The Isle of Man 2023 stamp program kicks off with their Triskelion Collection and a change to the Royal cypher. The first two stamps now bear King Charles III’s mark, the first I’ve seen so far. The Triskelion is an ancient symbol that dates to the Neolithic age, but is well known for it’s connection to the island. The chainmail clad legs first appeared in written records in 1277 as part of the Wijnbergen Roll, a medieval French listing of various arms. It’s impossible to think of Man without flashing onto the 3 legs.
The first set of the 2023 program was created by our old friends EJC Design, creators of a couple hundred stamps. They designed 4 last year, including this look at classic buses used on the island over the decades.
All aboard
The Triskelions are quickly followed by Manchester artist Stanley Chow’s Year of the Rabbit stamps and covers. Chow has forever endured himself to me with his ever so cheeky postmark for the Lunar New Year.
I couldn’t help but smile with my first glimpse of it. This bodes well for the new year.
Cheers
Catpaw
January
Triskelion Collection
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, sheets of 20
offset lithography
The triskelion, or 3 legs is
Also features a change in the Royal cypher, with KCIII’s cypher replacing QEII’s.
Features 4 variations of the Triskelion
- Douglas Town Hall triskelion
- the 1000th anniversary of parliament design (Millennium of Tynwald
- Castletown stone carving
- modern reworking of the triskelion
Designer: EJC Design
Release date: January 6, 2023
New – Lunar New Year – Year of the Rabbit
4 stamps, FDC, cancel, signed FDC, sheets of 20, presentation pack
offset lithography using 4 + PMS metallic gold
The cancel image is a self portrait of sorts of the artist Stanley Chow.
Designer: Stanley Chow
Stanley Chow
Release date: January 14, 2023
February
Manx Wildlife Trust 50th Anniversary
10 stamps, FDC, cancel 2 sheets of 20, presentation pack, booklet
Offset lithography
- Little tern, Sternula albifron – Little tern | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
- Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus – European hedgehog | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
- Ammonite fossil, Ammonoidea – What is an ammonite? | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)
- Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia – Round-leaved sundew | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
- Skullcap, Scutellaria galericulata – Wildflower Rediscovered after 142 years (mwt.im)
- Dark bush-cricket, Pholidoptera griseoaptera – Dark bush-cricket | The Wildlife Trusts
- Nudibranch, Polycera spp – What is a Nudibranch? | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
- Scarce crimson & gold moth, Pyrausta sanguinalis – Pyrausta sanguinalis | UKmoths
- Fly agaric fungus, Amanita muscaria – Fly agaric | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
- Chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax – Chough | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
The Manx Nature Conservation Trust was created March 1973. Shortly after the creation of the MWT, two pieces of land were acquired Barnell Reservoir 1974 and Cooildarry 1976.
“I am delighted to have been offered this incredible opportunity to paint a set of stamps for Isle of Man Post Office and very excited at the prospect of my artwork being posted all around the world! I am extremely grateful to Isle of Man Arts Council for funding my role as Biosphere Artist in Residence; it has been a brilliant experience creating the stamp designs, each depicting a species that holds special significance for Manx Wildlife Trust.” Clare Payne Isle of Man Post Office Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Manx Wildlife Trust | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
Homepage | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
The MWT maintains a number of live stream cameras Live webcams | Manx Wildlife Trust (mwt.im)
Designer: Clare Payne, Manx Wildlife Trust’s Biosphere Artist in Residence
Release date: February 17, 2023
Turning Point – The Battle of El Alamein
5 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, booklet
Offset lithography
- General Bernard Montgomery
- Bofors Gun
- Desert Tanks
- The Manx Regiment
- El Alamein Road Sign
Designer: Isle of Man Advertising & PR with the help of Ivor Ramsden MBE, Director of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum
Release date: February 21, 2023
March
Works of Michele Tramontana
6 stamps, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, 2 sheets of 15 (3 different stamps on each)
- Still Waiting
- Sun Setting Peel
- Douglas Harbour
- Low-tide Castletown
- Ramsey Upper Harbour
- Sun Setting Port Erin
“I’m delighted to have my work exhibited on this new stamp issue. It has always been a dream of mine that my art will travel the world on letters sent from the Isle of Man and for me as an artist this is the cherry on top of the cake”. Michele Tramontana The Works of Michele Tramontana to be Featured on Six Stamps – IoM Post
Michele Tramontana was born on the 18th December 1947, in Sferracavallo, Sicily; a small fishing village along the coast from Palermo. There, he grew up among the sun-drenched hills and fields and brightly-coloured fishing boats, hence his abiding love of land and seascapes.
In 1966 he came to live on the Isle of Man and, at the age of 24 years, he found his vocation for painting. His father-in-law, an artist, had a studio full of paintings which Michele started to take an interest in and greatly admired. So, encouraged by his wife Brenda, he began his artistic career. He joined the local society, the Mannin Art Group and six months later, in their winter exhibition, he was awarded second prize. The Works of Michele Tramontana – Isle of Man Post Office (iompost.com) IOM usually includes good write ups for each stamp they issue, so if you collect IOM, it’s a good resource for research.
Artist: Michele Tramontana
Release date: March 15, 2023
Manx Waterfalls
6 stamps, FDC, cancel, presentation pack
Offset Lithography
- Ballaglass Falls
- Rhenass Falls
- Quarry Falls
- Spooyt Vane falls
- Inneen Vooar Falls
- Glen Maye Falls
“I was delighted that Isle of Man Post Office has asked me to provide my paintings for yet another stamp collection. It fills me with immense pride and knowing that the images will also be used in Susan’s book is just the icing on the cake.” Tracey Dean
Artist: Tracey Dean
Dean’s artwork previously appeared on Man’s 2012 Harbour Lights – Minor Lighthouses of the Isle of Man series
Release date: April 12, 2023
The Kneale Archives
6 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, sheetlet pack, 6 sheets of 9
Tribute to Manx author & screenwriter Nigel Kneale (1922-2006).
