175th Anniversary of Cunard’s first transatlantic service marked by Isle of Man Post Office

Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Cunard shipping Line’s first transatlantic service with a stunning set of celebratory special edition collectibles, due for release on 25 May. The collectibles can be purchased at iompost.com and from Liverpool Council’s pop up shops located along the Liverpool Waterfront during Cunard’s 175th Anniversary (24 – 26 May) and the 2015 International Mersey River Festival (5 – 7 June).

Liverpool, forever part of Cunard’s history, also marks the 175th Anniversary of the Cunard Line on 25 May with an unprecedented sighting of all three Cunard ships, the Queen Mary II, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, together back where Cunard originated.

The set is comprised of four highly collectible limited edition products. There are three covers, two of which feature artist Robert Lloyd’s homecoming of the three Cunard Queens lined up together on the River Mersey in front of Liverpool’s world-famous UNESCO Word Heritage Site waterfront, with the historic Cunard Building holding pride of place. The covers are available as signed and unsigned versions, postmarked 25 May 2015 and accompanied by three stamps depicting each of the three cruise liners. In addition, collectors have the opportunity to adorn their walls with a personally signed print limited to 175 copies by Robert Lloyd of the three ships lined up, which includes the three stamps and 25 May 2015 postmark.

Finally, is a special limited edition large format cover featuring artist Robert Lloyd’s impression of Cunard Line’s RMS Lusitania on the Mersey which is postmarked 7 May 2015. This edition is personally signed and numbered by the artist and then accompanied by a single stamp from John Halsall’s Maritime History miniature sheet which depicts the sinking of the Lusitania with rescue boat the Peel Wanderer PL11.

Robert Lloyd is a marine artist with a worldwide reputation for producing beautiful technically accurate paintings for the marine industry, for private individuals and museum collections. Born in 1968, Robert’s interest in the sea started at an early age. What started as a break from his profession as a graphic designer soon developed into a full time career. Robert is now one of Europe’s most sought after marine artists.

Maxine Cannon, General Manager of Isle of Man Stamps and Coins said: “We are pleased to celebrate Cunard Line’s remarkable 175th Anniversary and illustrious history with the issue of our very special edition collectibles that beautifully depict images of the Three Queens and Lusitania using paintings by talented and highly sought after artist Robert Lloyd.”

Isle of Man Post Office releases limited edition Penny Black Mulready collectible

Isle of Man Post Office in conjunction with Mulready Philatelics is pleased to present a striking limited edition compilation for collectors of postal stationery. This unique folder which is due for release on May 6 celebrates the 175th Anniversary of the Penny Black, Twopenny Blue and Mulready Envelopes.

As part of Rowland Hill’s uniform postage reforms from 1839-1840, a national Treasury Competition was held for the public to suggest ideas for postal ‘covers’; several entries were received for the prepayment of postage. Over 2,600 entries were submitted by the public, including ideas from James Chalmers, Charles Whiting and William Mulready. In his report that followed, Hill decided that postage should be prepaid by means of stamped covers, stamped envelopes and adhesive labels.

The Penny Black and Twopenny Blue adhesive stamps, or ‘labels’ as they were known, were released for sale on May 1, 1840, valid for use from May 6.

At the same time the Post Office also commissioned postal stationery lettersheets and envelopes designed by William Mulready RA and these went on sale at the same time as the stamps and were valid for postage from May 6, 1840. These were sold at 1¼d and 2¼d respectively. The elaborately illustrated lettersheets were cut into rectangles, folded over and sealed or tucked in. The envelopes of the same design were pre-cut to a diamond or lozenge shape and folded to form a rectangular enclosure that could be held together by a wax seal at the apex of the topmost flap. The plates for the Mulready lettersheets and envelopes were engraved by John Thompson and printed by William Clowes on security, silk-thread cream paper made by John Dickinson. Two values were issued; the 1d printed in black and the 2d printed in blue.

It was perceived by stationery manufacturers that their livelihood was threatened by Mulready’s newly issued lettersheets and envelopes. Consequently they were widely caricatured, or lampooned, and the official Mulready stationery had to be withdrawn and replaced swiftly; the 1d pink was introduced the following year. However this was not before a number of eminent caricatures and printers of the time had come up with designs that viciously parodied the Mulready, and they proved extremely popular throughout the rest of 1840.

Isle of Man Post Office has produced the ultimate postal history compilation, limited to just 1000 items; it includes a set of two reproduction Mulready envelopes, four caricature envelopes plus a specially designed postal history stamp sheet, with words and pictures supplied by Robin Cassell of Mulready Philatelics.

Robin Cassell of Mulready Philatelics said: “6th May 1840 is the most important day in philatelic history – the issue date of the first stamps, the Penny Black and the Twopenny Blue, together with a prepaid envelope and lettersheet of the same values by the Irish artist William Mulready. The Isle of Man Post Office have produced a wonderful set of six stamps to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of this historic date, together with a set of six envelopes accurately producing both the Mulready envelope and contemporary caricatures by artists such as John Leech and Dickie Doyle that ridiculed the design, which was seen as inappropriate by the Victorian public. Now we appreciate these items for their true beauty and classic design, and they remain highly collectable to this day.”

