The Thames will be brought alive this weekend with clanging bells, tooting horns and piercing whistles and recalling both its Royal heritage and its heyday as a working river. When the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant takes place, it will showcase one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the Thames and the biggest collection of historic vessels.

As crowds of Londoners and tourists will line the route to catch a glimpse of the Queen, they will see more than 1,000 vessels including Dunkirk little ships, Dragon boats, Narrow boats, steam boats and tugs, towing boats, kayaks and canoes from all corners of the Commonwealth. Among them will be two Manx vessels; a lifeboat from the historic Lady of Mann ship (the last vessel present at Dunkirk to survive), now converted as a cabin cruiser and Vital Spark – one of four replica Viking longboats built to be used in the annual world championship Viking longboat races, held in Peel, Isle of Man. Both vessels have significant stories behind them and will play their part in one of the biggest occasions the UK will see this year. At the centre of the pageant will be the Royal Barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, decorated in red and gold and carrying the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who is now Lord High Admiral in the Royal Navy.

The armed forces, fire, police and rescue services will be represented and passenger boats, carrying up to 30,000 flag-waving members of the public will take part in the floating celebrations of the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

This magnificent miniature sheet, approved by the Queen, will capture the essence of the day’s atmosphere and better still, as a licensed product, a percentage of the sale of every miniature sheet will go to the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation, the charitable trust set-up to raise funds for charitable projects through The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

For more information about this miniature sheet and related Queen’s Diamond Jubilee products, please click here or alternatively visit our Press page

TT fans will have the very rare opportunity to buy a limited edition piece of the TT course this year thanks to Isle of Man Stamps & Coins and the Eastcliffe Resource Centre.

Just 750 unique pieces of tarmac taken from the Creg Ny Baa bend and Glencrutchery Straight will be on sale at Isle of Man Stamps & Coins’ Post Shop, which will be situated at the back of the Grandstand throughout TT fortnight. Last year, pieces of tarmac from Ballaugh Bridge were available and sold like hot tar. Fans were keen to take a small piece of the most famous motorsport course in the world home with them as a lasting souvenir of their visit.

 This year Isle of Man Stamps & Coins has enlisted the help of members of the Department of Social Care’s Eastcliffe Resource Centre to help make and package the product ready to sell.

 Pascale Despringre, Senior Day Support Worker for the Centre said: “The workshop, part of Day Services Social Firm, has been putting together the TT tarmac souvenir. The team of adults with learning disabilities have learnt to break down the large pieces of tarmac into small pieces and put the packaging together. They have achieved a high standard of work and have met the orders promptly. Everyone has been involved in the various stages of the process and has enjoyed the work.”

 Maxine Cannon, Sales & Marketing Manager, Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said: “We have been very impressed by the diligence of the team who have prepared our products. The joint co-operation between our two businesses has shown what can be achieved by simply asking the question “is this something you can do?”

The tarmac souvenir will be available to buy at the Post Shop priced £4.50, in addition biking enthuiasts and visitors alike will also be able to buy a wide range of TT merchandise and Isle of Man souvenirs. The TT Post Shop at the Grandstand is open from 9am everyday until June 9.

Personal copies of the special commemorative first day cover for HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have been requested by Clarence House, following the couple’s royal visit to the Isle of Man last month.

To mark the prestigious visit which was part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Isle of Man Post Office produced a special commemorative cover. It featured the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee stamps and captured the essence of the day with a selection of photographs featured on a filler card with text.

Dot Tilbury, General Manager Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said: “We worked closely with Clarence House ahead of the visit to arrange permissions to have a photographer follow the couple during their whistle-stop tour, so we could obtain the variety of images we needed to produce the special cover. We sent a cover to Clarence House so they could see the final product and we were delighted to be contacted by them asking for copies for Prince Charles & the Duchess of Cornwall. This is fantastic feedback and we very much hope that Their Royal Highnesses will be pleased with the cover and that it will be a lasting memory of their trip to the Isle of Man.”

The first day commemorative cover is still available to buy at the price of £10 (ref number QB96). Please click HERE to find out more about our Jubilee stamps and products.

This is a perfect time to remind you about our exclusive Olympic stamps which were designed by none other than our friend, world famous fashion designer Sir Paul Smith with contributions from world cylcing champion and BBC Sports Personality Of The Year (and fellow Manxman) Mark Cavendish MBE! You find out all about them here.

