits of Thunderbirds again - but this time through the technology of stamps!"

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.