Withdrawal of Online Stamp Catalogues

The CILP has reluctantly decided to withdraw from the public domain our illustrated  Online Catalogues covering 2010-2021.

Due to abuses of our Creative Commons licence by some bad agents and AI 'bot' stripping of our images without credit or permission, it has become necessary to remove the illustrated catalogues from our website. 

This is a double-edged sword as visitors will be unable to view the wide range of stamps we produce and available to collect, and we lose an important advertising medium. However, our 'Collector Checklist' page will be retained and the format has been updated to include thumbnail images for all issues.

For collectors who want an in-depth and fully illustrated catalogue of CILP issues and cinderella philatelic material, including full design details and background stories, a catalogue is being prepared for print release for our 15th Anniversary in November 2025. It will be available worldwide from Amazon and published by Flag House Press.

Postmaster

New Cover Service!

The Canvey Island Local Post is delighted to introduce its new Cover Service. Following a successful trial, this service is now being introduced for all collectors in the United Kingdom.

The service is aimed at collectors who wish to obtain cancelled CILP stamps, including First Day Issue events, on personally addressed covers previously sent to the CILP.

All fees charged for the service will be used to finance the Canvey Island Local Post, stamp production, its website and associated services, to ensure its viability for the future.

Visit our Cover Service page for details.

Postmaster

Stamp Schedule for 2025!

Canvey Island Local Post (CILP) is pleased to confirm its stamp schedule for 2025. This year has significant WWII anniversaries so our offering this year does lean towards that era and a monochrome photographic theme – but not entirely! As usual, illustrations will be published nearer their scheduled release dates to maintain surprise and excitement!

Music Series: Dr Feelgood (6 January 2025)

Already issued. This stamp applauds Dr. Feelgood, an English pub rock band formed in 1971 on Canvey Island. It is the first stamp in our new Music Series, featuring local and international musicians with links to Canvey Island and the surrounding area.

(CP069) Dr Feelgood

Aviators Series: No.3 - ‘Eagle’ Sqn RAF (21 March 2025)

The third stamp in the series, and the first to salute a group of aviators rather than an individual, it commemorates the American volunteers that served and flew in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during WWII in the famous ‘Eagle’ Squadrons.

In particular CILP honours the men of No. 121 Sqn. RAF who flew from airfields in Essex including RAF Rochford (now London-Southend Airport), around twelve miles from Canvey Island. A bonus for aviation fans is that the Supermarine Spitfire MKV features in the design!

VE Day (8 May 2025)

Celebrating the 80^th Anniversary of the guns falling silent in Western Europe in 1945, this issue is a colourful commemoration of the day. It features flag bunting of the major Allied nations and anniversary legend. A sobering reminder of what unified and determined allies can achieve together.

Heritage Series: Laundry Delivery (21 July 2025)

This issue has been planned for some time but was set aside due to other date critical commemorations. This issue is more special than most to me, as it features my maternal grandmother and great-grandfather delivering clean laundry on their horse-drawn cart c.1930.

 

VJ Day (15 August)

The second significant 80^th Anniversary of the year is Victory over Japan Day. The stamp features celebrating RAF personnel on the Cocos Islands on 14 August 1945, the day before the official declaration, with a USA made B-24 bomber in the background.

CILP 15^th Anniversary (10 November 2025)

To wrap-up the year CILP marks the fifteenth anniversary of its first stamp issue on 10 November 2010, with a multicoloured celebration of stamps on a stamp. Where has the time gone?

As usual all available CILP stamps can be obtained online from Alpha Thematics on ebid.net/uk.

 

Postmaster 

New Issue: Hester's Mono-Rail 1902

CILP is pleased to announce the release on 18 November, 2024, of our latest stamp issue in our Local History series.

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 down from London, from the mainland railway station to the River Thames Estuary coast via his Winter Gardens and other business interests.

Hester's Mono-Rail 1902 (CP068)

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 available from our agent, Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Postmaster

New Issue: Avro Vulcan XL426

 Aviation Series No.3: Avro Vulcan XL426

CILP is pleased to announce the release of the third offering in our extremely popular Aviation Series, the delta wing Avro Vulcan. Our stamp features Avro Vulcan XL426, one of only three remaining taxiable Avro Vulcan strategic bombers.

Avro Vulcan XL425 (CP067)

Since 1993, it has been owned and maintained by the Vulcan Restoration Trust, based at Southend London Airport, England, 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.