Highly collectable, contemporary and beautiful to look at, they bear all the style, coolness and colour you would expect from Sir Paul’s designs.They were featured online in GQ.com, Harpers Bazaar, Vogue and Mens Health just to mention afew. They also got a massive viral buzz going on Twitter with everyone commenting on their style and beauty with people even talking about them now (4 months after their release)….not got yours yet? Why not make a purchase for that sports fan, stamp fan or style icon in your life? Just click here.  Keep you’re eyes peeled to our blog for more news coming soon !

Just prepping a new batch of our London 2012 Olympic Games Paul Smith books to put on sale.Love it!

The Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present this special commemorative cover to mark the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Charles & The Duchess of Cornwall to the Isle of Man.

On 26th April 2012 the Isle of Man played host to two very special Royal visitors – His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall – who were on a whistle stop tour as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Despite the wet and windy weather, the visit was an overwhelming success and Royal fans and schoolchildren crowded the streets where the couple visited. Their first port of call was the National Sports Centre in Douglas where His Royal Highness started a four-lap outdoor race for members of the ‘Team Royal London 360 Isle of Man Cycling Club’ among crowds of children from Manor Park School who waved Manx flags in support of the competitors and the VIP guests. Once the race was completed, Their Royal Highnesses met local residents World Champion cyclist Peter Kennaugh and scratch race World Champion Ben Swift along with members of the cycling club and parents of young cyclists.

The couple then headed west to Peel where clusters of onlookers gathered to get a glimpse of them, wave their Manx flags and hope for the chance to shake hands with a member of the Royal Family. At the House of Manannan, a museum which guides visitors through the Island’s rich Celtic, Viking and Maritime past, Their Royal Highnesses spoke to local food producers including the Apple Orphanage Co, Green Mann Spring, Ellerslie Rapeseed Oil, Isle of Man Creamery, Laxey Glen Flour Mills and Ramsey Bakery. They viewed first-hand the stunning selection of produce which is created using Manx resources to create high quality local foods. Also at the reception were young farmers, from all sectors of the industry, along with representatives from the local Prince’s Trust, the Manx Wildlife Trust and the Manx Osteoporosis Society. The Prince is Patron of The Wildlife Trusts and the Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of the National Osteoporosis Society.

Following the House of Manannan, events moved quayside where The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were introduced to the crew of ‘Vital Spark’, a replica Viking longship which will be taking part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3rd June. There was also an opportunity to meet local fishermen before attending the launch of the regeneration of the Isle of Man Food Park, touring a sustainable scallop processing facility and unveiling a plaque to mark the start of the redevelopment. Their final visit led them to Peel Lifeboat Station to meet Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers, Coastguards and members of the emergency services. The RNLI is particularly important to the Island as its founder Sir William Hillary was a former resident.

Despite the Island’s inclement weather on the day, the visit still brought out, in force, the Royal fans and schoolchildren who thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Royal couple in such a momentous year for the British Royal Family. The Island looks forward to the next time it’s greeted with such prestigious guests.

The Charles & Camilla Royal Visit Commemorative Cover, a stunning keepsake from the day which includes a filler card featuring text and a selection of photographs from the visit, is priced at £10 (QB96). Please visit our website at www.iomstamps.com to find out more about our stamps and products and how to purchase them.

The Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present Harbour Lights, a set of six stamps depicting minor lighthouses around the Isle of Man. We commissioned local artist Tracey Dean to prepare new paintings which truly capture the elegance of the familiar landmarks.
Local historian Stan Basnett writes:
The principal Lighthouses around the Isle of Man are maintained by the Commissioners of Northern Lights and are not the only lighthouses around the Island. Each harbour being protected by minor lights erected on the extremities of piers and breakwaters many of which are also being fitted with an audible device such as a horn or bell for use in fog.

When built their purpose was vital to vessels entering harbour at night or in restricted visibility.
Their importance has since diminished through the use of modern equipment such as radar and GPS. They still however have a useful part to play as an aid to navigation. Prior to the Revestment Act of 1765 the responsibility for the Island’s harbours lay with the Duke of Atholland the Island’s Government. After that date the harbours came under the control of the Admiralty and the Crown. Ultimately they reverted to the Isle of Man Harbour Commissioners and still remain the responsibility of the Manx Government through the Department of Infrastructure
The outer harbour at Castletown is protected by a small breakwater on the end of which is a superb limestone built lighthouse. It carries an inscription that clearly states that it was built in AD 1849 at which time Castletown was the capital of the Island and the harbour was more important than now. The lighthouse displays an occulting red light every 15 seconds and is visible for 8 miles. The approach to the inner harbour carries a smaller “pepper pot” lighthouse displaying an occulting red light every 4 seconds visible for 4 miles.

