Season's Greetings!

As the year draws to a close I would like to thank everyone that has supported CILP throughout 2025, and wish you all a happy holiday, and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Postmaster

CILP Catalogue Now Available!

The CILP is pleased to announce the release of the Canvey Island Local Post: Specialised Cinderella Stamps Catalogue 2010-2025, published on the 5 December by Flag House Press.

This comprehensive 206 page catalogue details every stamp, cover and postcard issued by the Canvey Island Local Post (CILP), with full colour illustrations, descriptions, history notes and statistics for each item issued. From CILP’s first stamp issued in November 2010, through its 15th Anniversary issue in November 2025, to its first stamp of 2026, celebrating World Local Post Day. 

The catalogue also includes a fully illustrated section on the Local Post Collectors Society 50th Anniversary and World Local Post Day 2022 Omnibus issue. Plus, a full background article on the 'Missing Yellow' Chapman Lighthouse stamp, an illustrated Collector Checklist and Thematic List, and a Resources section for new collectors and aspiring local posters!

It is available for purchase from Amazon.co.uk and regions.

Postmaster

New Issues For December 2025!

Just like waiting for a bus, you stand around ages for one to come along then a bunch arrive all at once! When it comes to the end of year stamp releases for CILP it may seem that way too!

Due to circumstances that I will not go into just now, a number of issues have been concentrated into the last quarter of 2025, and here are our last two for December. 

Cornelius Vermuyden (1 December)

Issued as part of our Heritage Series this 'Express' service stamp shows the Dutch Engineer Cornelius Vermuyden with the Dutch Cottage (1618) in the background. He was instrumental in reclaiming over a third of the present day Canvey Island from the River Thames along with around 300 of his countrymen between 1621-23. This large format stamp is a first for the CILP as this design was partly designed with AI assistance.

CP079 Cornelius Vermuyden

A First Day Cover (FDC28) and a First Day Issue Postcard (FDP20) have been produced to accompany the stamp release.

1960s Nostalgia Christmas (8 December)

This is only the second Christmas stamp issue in fifteen years for the CILP. These large format AI assisted design conjures the nostalgia of a 1960s holiday in a cartoon poster style and are entitled 'Choir' (CP080) and 'Postman' (CP081), a single stamp being valid for 'Standard' foot service, and two stamps are valid for 'Express' service.

CP080/81 'Choir' & 'Postman'

A First Day Cover (FDC29) and First Day Postcard (FDP21) accompany the stamp issue.

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

Postmaster

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

CILP 15th Anniversary Issues!

Today is our 15th Anniversary! To mark the event we are issuing a celebratory stamp, a First Day Cover, Maxi Card, and Commemorative Cover. As usual these are all limited editions and modern local post collectors are encouraged to order their copies without delay.

Our new stamp (CP074) is a multicoloured celebration featuring a montage of CILP stamps on a stamp and our motto, ‘By Hand & Bicycle’.

 

CP074

A First Day Cover bearing a se-tenant pair of stamps (FDC26), and a Maxi Card with two stamps affixed (FDP18) have been released to accompany this issue. A limited edition Anniversary Commemorative Cover (CPC8) bearing stamps from CILP’s 10th and 15th Anniversaries, has also been released featuring two CP041 triangular stamps, and a single CP074 stamp.

As a bonus to all our supporters we are offering an across the board discount of 15% for 30 days on all CILP listings from Alpha Thematics. 

For modern local post collectors who just wish to have a representative selection of CILP stamps for their collection, we are also offering a packet of 15 different stamps at a generously discounted price, plus shipping!

All our available stamps and covers are available from Alpha Thematics on Ebid UK.

Join our celebration! Thank you for your support over the past fifteen years!

Postmaster