The Fat Budgie

A Christmas card designed by John Lennon is to be re-printed to mark the 50th anniversary of Oxfam's seasonal cards.

The Fat Budgie, was first available as an Oxfam Christmas card at the height of Beatlemania in 1965. Now it has been re-printed by Oxfam for the first time with the permission of Lennon's widow Yoko Ono.

The Fat Budgie cards will be sold in limited edition packs of 10 for 2.99 in Oxfam stores. They were priced at sixpence each when they originally went on sale in 1965.

The re-launch marks the 50th anniversary of Oxfam's seasonal greetings cards.

Yoko Ono has already ordered 200 of the Fat Budgie cards to send out this Christmas.

"John supported Oxfam so it is wonderful that his illustration can continue to help Oxfam in its important work," she said.

"He would have been happy that Oxfam wanted to re-print his design to mark such an important occasion and I hope people will enjoy buying, sending and receiving his cards this Christmas."

The late Beatle gave Oxfam permission in 1965 to use The Fat Budgie illustration from his book A Spaniard in the Works.

Oxfam's website here.



If you are in the UK, you can purchase the John Lennon 'Fat Budgie' Xmas cards from any Oxfam shop.
You can also purchase the cards online (from Dec 1st) at http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/
At present the cards are unfortunately not available for international purchase.