Spring has officially started but the weather for Canvey Island in S.E. England has mostly been laughing at us, with rain and unseasonal cool breezes. But there is light! Crisp sheets of new stamps have been received this week from our reliable and friendly printer at Yourstamps, based in Berlin, Germany.
Our
stamp schedule for 2024 includes topicals that will appeal to a wide range of
collectors and introduces a new occasional series, River Thames Wrecks. To maintain a sense of anticipation, images
of stamps due for release post-May will be released on their actual issue date.
River Thames Wrecks: SS “Benmohr” 1902
Issue Date: 10 May 2024
On
6 February 1902, the SS Benmohr bound for India, collided with the
SS Banffshire, a refrigerated cargo steamer, in thick fog in the River Thames
Estuary off the Canvey Island coast.
The
SS Benmohr settled by the stern and sank off Thorney Bay, Canvey Island. There are no reports of any casualties. In June 1902, she was raised and taken to a River Tyne shipyard for repairs.
Her cargo of cement barrels had solidified due to their immersion, but Canvey
developer Frederick Hester purchased them to build a jetty and also used them as
foundations for several new buildings.
The
SS Banffshire was repaired and sailed for Australia in May 1902. After repairs
the SS Benmohr continued maritime duties, being sold to a Japanese company in
1911, until wrecked off the coast of Japan in 1927.
SS Benmohr c.1902
Our
initial stamp in this series features the SS Benmohr from a 1902 contemporary
sketch by Tom Merry. A total of 160 stamps have been produced.
D-Day 1944 - 80th Anniversary
Issue Date: 6 June 2024
The
80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings by Allied forces in 1944 is
commemorated this year. We have produced a stamp featuring a dynamic statue at
the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer in France. It features British
infantry moving up the beach under fire.
The
British Normandy Memorial commemorates 22,422 people from 30 countries,
under British command, who lost their lives during the operation. A limited run
of 160 stamps have been printed.
Aviation Series No.3: Avro Vulcan XL426
Issue Date: 12 August 2024
The
third offering in our extremely popular Aviation Series is the delta wing Avro
Vulcan. Our stamp features Avro Vulcan
XL426, one of only three remaining taxiable Avro
Vulcan strategic bombers.
Since 1993, it has been owned and maintained by the Vulcan Restoration Trust,
based at Southend London Airport, approximately 15 miles from Canvey Island.
This historic aircraft served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1962 to 1986. A
total of 105 stamps have been produced.
Local History Series: Hester’s Mono-Rail 1902
Issue Date: 18 November 2024
Property developer
Frederick Hester established the first Mono-Rail in Essex, England, on Canvey
Island in 1902. It was intended to transport prospective bungalow buyers,
holiday makers and day trippers from London, from the mainland railway
station to the River Thames Estuary coast via his Winter Gardens and other
business interests.
However, lack
of funds prevented electrification and expansion and the service was brief,
perhaps running for around two years. Our stamp features a period photograph of
the horse-drawn Mono-Rail complete with visitors and local photogenic dog! This
issue has a print run of 160 stamps.
CILP stamps are shipped worldwide from Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.
Postmaster
