NEW RELEASE • Issue Date – 17.10.13
A Christmas Stamp Gallery The Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present a set of 6 stamps featuring designs selected from our portfolio of Christmas issues as a celebration collection spanning four decades in recognition of the 40th anniversary of our postal independence. We asked renowned philatelic journalist Richard West to review our Christmas collections. He said: Each year designing the Christmas stamps presents a particular challenge. Many believe the stamps must convey the Christmas story, while others do not share the Christian faith. Christmas means having a good time, and picturesque snow-covered scenes. Satisfying everyone is virtually impossible. Nevertheless, over the years, the Isle of Man Post Office has provided a wide range of imaginatively different concepts to typify the meaning of Christmas. The first were linked with anniversaries: the bicentenary of the Manx Bible (the translation of the Bible in Manx Gaelic as one volume) in 1975; the centenary of the Mothers’ Union in 1976; the bicentenary of the first visit of John Wesley to the Island in 1977. Similar links were made in 1989: the 50th anniversary of the Jane Crookall Maternity Home and the 75th anniversary of St Ninian’s Church, Douglas. Churches of the Isle of Man have featured on several occasions, whether as detail such as stained glass windows in 1984 and 2005, and windows and reredos in 1992, or the churches themselves in 1985 and 1999. Churches, and a robin, also appeared in the winter scenes shown in 1995. Traditions epitomise Christmas for many, although the Manx custom of Hunting – and killing – the Wren featured on the 1978 stamp hardly embraces the spirit of Christmas. Many yearn for Christmases of yore, as in the Victorian scenes in 1987 and from ‘Days Gone By’ in 2012, but today there must be Father Christmas. Dear old Santa Claus, St Nicholas, featured in 1994, delivering
presents in 1998, and in 2009. Mind you, he does often need the help of The Jolly Christmas Postman, as portrayed by Janet and Allan Ahlberg in 2008. What would Christmas be without the tree, featured in 2006, or the lovely decorations from the Isle of Man Floreat Workshop that were depicted in 2001? Christmas is the time for children – of all ages – captured enjoying a traditional Christmas (1993) or playing in the snow (1990). Christmas through children’s eyes was encapsulated in 1996 with four of their paintings. Putting over a poignant message was the set issued in 2000 featuring children with messages of Peace, Hope, Love and Faith. Such thoughts were also conveyed when the Christmas stamps were linked with the International Year of the Child in 1979 and International Peace Year in 1986. A white Christmas is rare, but is still the dream of all, for everywhere looks so much more beautiful when embedded in snow, perfectly captured on the 2010 issue: a time for building snowmen, as recalled by Raymond Briggs in 2003. And for protecting (when not hunting, of course) the vulnerable birds, seen in 1980 (in conjunction with Wildlife Conservation Year), in 1988 and 2011, and focusing on the robin in 2004. But the story of Christmas cannot be forgotten – told through the Nativity itself (1981 and 1997), the Three Wise Men (1982), the Shepherds (1983) or Angels (2007). A story captured in a most unusual way with paper sculptures by David Swinton in 1991. Perhaps Anthea Radcliffe’s designs in 2002 encompassed it all – with the Virgin Mary and Jesus, Father Christmas, a clown, bandsman and fairy.
Technical Details Design ....................................................................EJC Design Text ................................................................Mr Richard West Stamp Size ............................................................32 x 26mm Colours ....................................................................................4 Process......................................................Offset Lithography Perforations ........................................................13 per 2cms
Paper ..................................................110 gms PVA Gummed No. of Stamps ........................................................................ 6 Format ..................................................................Sheets of 20 Issue Date ................................................17th October 2013 PRODUCTS AVAILABLE Set of Six Stamps, Self-adhesive IOM and UK value set, Presentation Pack, First Day Cover.
PAGE 6 STAMP & COIN NEWS – AUTUMN 2013