CILP stamps are shipped worldwide from Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Postmaster

New Issue: D-Day 1944 80th Anniversary

The Canvey Island Local Post (CILP) is pleased to announce the issue of its latest stamp, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, on the coast of Normandy, France. 

CP066

The stamp features a dynamic statue of British infantry advancing across the beach under fire on D-Day, which is situated at the recently completed national British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. 

The British Normandy Memorial commemorates 22,422 personnel from 30 countries under British command, who lost their lives during the operation and subsequent Normandy battles. A limited run of 160 stamps have been printed.

CILP stamps are shipped worldwide from Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.  

Postmaster

River Thames Wrecks: SS Benmohr (1902)

 The Canvey Island Local Post (CILP) is pleased to announce the issue of its latest stamp and initial release for our new River Thames Wrecks series.

The first stamp in this occasional series is the SS Benmohr. 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.

CP065

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.

The SS Benmohr stamp features a 1902 contemporary sketch by Tom Merry. A total of 160 stamps have been produced.

CILP stamps are shipped worldwide from Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK. 

Postmaster

New Stamp Issues: 2024 Schedule

 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.

CP065

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 - 80^th Anniversary

Issue Date: 6 June 2024

The 80^th 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

Spring Heralds New Stamps!

Spring is finally here! That means new stamp issues are being prepared for release to the wild in the coming months! I cannot "spill the beans" as to what our stamp schedule for 2024 looks like just yet, but it will include some great topical themes and local history. 

Our Aviation Series continues with a new stamp of an aircraft from 1962 that will be instantly recognisable. Plus the 80th Anniversary of D-Day 1944 will be commemorated, and historical transport and maritime history will feature in two other issues.

Rejected D-Day 80th Anniversary stamp design

The full 2024 schedule will be published as soon as the finished stamps have been received from our printer. Whilst we wait, designs for 2025 are well under way, including a new commemorative series featuring famous musicians that were born, lived, or sadly died on Canvey Island. We also plan a definitive series of notable Islanders throughout history, and there are some surprises!

Until next time...

Postmaster

Online and Printed Catalogues Update

 Updates of our illustrated Online Catalogue pages will be suspended from 20 February 2024. Current data in the public domain will remain available online but new issues will not be added to the catalogue listings until further notice. 

CILP has taken this decision due to possible misuse by some individuals, breaching our generous Creative Commons Licence.

Also, our website format and hosting limitations may restrict our ability to expand and accommodate the catalogue in its current format in future. A slimmed-down or 'light' version of the catalogue is being evaluated.

However, our Collector Checklist will be updated for new stamp issues and released as normal under our existing Creative Commons Licence.

A new illustrated and comprehensive printed catalogue covering all cinderella material relating to CILP since its foundation, is being prepared for publication. The First Edition of the CILPDEX catalogue will be available later this year and will be for sale worldwide online from our agent, Alpha Thematics. 

Visit the Canvey Island Local Post Category in the Alpha Thematics shop!

Update 01 April 2025: Online illustrated catalogues have been deleted. Our 'Collector Checklist' now has thumbnail images of all of our stamp issues.

Postmaster 

CILP on Alpha Thematics Refreshed!

Regular visitors to this site and collectors of CILP stamps will be familiar with our philatelic agent, Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

The good news is that CILP now has its own category in the Alpha Thematics shop, so you will no longer have to search through all the "Local Posts" category to find our stamps.

Amy Johnson (CP064 5-Jan-2024)

Even better news is that all our listings have been refreshed and many prices reduced! 

We also have introduced a range of full year stamp lots to kick-off a new collection, or fill missing years from existing collections. All available stamp issues are still listed for single purchases.

Visit the Canvey Island Local Post Category in Alpha Thematics shop!

Postmaster

National Health Service (NHS) 75th Anniversary

CILP are proud to release a stamp (6 July) to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the National health Service (NHS).

Using stocks of our previously issued 70^th NHS Anniversary stamp from 2018 (CP034), we have issued a limited run of only 34 hand overprinted stamps to mark the NHS 75^th Anniversary. 

CLP060723S

It is likely these stamps will only be used for local Island mail due to their limited number. Collector's are encouraged to obtain their copy without delay.

Postmaster

UK Armed Forces Day Stamp Issued

Canvey Island Local Post are proud to announce the issue of our United Kingdom Armed Forces Day 2023 commemorative stamp, on 24th June.

