Emergency Mail Stamp Back into Storage!

Having heard the news last month that the UK Royal Mail was about to face its first national postal strike in a decade at Christmas, I dusted off the yet-to-be-issued CILP Emergency Mail stamp in readiness! 

CLP010716S

However, my hopes of finally issuing this stamp were dashed, when Royal Mail management won its legal battle this week to prevent the postal strike at the High Court and won an injunction.

Strike action may yet still take place even though this would be disruptive at Christmas time for the public. Until then, the CILP Emergency Mail stamp will have to wait another day and has been put back into storage!

CILP Postmaster

RNIB Charity Stamp Appeal

If you live in the United Kingdom, you can collect and donate your used stamps to the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). 

RNIB Stamps Appeal

You can make a real difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people across the UK. Similar schemes may be available in your country if you live outside the UK.

For philatelists, who still send and receive letters and parcels through the post using postage stamps, it's an easy way of supporting RNIB that won’t cost a penny! It also gives you an opportunity to recycle all your unwanted stamps. 

Just collect used stamps from your cards, letters and parcels and the RNIB will recycle them into much-needed funds. They will help even more people with sight loss access the information, support and advice they need.

This is an easy way to help support them and maybe you could ask your friends, family or work colleagues to get involved as well? 

How stamps make a difference

The RNIB love and value all stamps - whether they’ve already been used, first or second class, foreign, first day covers, presentation packs or albums! 

RNIB do prefer post-2008 UK issues as they are worth more to them than older stamps, due to their scarcity as postage stamp use declines.

However, RNIB use all types of stamps and philatelic material to raise funds for blind and partially sighted people across the UK. Stamps are sold by weight and raise around £20 per kilogram depending on quality, so it is one of the easiest ways to raise money!

Why donate?

Every day 250 people will begin to lose their sight and many will face a future without any help or support. By supporting RNIB, you can help change this and give people with sight loss the gift of a brighter future.

How to donate your stamps

• To get your pre-paid collection envelopes or boxes, complete the request form or 'phone the number on the RNIB website.
• Start collecting stamps as they come through your postbox. Stamps do not need to be thoroughly sorted, but it helps if you can separate them into British and Overseas (Channel Islands and Isle of Man count as foreign). 
• Ensure you leave a one centimetre of envelope or packaging around each stamp! 
• Pack up your envelope or box and pop it in the post using our pre-paid address labels. 

Further information can be found at RNIB Stamps Appeal 

Armorial Definitive Stamps Set Now Available!

Our new Coat of Arms definitive stamps set was released on 1st April, 2019. 

The set consists of two postal rates; 'Standard' (foot) and 'Express' (cycle) mail stamps, plus an 'Official' stamp intended for Postmaster mail. However, the 'Official' stamp is also authorised for use for all post as required, i.e rate addition or exhaustion of normal stamp stock.

Canvey Island Coat of Arms Definitive Set (CLP010419-3)
© 2019 Canveypost.org

The design shows the island's historic armorial prior to the 1972 England local government reorganisation, when Canvey Island lost it's Urban District Council and was forced into amalgamation with mainland local government.

A total of 300 'Standard' and 'Express' stamps have been produced plus 150 'Official' stamps. A very limited edition of five First Day Covers have been hand produced for our dedicated LP cover collectors.

The stamps are available from our agent, Alpha Thematics on eBid UK and on eBay UK. 

Note: Our mint stamps are generally cheaper to purchase via our agent on eBid UK than on other auction sites due to their higher fees.

Postmaster
CILP

Coat of Arms Stamps for Spring!

Our new Coat of Arms stamps depicting the old Canvey Island arms, will be issued on 1st April, 2019. Design proofs are shown below for illustrative purposes only and production stamps may differ slightly.

      

The set consists of three stamps; a 'Standard Rate' or foot mail stamp, an 'EXPRESS' or cycle mail stamp, and an 'OFFICIAL' Postmaster mail stamp. All bear the superseded arms of the pre-1971 Canvey Island Urban District Council with appropriate red lettering.

As usual the stamps will be available from our agent, Alpha Thematics on eBid UK from 2nd April, 2019, and at the Postmaster's discretion on eBay UK.

Great Flood Exhibition

On 30th January, local history enthusiasts and Canvey Island residents commemorated the 66th anniversary of the 'Great Flood' of 1953, with an exhibition organised by the Canvey Community Archive.

'Great Tide' Stamp Set 2013 - © canveypost.org

It included slide shows and films, newspapers, period maps and photographs documenting the plight of Canvey Island residents during the fateful January night of 1953 when 58 residents died.

Exhibits also included contributions from the Watersnood Flood Museum at Ouwerkerk, Netherlands. The Dutch coastline was severely flooded during the same storm and 1800 people lost their lives to the power of the tide and bitter-cold winter night.

The event was well attended and I was delighted to see many younger people taking an interest in their local history. It was also an honour to talk to several residents who experienced the flood first-hand. From these conversations I gained further insight into that terrible night, talking over the photographs of long lost Islanders and landmark buildings.

The Canvey Island Local Post issued a four stamp set to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 'Great Tide' on 31 January, 2013. We still hold stocks of this issue and any collector interested in obtaining a set can buy it online from our agent, Alpha Thematics.