Date: 4th July 2023
Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) is delighted to present a set of seven stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary on 5th July 2023. The stamp on stamp design across six stamps, where chosen by Maxine Cannon, the business’ General Manager for the Stamps and Coins division as she recounted some of the highlights from the previous 50 years. Each stamp features a collage of recognisable previously issued collections that are well-known and loved by locals and collectors worldwide.
Amongst these memorable stamps are the 1973 Inauguration stamp depicting a Viking landing on Mann, the iconic Gaiety Theatre & Villa Marina in Douglas and the Royal Yacht Britannia visiting Douglas with now Kind Charles III on board. Further highlights include Astronaut Alan Bean’s beautiful paintings of the Moon landing, Professor Stephen Hawking, the legendary Beano Christmas stamps and some of the earliest stamps featuring the cypher of HM King Charles III.
Many of the chosen stamps are also part of the EUROPA stamp family, special stamps issued by European postal administrations that bear the official EUROPA logo. Europa stamps are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world and the trademark celebrates its own anniversary this year: the 2023 EUROPA stamp with its strong message has been chosen as the first stamp to enter the next chapter of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins: ‘Peace - The Highest Value of Humanity’. It is the seventh stamp in this collection. It was designed by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir. Inspired by the Celtic Love Knot it is a visual metaphor for a peacefully integrated, cooperative society in which people embrace each other’s culture. The hands holding each other conveys a message of mutual respect. In a display of solidarity with Ukraine, all members of PostEurop have issued the design as their 2023 EUROPA stamp.
Author and issue text writer Richard West MBE, FRPSL said: “These stamps provide an overview of the wide array of subjects and fine designs that have been provided by the Isle of Man Post Office over the past 50 years, bringing together an insight into the life, people and rich heritage of this fascinating island.”
Maxine Cannon, General Manager Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said: “I have had the pleasure and honour of working in the Philatelic Bureau, and more recently Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, since 1st June 1981. Alongside colleagues past and present from all areas of the Post Office, we have worked together as a team to bring our collections to fruition - to be used and enjoyed by many around the world. I was delighted to be asked to reflect on all of our collections to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Compiling the snapshot of our history that this issue represents, gives me great joy and I would like to thank all colleagues, partners, customers, collectors and stamp enthusiasts worldwide for their continued support as we look to the future.”
The set consists of seven individual stamps valued at 80p, 2x128p, 2x151p and 2x231p. It is available as Set, Sheet Set, Presentation Pack, First Day Cover and as Printers Pane limited to only 50. A separate Europa Stamp 2023 First Day Cover & Sheetlet. To see the full collection visit www.iompost.com/iompo50 .
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