CLP240623S (CP059)

This is a limited print run of only 75 stamps and is available to purchase from our agent Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Postmaster

NEWS: Armed Forces Day 2023 Stamp

Just a reminder to all our valued collector's and cinderella enthusiasts, that our Armed Forces Day stamp will be released on June 24th 2023, (catalogue number CP059).

This is the first time the CILP has marked this growing event with a stamp. The design features a drawing of a World War II British infantryman advancing uphill. It is taken from a WWII war fund raising leaflet from Canvey Island c.1943.

This is a limited print run of only 75 stamps and will be available to purchase from our agent Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Stamp Schedule for 2023

Our stamp schedule for the coming year has not yet been finalised. However, we can confirm some aspects of our future stamps for 2023. 

Following the announcement of the coronation date of 6 May for HM King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, we are designing a stamp to commemorate the event for release in late April or early May 2023.

In addition, an overprint of our National Health Service stamp of 2018 will mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS in July. This will be a very limited issue.

To continue our commemoration of local history we are also proposing a set of stamps depicting significant aviation events that occurred on Canvey Island or nearby over the River Thames. This set may include the untimely deaths of Amy Johnson and Geoffrey R. de Havilland Jr., plus local aviation links involving an Avro 504 and other aircraft.

Once designs are confirmed further updates will be made. As stated at the end of last year, the print runs for stamps this year will be reduced from previous issues. You are advised to obtain your copies as soon as they are issued to avoid disappointment.

Postmaster 

CILP

CILP Queen Elizabeth II Stamps to be Withdrawn

From 31 January 2023, all CILP stamps bearing the image or effigy of our late and beloved monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, will be withdrawn from postal use.

In line with the UK Royal Mail's deadline to void non-barcoded definitive stamps bearing HM Queen Elizabeth's effigy from 31 January 2023, the CILP also considers this to be a suitable and respectful date to cease using our QEII local post stamps.

Unused stamps will still be available to collectors via our agent, Alpha Philatelics, but will no longer be applied to any local or international mail despatched or carried by CILP. 

God Save the King!

Postmaster

CILP

Autumn Pondering: Stamp Issues for 2023?

Greetings!

As the summer heatwave wains and the rain returns to green-up faded grass and thirsty gardens, my thoughts are pondering philately for the colder months, and ultimately new Canvey Island Local Post stamp issues for 2023.

The second half of this year has seen a downturn in the sales of CILP stamps. We appear not to be alone. With a few exceptions, the production of stamp issues from many local posts around the world has declined. More seriously in the current economic and political climate, a significant number of local posts have ceased operating for the present or disappeared altogether.

Having said that, local posts and cinderella stamp collecting is an expanding field of alternative philately. If you are interested in the history of local posts and current local posts, or wish to explore, collect, or even produce stamps for your own local post, visit the Local Post Collector's Society or visit their group on Facebook.

With less money in collector's pockets and stamp production costs increasing, it is understandable some adjustment was inevitable, but I'm sure this is temporary. With this in mind the CILP has decided to streamline costs and shorten our stamp issue production runs for 2023, whilst maintaining the frequency of issues.

We now need to plan our future stamp issue schedule and decide what subjects to celebrate, commemorate, or depict on CILP stamps for 2023. This is where your opinion would be appreciated.

Email us at Stamps2023 listing your top three suggestions for subjects to appear on our stamps. 

Postmaster

CILP

Final Days of Covid-19 Handstamp!

Further to our previous announcements in November 2021 and February 2022, regarding the withdrawal of our Covid-19 handstamp / cachet. The CILP has finally decided to withdraw the handstamp from 30 May, 2022.  

Although the virus war continues, CILP considers the use of the handstamp / cachet to have run its course in raising awareness.

Thank you to all collectors and supporters who have supported our campaign through stamp and cover sales.

Keep safe, keep well!

Postmaster

LPCS 50th Anniversary Stamps Issued!

Two stamps celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Local Post Collector's Society and World Local Post Day, are released today, 10 January, 2022. The release dates may differ for other local posts involved.

Detail of LPCS 50th Anniversary stamps with FDI cds on mail

Examples of these stamps will be available for collectors from 1 February from our usual agent, Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Postmaster

CILP

UPDATE: Forward Together!

 Forward Together! 

The release of the Forward Together! stamp (scheduled 11 October, 2021) has been postponed. The stamp, which shows the flags of all the UK home nations alongside the Union flag, will be re-scheduled for issue at a later date in 2021. 

Missed an Issue?

We still have good stocks of all 2021 and most older stamp issues available for purchase from our agent Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK. 

Postmaster

CILP