In celebration of one hundred years of history and service of the RAF.
The Isle of Man Post Office is honoured to present a set of eight stamps that celebrate one hundred years of history and service of the Royal Air Force, presented through images of iconic aircraft that we all know and love. The eight stamps include aircraft from the entire history of the Royal Air Force, but limited as we are by the number of stamps, we have had to choose just a few aircraft, symbolic of their times, from the very large number that have served.
On the 1st of April 2018, the RAF celebrates the 100th anniversary of its foundation in 1918, through the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS); it is the oldest independent air force in the world.
Pilots had been flying in combat before this date and we started our research with an English RFC pilot, Geoffrey Glazier, whose grandson created this stamp issue. Born in 1899, he was a student at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire, England; he left school one day with a group of friends and signed up with the Royal Flying Corps. After a short period of training, he travelled to France, arriving on the 26th March 1918.
On the 15th April 1918 he was shot down whilst flying a Sopwith Camel low over German trenches and invalided back to England. His short war lasted only three weeks, however one week into it, on the 1st April 1918, the RAF was formed; as an RFC pilot on active service, he became one of the first RAF Officer Pilots.
Geoffrey was one of the lucky ones, he lived through the war, along with many fellow English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish officers and many from the Isle of Man such as Sylvester Quine, Theo Watterson, Fred Corlett, George Kewley and Turner Chrystal. The RAF is made up of people who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation. Many of Geoff's friends in the First World War and many more pilots, navigators, drivers, engineers and other RAF personnel, both military and civilian, have paid the ultimate price in the 100 years of the RAF. Many more continue to serve, in roles so varied that it would be impossible to list them all; this issue is dedicated to them all, with gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
| Text | Air Vice-Marshal The Honourable David Murray CVO OBE, Benedict Glazier and Ivor Ramsden. |
| Design | Glazier Design |
| Printer | Enschedé |
| Process | Offset Lithography |
| Colours | 4 plus security ink |
| Paper | 102 gms PVA gummed |
| Perforations | 13 per 2cms |
| Stamp size | 40 x 40.5 mm |
| No of Stamps | 8 |
| Format | 20 stamps per sheet (10 x 2 designs) |
| Date of Issue | 15.01.2018 |
Product Code: WB44
Product Issue Date: 25th July 2018
A unique opportunity to own one of only 500 sheetlets which has flown in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Avro Lancaster PA474 on 10th July 2018, taking off from Waddington in Lincolnshire, flying over London for the RAF100 Flypast and landing at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Product Code: WB39
Product Issue Date: 15th January 2018
These unique A6 stamp cards are perfectly sized to fit into a collectors’ album or be framed as an eye-catching set. Each of the stamp cards features an enlarged version of one of our special issue of eight stamps celebrating 100 Years of the Royal Air Force.
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Product Code: WB64
Product Issue Date: 15th January 2018
Perfect for collectors, this exclusive sixteen stamp sheet is available in mint condition or Cancelled to Order. It is presented in a luxurious folder, worthy of this prestige collection.
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Product Code: WB43
Product Issue Date: 15th January 2018
For the true collector of stamps we are thrilled to present this very special, limited edition uncut self adhesive printer's sheet. This pane is individually numbered as a limited edition of 100 and comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The sheet is exactly what rolls off the printer's press and foiling machines, with the colour bars and grip left in place.
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Product Code: WB50
Product Issue Date: 15th January 2018
This premium collectable features the eight mint stamp collection from the 100 Years of the Royal Air Force issue, beautifully mounted and framed in a black wood frame, ready for you to hang on your wall.
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Product Code: WB71
Product Issue Date: 15th January 2018
This RAF100 prestige full colour 24 page booklet contains two sets of self adhesive 100 Years of the Royal Air Force stamps. It also features additional issue text providing more history about iconic aircraft from the entire history of the oldest air force in the world.
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