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 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

New Issue: Aviators Series - Amy Johnson

 Aviators Series: No.2 (5 January 2024)

The 5th January saw the first issue of 2024 and the second stamp in our Aviators Series on the anniversary of Amy Johnson's death.

The famous pre-WWII aviator and long-distance record setter Amy Johnson CBE, is the subject of the second stamp in this series. The stamp shows an Oxford Airspeed AS.10 similar to the aircraft Johnson was flying that evening with an inset portrait of Amy in leather flying helmet.

Ref: CLP050124S / Cat: CP064

Johnson was ferrying the aircraft to an airfield in Kent in on 5th January 1941. Due to extremely poor weather, she flew off course and failed to reach her destination. The exact reason for her crash is unknown but it is assumed she was forced to bail-out over the Thames Estuary near Canvey Island, when her aircraft ran out of fuel. Her body was never recovered.

Aviators Series stamps can be obtained at Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK. 

Postmaster

Aviation History No2. Carvair ATL-98

 Aviation History Series: No.2 (1 December 2023)

The second stamp in the Aviation History Series was issued on 1st December. As for our first stamp in this series, it also features an aircraft from the British Air Ferries fleet but this time from c1972. 

British Air Ferries ATL-98 Carvair

CLP011223S / CP063

The four engine ATL-98 Carvair transported motorists to Europe until it became uneconomic due to their limited payload. This aircraft is named “Fat Albert” and once operated from Southend Airport and was often seen flying over Canvey Island until 1979. A total of 21 aircraft were converted to Carvair configuration by Air Traders (Engineering) Ltd.

A small item of trivia for classic movie fans is that an ATL-98 Carvair (registration G-ASDC), featured in the 1964 James Bond movie “Goldfinger”.

Aviation History Series stamps can be obtained at Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Postmaster

New: Aviation History Series

 Aviation History Series: No.1 (1st November 2023)

On 1st November we issued our first stamp in a series concentrating on aircraft and local aviation history that occurred on, over, and around Canvey Island and the Thames Estuary.

The first stamp of the Aviation History Series shows the British United Air Ferries Bristol Superfreighter “Valiant” from 1966. These operated from several UK airports including Southend Airport (previously RAF Rochford and now London Southend Airport), approximately twelve miles from Canvey Island. 

BUAF Bristol Superfreighter

(CLP011123S / CP062)

These aircraft were a common sight flying over Canvey Island to Europe prior to the Channel Tunnel and the introduction of large capacity Ro-Ro ship car ferries to the continent. They are a vivid childhood memory for me (Postmaster).

This series runs concurrently with our Aviators Series. The first stamp of which was released on 27th September featuring Geoffrey R. de Havilland and the DH-108 Swallow. 

Aviation History Series and Aviators Series stamps can be obtained at Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Postmaster

CILP

New: Aviators Stamp Series

 Aviators Series: No.1 (27 September 2023)

September 27th saw the release of CILP's first stamp in our occasional famous Aviators Series. The series will feature aviators that have local historic links or events that occurred on or near Canvey Island.

Our initial stamp issue is dedicated to Geoffrey R. de Havilland and a DH 108 “Swallow” tail-less jet, which broke up in the air over the Thames Estuary near Canvey Island, killing the famous test pilot on 27 September 1946. Much of the aircraft debris fell to earth in Egypt Bay, Kent.

The stamp shows a period photo of the aircraft and an inset portrait of the pilot Geoffrey Raoul de Havilland OBE, the son of the famous aircraft designer and manufacturer.

CLP270923S / CP061

We also have a concurrent Aviation Series planned that will feature both historic and contemporary aircraft with local associations. The first stamp issue will be released on 1st November 2023.

Aviators Series No.1 stamp can be obtained at Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Postmaster

CILP