New Issue: River Thames Sailing Barge Set!

Today, 20 November 2025, we release a new multiple definitive stamp set to celebrate the contribution Thames sailing barges made to the development of trade in London and the south-east of England along the Thames Estuary. 

The AI assisted design, the first use of the tool by CILP, reflects early British Edwardian stamp designs and feature a stylized Thames barge. Printed as a strip on the sheet, the stamps cover the four classes of service available.

River Thames Sailing Barge Set (CP075/78)

Thames sailing barges were a commercial boat once common on the River Thames. The flat-bottomed barges had a shallow draught that was ideal for the Thames Estuary, and its surrounding shallow waters and tributaries. Their heyday was at the beginning of the 20th century when over 2000 barges were registered. For two hundred years barge design remained virtually unchanged until the 1860s, when a series of barge races were started and barge designs improved to compete.

A First Day Cover (FDC27) and a FDI Postcard (FDP19) has also been issued. Please note the River Thames Sailing Barge stamps will only be available as two se-tenant pairs of stamps (Standard/Express and Priority/Official) and not as a strip.

All our available stamps and covers can be obtained from Alpha Thematics on Ebid 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

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