This stamp depicts the lighthouse on the end of the Battery Pier at Douglas, which was completed in 1876 and formed the outer breakwater for the harbour. The light exhibited alternate white and red lights every 15 seconds and had a bell fog signal of one ring every 2 seconds. When a new breakwater was completed in 1983 a new light was erected on an unpretentious metal mast and as a result the original light now displays a considerably reduced quick flashing red light.
The harbour at Laxey owes its origin to the lead mining industry. Responsibility for it passed to the IOM Harbour Commissioners in 1890 who then commenced work on the construction of a breakwater which was completed in 1893. The stone built lighthouse on the seaward end exhibits an occulting green light every 3 seconds visible for 7 miles. The smaller inner light on the end of Rowe’s Pier displays an occulting red light every 3 seconds also visible for 7 miles.

Peel harbour is protected by five lights and the one depicted on this stamp is the oldest and located on the outer breakwater which was completed in 1896. It is an elegant octagonal cast iron structure erected on the raised head at the extremity of the breakwater. It displays a white occulting light every 7 seconds and is visible for 11 miles. It did have a fog signal in the form of a bell giving 4 rings every 12 seconds.
The harbour entrance at Ramsey has a channel trained between two piers. The South Pier was extended in 1876 and the stamp depicts the hexagonal cast iron lighthouse erected at its seaward end. It displays an occulting red light every 5 seconds and is visible for 8 miles. As the channel is effectively a navigable channel the North Pier exhibits a green light as an aid to ships entering the port. In the background is the Ramsey Queen’s Pier, now disused, which was built as a low water landing pier.
The harbour at Port St Mary has two piers. The Alfred Pier completed in 1886 protects the outer harbour and until recently carried one of the elegant hexagonal cast iron lighthouses but a severe storm washed it off the pier and it has been replaced with a light on a steel post. The drying inner harbour is protected by the Quay which is a much earlier structure and carries its original lighthouse, depicted on the stamp, which exhibits an occulting red light every 3 seconds visible for 8 miles.
Please visit our website at www.iomstamps.com to find out more about our stamps and products.

Lord Sebastian Coe - chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.Exclusive picture by Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS

Look who’s a fan of our London 2012 Olympic Games Stamps by Sir Paul Smtih…Lord Sebastian Coe! Lord Coe was kind enough to pose for us and sign some of our stamps for us.What a gent!

LORD COE AUTOGRAPHS IOM OLYMPIC “RUNNERS” STAMP

By Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS

Lord Seb Coe, the world-famous Great Britain middle-distance runner, and Chair of the  London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, has autographed a sheetlet of the superb IOM £1 “runners” 2012 Olympic Games stamp, designed by Sir Paul Smith.

Seb Coe, who headed the Olympic bid to bring the 2012 Summer Olympics to London, won the 1500m gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games and successfully and mesmerisingly defended his title four years later at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, also agreed to be photographed holding the IOM stamps.

Lord Coe, a former conservative MP, and Sir Craig Reedie, IOC Member, are both members of the East India Club in London and had spoken and answered questions together with Sir Keith Mills, Deputy Chair of LOCOG, after a recent “London 2012” dinner for members and their guests.

A range of penetrating and discerning questions were all answered with candour and sparkle but under strict “Chatham House” rules, meaning that nothing may be divulged. Such was the enthusiasm of the distinguished trio  answering questions that the event did not finish until after 11pm, an hour way beyond Club custom. The exclusive photograph I was able to take shows Lord Coe holding the IOM stamps as he left his club.

The Olympic story began in February 1894 when the father of the modern Olympic movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, visited England as a guest of Sports Club president, Sir John Astley. He had come to England to gather support to re-launch the Olympic Games. Among the people he talked to were the Prince of Wales, Lord Desborough, founder of the British Olympic Association, the Rt Hon Arthur Balfour, the future Prime Minister, and Charles Herbert, Secretary of the Amateur Athletics Association, who helped to design the Olympic track and field programme.

A dinner was held at the Sports Club, (now part of today’s  East India Club) in what would be Coubertin’s last planning meeting before the Sorbonne conference in June 1894, where the International Olympic Committee was  officially established. From those early beginnings to the present day, the East India Club has retained its connections with the IOC. What a very fitting  venue for Lord Coe to autograph this splendid sheet of IOM 2012 Olympic stamps!

