Emergency Mail Service Stamp Issued

On 23 April, 2020, the CILP will officially issue an 'Emergency Mail Service' stamp.  

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crises and its impact on UK Royal Mail services, the CILP decided it should schedule additional services for Canvey Island. These deliveries will be made within the restrictions of the UK government's social distancing guidance. Deliveries will be made by bicycle and on foot during permitted daily exercise periods.

The 'Emergency Mail Service' stamp (CLP010716S) was originally designed and printed in July 2016 in preparation for use during postal service disruption or civil emergency. Only 90 copies have been printed and of these only 79 remain for postal use and sale to collectors. Only 10 copies of this stamp have been previously made available to collectors as a 'Specimen' overprint in November 2016 (CLP181116S).

CLP010716S

Stamps will be available on eBay UK and from our agent Alpha Stamps on eBid UK.
Mainland and international mail originating from the CILP or Alpha Stamps, will also bear the stamp until stocks are exhausted.

Keep safe, keep well, support the NHS! 

Postmaster
CILP

Postmaster's Spring Update 2020

Normally, I would have published our programme of stamp issues for 2020. However, day-to-day life has interrupted our intended stamp design schedule, and for that I apologise to our regular collector's of the Canvey Island Local Post. 

I intend to publish a stamp to commemorate the end of World War II with a suitable local theme. Details of this will be published as soon as possible.

Beyond this I currently have no plan to issue any further stamps for spring 2020. A possible house move is in the air so normal service may not be resumed for a while.

This site will also be commercial advert free from 25 February, 2020, in order to speed loading times and remove unrelated clutter. Only stamps and local post services will be advertised.

Current CILP stamps and past issues are available from Alpha Thematics on eBid UK 

UPDATE 17 May 2020: 
Sadly, due to Covid-19 and circumstances beyond our control, CILP will not be issuing a stamp for V.E. Day 75th Anniversary.

Emergency Mail Stamp Back into Storage!

Having heard the news last month that the UK Royal Mail was about to face its first national postal strike in a decade at Christmas, I dusted off the yet-to-be-issued CILP Emergency Mail stamp in readiness! 

CLP010716S

However, my hopes of finally issuing this stamp were dashed, when Royal Mail management won its legal battle this week to prevent the postal strike at the High Court and won an injunction.

Strike action may yet still take place even though this would be disruptive at Christmas time for the public. Until then, the CILP Emergency Mail stamp will have to wait another day and has been put back into storage!

CILP Postmaster

RNIB Charity Stamp Appeal

If you live in the United Kingdom, you can collect and donate your used stamps to the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). 

RNIB Stamps Appeal

You can make a real difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people across the UK. Similar schemes may be available in your country if you live outside the UK.

For philatelists, who still send and receive letters and parcels through the post using postage stamps, it's an easy way of supporting RNIB that won’t cost a penny! It also gives you an opportunity to recycle all your unwanted stamps. 

Just collect used stamps from your cards, letters and parcels and the RNIB will recycle them into much-needed funds. They will help even more people with sight loss access the information, support and advice they need.

This is an easy way to help support them and maybe you could ask your friends, family or work colleagues to get involved as well? 

How stamps make a difference

The RNIB love and value all stamps - whether they’ve already been used, first or second class, foreign, first day covers, presentation packs or albums! 

RNIB do prefer post-2008 UK issues as they are worth more to them than older stamps, due to their scarcity as postage stamp use declines.

However, RNIB use all types of stamps and philatelic material to raise funds for blind and partially sighted people across the UK. Stamps are sold by weight and raise around £20 per kilogram depending on quality, so it is one of the easiest ways to raise money!

Why donate?

Every day 250 people will begin to lose their sight and many will face a future without any help or support. By supporting RNIB, you can help change this and give people with sight loss the gift of a brighter future.

How to donate your stamps

• To get your pre-paid collection envelopes or boxes, complete the request form or 'phone the number on the RNIB website.
• Start collecting stamps as they come through your postbox. Stamps do not need to be thoroughly sorted, but it helps if you can separate them into British and Overseas (Channel Islands and Isle of Man count as foreign). 
• Ensure you leave a one centimetre of envelope or packaging around each stamp! 
• Pack up your envelope or box and pop it in the post using our pre-paid address labels. 

Further information can be found at RNIB Stamps Appeal