Mike Southall MBE MCGI said: “The first postage paid envelopes and lettersheets were introduced by William Mulready RA. They were expected to be standard method of prepayment of postage but were very much ridiculed by the general public and there were a number of satirical caricatures made of Mulready’s designs. As a result postage stamps took precedence and still remain today.”

First commemorative Royal Baby postal tribute is unveiled by Isle of Man Post Office

In celebration of the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Isle of Man Post Office has produced Royal memorabilia items to mark this key moment in British history.

It follows the news the world had been waiting for, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge saw the arrival of their second child a baby girl on Saturday (May 2nd) at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London. Named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, the Princess was born at 8.34am on Saturday, just 154 minutes after the Duchess was admitted to the Lindo Wing at shortly after 6.00am and weighing 8lbs 3oz – just 3oz less than Prince George when he arrived in July 2013.

Following news of the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte the Manx Government passed its congratulations to the Royal Family with a letter of congratulations being sent to Clarence House this week.

The premium product is a pink celebration folder priced at £22.50. It contains the memorabilia items which can also be purchased individually as follows: a specially issued mint condition sheet of label sets priced at £8, an exclusive first day cover featuring the label set and an exclusive postmark for local Manx Post Office ‘Windsor Road’ with a full colour information card, priced £8.50 along with a highly collectible slogan die envelope using a special postmark and the Prince William and Kate Middleton Royal Wedding stamps, priced £6.50. This special collectible also includes photos of the proud parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge accompanied by details of the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and specially-commissioned text written by leading royal journalist and biographer Claudia Joseph.

Graham Cregeen MHK, Isle of Man Post Office Chairman said: “We were thrilled to hear the news of the safe arrival of the Royal Baby, HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Her birth marks yet another historic occasion for the British Royal family and therefore we wanted to celebrate this with a very special postal tribute that marks the day. These products are always popular with collectors of Royal memorabilia around the world and we send our warm congratulations to the Royal couple.”

200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo marked by Isle of Man Post Office in collaboration with Waterloo 200

Isle of Man Post Office together with Waterloo 200 is pleased to present a set of four se-tenant pairs of stamps to celebrate the Bicentenary Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. The stamps due for release on May 8 use images that depict various stages of the Battle from both sides.

The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the Revolutionary (1792-1803) and Napoleonic (1804-1815) wars. These long conflicts cost Britain dear financially and also resulted in a greater proportional loss of population than WW1.

In March 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte made a surprise return to France following his abdication in 1814 and as a result four armies, the British/German and Dutch army, the Prussian force, also the distant Russian and Austrian armies were mobilised against him. Anticipating an allied invasion, Bonaparte advanced rapidly with 125,500 men to the border of France with the Netherlands (now Belgium). Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington had never faced each other in battle until this point.

War broke out on June 16 following two preliminary battles, and by June 18 a three mile allied line with three defended farms in front (Hougoumont, on the right, La Haye Sainte and Papelotte) waited for Bonaparte’s first move. At 11.30am Hougoumont was attacked, the first of several assaults that lasted all day. At around 12.45pm a 64-gun battery fired on Wellington’s left centre, followed by a 17,000 strong infantry assault which was repelled by a strong but wasteful British heavy cavalry attack, countered by French cavalry. Fighting continued on both sides all day, then by around 7.30pm victory was complete and Prussian cavalry pursued the French off the battlefield. The victory was momentous but the butcher’s bill high with 55,000 men killed, wounded or missing.

Isle of Man Post Office has produced four evocative se-tenant pairs of stamps that capture in striking detail images of The Battle of Waterloo from both sides and the resulting victory for the Duke. Together these stamps tell the story of the battle by capturing its key stages including the preliminary battle at Quatre-Bras, the fighting at La Haye-Sainte, defence of Chateau de Hougoumont and an image of General Hill who was thrown into combat at the last minute to salvage victory for Bonaparte but could not break the British centre and was forced to retreat, with victory for the Duke.

Waterloo 200 organiser Mick Crumplin said: “As education lead for Waterloo 200 and a military historian, I was delighted with the Isle of Man’s decision to commemorate one of Britain and Europe’s most important historical events – the Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. The stamps splendidly portray various stages in the action of the 18 June 1815. This issue will remain a treasured memorial for collectors and the general public.”

Tim Cooke Chairman of Waterloo 200 said:” Waterloo 200 is a registered charity with a vision to deliver an appropriate international commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and its consequences for the history of Europe.”

Commenting on Waterloo 200’s collaboration with Isle of Man Post Office, he continues: “As the Chairman of Waterloo 200 we are delighted to be in partnership with Isle of Man Post Office, Stamps and Coins division.”