Our London 2012 Olympic Games stamps by Sir Paul Smith as signed by Lord Sebastian Coe!Exclusive picture by Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS

The Isle of Man Post Office presents a set of six stamps to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the loss of RMS Titanic after striking an iceberg. It is one of the deadliest maritime disasters in peacetime history, more than 1,500 passengers and crew died in the early hours of 15th April 1912.

Captained by Edward John Smith, one of the company’s most respected and experienced officers, and billed as the largest and most luxurious ship in the world, the Titanic was on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, when tragedy struck.

The trip had begun five days earlier when 914 passengers boarded the liner with 884 members of crew, including a squash professional, swimming pool lifeguards, Turkish bath attendants and a chaperone for single women in third class – four firemen missed the sailing because they were in the pub. First class passengers lost included John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim and Macy’s owner Isidor Strauss. Chairman of the White Star Line, Joseph Bruce Ismay, survived the tragedy.

They marvelled at the grand staircase, which ran through six decks, the sumptuous staterooms, oak and mahogany panelling and luxurious fitted carpets, before being escorted to their rooms by stewards.

Second and third class passengers entered through a corridor and were directed to their rooms. They included schoolteacher Lawrence Beesley, who wrote an account of the disaster and seven-year-old schoolgirl Eva Hart, whose life was saved after her mother had a premonition and refused to sleep. At midday Titanic steamed into the Channel and headed for Cherbourg, where a further 274 passengers joined the voyage and then on to Queenstown, in southern Ireland, where they picked up a further 136 passengers and the Irish mail. At 1.30pm on 11th April, Titanic headed into the Atlantic for what was expected to be a six-day voyage.

The first class passengers enjoyed lavish facilities. The catering was exquisite: on 14th April, the ten-course dinner included oyster, consommé, poached salmon, filet mignon, lamb, duckling or sirloin of beef, punch romaine, roast squab, asparagus, paté de foie gras and Waldorf pudding. But for some, it was to be their last supper.

At 11.39pm lookout, Fred Fleet, spotted the iceberg looming in the dark. He rang the bell three times and telephoned the bridge. First Officer Murdoch immediately gave the order ‘hard-a-starboard’ and signalled the engine room ‘stop’ but the liner was cruising at 22 knots and within a minute it had struck the iceberg. Captain Smith rushed to the bridge. After inspecting the damage, it was clear that the ship was doomed: although there was only a small hole, the iceberg had buckled the steel plates and sheered the rivets below the waterline; water was spilling over the bulkheads, flooding the first six compartments and weighing the At 12.05am, the order was given to uncover the lifeboats. But the operation was disorganised. Eighteen lifeboats were launched – the first at 12.45am; the last at 2.05am. Ten minutes after the last lifeboat was launched, the bridge was under water and the forward funnel collapsed. Within five minutes the Titanic gave a sudden lurch and threw the two remaining lifeboats into the sea. There was a rumbling like thunder from the bowels of the ship and at 2.20am the lights went out and the Titanic sank, plunging more than 1,500 people, including Captain Smith, into the icy sea. But it was the heroism of the band that will always be remembered. As the stern began to rise, violinist Wallace W Hartley, who was band leader, told the other seven musicians they could stand down. But they remained. All of them sacrificed their lives for their courage.

We are very happy to announce that on Monday 6th Feb we launched our very first Facebook ad campaign and competition!

In exchange for your “Like” we are offering you the chance to enter in to a prize draw to win £100 worth of our Diamond Jubilee collection which was released on Monday.

Please see instructions below on how to enter:

• Go to our Facebook page. If you are NOT yet a fan you will initially see this image below, if you ARE it should take you to the second image:

Facebooking Diamond Jubilee Comp Landing Page 1

• Click “like”
• It will take you to another image – please see below:

Diamon Jubilee Facebook Landing Page 2

• When you get to the above image – click on the banner at the top which says “Click Here to Enter Our Royal Competition” – it will take you to a page titled “Enter Diamond Jubilee Comp Here!” This is where you can enter all your contact details.
• Our Competition Terms & Conditions can be found on our “Info” tab found on the page
•   Once details have been written -simply click “submit”
• All finished! Easy peasy! After that why not have a nosey on our Facebook page and join in the conversation with us and your fellow fans?

The final entry time for the comp is 11.59pm GMT on Monday 13th Feb. The winner will drawn and announced anytime from Tuesday 14th Feb onwards!

Good luck everyone, speak soon and we hope you enjoy our Facebook page!