Nigel Kneale wrote the screenplay for one of my favourite sci fi movies: Quatermass and the Pit! 2022 was the 100th anniversary of Kneale’s birth and the BBC wrote an excellent examination of the Quatermass series. Quatermass: The sci-fi series that terrified a generation – BBC Culture:
Today marks 100 years since the birth of a figure who may not be a household name, but who has greatly influenced 20th-Century film and television – British screenwriter Nigel Kneale. Having started his career in the late 1940s as an actor in radio, Kneale soon rose to prominence as one of the most in-demand writers in the UK, for both the big and small screen. His work covered a range of genres, from science fiction and horror to British kitchen sink and political dramas, becoming incredibly influential across generations – and so it is that his centenary has been celebrated with a season of his work at London’s BFI Southbank this month.
Designer: EJC Design
Release date: April 18, 2023
May
Celebrating 100 Years of the Manx Grand Prix
8 stamps, FDC, cancel, souvenir sheet, prestige booklet, presentation pack
- Len Randles 1923
- Albert Moule 1937
- Ron Langston 1955
- Chas Mortimer 1968
- John Knowles 1976
- Dave Roper 1990
- Carolynn Sells 2009
- Nathan Harrison 2019
Artists/designers: Tracey Dean and David Wright.
Manx born artist Dean also created this year’s Manx Waterfalls.
Wright has also written 3 books, including 100 Years of the Isle of Man TT: A Century of Motorcycle Racing (2013).
Release date: May 15, 2023
The Accession of HM King Charles III and HM Queen Consort Camilla
12 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, coronation cover, Coronation Collection, 3 sheets of 20, presentation pack
offset lithography, with Metallic Gold on some stamps
- Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, St Pauls Cathedral, London, 2 June 2022
- The State Opening of Parliament, 2015, attended by Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
- King Charles III attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall
- Camilla, Queen Consort and King Charles III during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. This is the first state visit hosted by King Charles III as Monarch
- Charles, Prince of Wales attending the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, 13 March 2017
- Royal Ascot, Portrait of the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Mountbatten-Windsor
- The Prince Of Wales & Duchess Of Cornwall at the National Parks ‘Big Picnic’ celebration in honour of all 15 of the UK’s National Parks, during an official visit to Devon & Cornwall on 17 July 2019
- King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort attend the Ceremonial Welcome for South Africa’s President, on Horse Guards Parade in London on 22 November 2022, at the start of the President’s two-day state visit
- The Cypher of King Charles III includes his initial, C, intertwined with the letter R for Rex, the Latin word for King and III, as he is the third King of that name
- Portrait by Richard Stone, 2009. Prince Charles depicted in full Garter Robes, commissioned by The Goldsmiths’ Company, City of London, to hang at Goldsmiths’ Hall
- Portrait by June Mendoza. HRH Prince Charles Colonel In Chief the Parachute Regiment
- Portrait by David Griffiths. HRH Charles Prince of Wales The Prince, commissioned by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society in 2002. The 60 x 40 inches oil on canvas hangs in the main foyer of Cardiff’s City Hall
Designer: Glazier Design
London based Glazier Design’s first stamps for Man Post were the 2016 300 Years of Royal Artillery. Since then, they have created at least one set a year including the 2017 70th Birthday of Prince Charles.
Release date: May 31, 2023
150th Anniversary of Isle of Man Steam Railway
8 stamps, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, 8 sheets of 10
offset lithography
Designer: Isle of Man Advertising
Photographs & text: Barry Edwards & Barry Edwards Collection
Barry Edwards co-wrote 50 years of Manx Railways
Release date: May 25, 2023
September
Birds of Prey
6 stamps, FDC, cancel, 6 sheets of 20, presentation pack
offset lithography
- Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
- Buzzard Buteo buteo
- Merlin Falco columbarius
- Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
- Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
“Being commissioned to produce paintings for another series of stamps is a great honour for me as an artist. The thrill of seeing my work on a set of stamps remains as strong as for the first stamps I did over 25 years ago. Birds of prey have always held a fascination for me, and we are lucky here on the Isle of Man in being able to see the six species I have painted regularly, whether it is the sparrow-hawk visiting our gardens or the rare hen harrier quartering over the hills and fields. I chose to keep the images as simple portraits, focussing on the predator’s staring eyes, and I am very pleased with the results.” Jeremy Paul Isle of Man Post Office Showcases the Island’s Birds of Prey on Stamps – IoM Post
Artist: Jeremy Paul
Biography – Jeremy Paul Wildlife Artist
Designer: EJC Design
Release date: September 1, 2023
October
Manx Winter Wildlife – Christmas 2023
6 stamps, 6 post and goes, 2 FDCs, cancel 6 sheets of 20
offset, 4 colour offset with silver PMS Metallic Silver
- Cleeau-Yiarg – Robin at Old Ballaugh Church
- Keyrrey Loaghtyn – Loaghtan Sheep at Cregneash
- Mwaagh ny Sleityn – Mountain Hare at Peel Castle
- Pibbin – Puffin at The Sound
- Kayt Manninagh – Manx Cat at Tynwald Hill
- Raun – Seal in Laxey Bay
Artist: Rowan Corlett
Corlett is a Manx based artist who specialises in the landscapes and wildlife of Man
Release date: October 26, 2023
0 Comments