Isle of Man – Golden Jubilee of Manx Grand Prix – 1973
| FDC image | 
|
|---|---|
| FDC reverse image | N/A |
| Country | Isle of Man |
| Country code | IM |
| Issue title | Golden Jubilee of Manx Grand Prix |
| Date of issue | 4 September 1973 |
| Withdrawal or invalidation date | 3 September 1974 (SG 39–40 withdrawn from sale)
|
| Stamp type | Commemorative stamp |
| Stamp subtype | Anniversary |
| Theme or subject | Motorcycle racing; Manx Grand Prix golden jubilee |
| Text credit | |
| Designer or artist | J. H. Nicholson, R.I. |
| Printer | John Waddington of Kirkstall Ltd. |
| Printing process | Lithography |
| Colours | Multicoloured; four colours |
| Paper and gum | White coated postage stamp paper; PVA adhesive |
| Perforation | 14 |
| Stamp dimensions | 29.85 × 40.64 mm (as given on the information card) |
| Issue format | Two stamps, each issued in sheets of 50 containing two panes of 5 × 5 |
| Number of stamps | 2 |
| Cover type | Official first day cover |
| Cover producer | |
| Cover reference | |
| Limited edition | No |
| Edition limit | N/A |
| Copy number | N/A |
| Cachet or cover design | Winged trophy in front of a green Manx Motor Cycle Club monogram, with official first day cover wording, the golden jubilee title and the date 4 September 1973 |
| Addressed | No |
| Postmark type | Circular first day of issue handstamp |
| Postmark location | Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Postmark date | 4 September 1973 |
| Postmark inscription | FIRST DAY OF ISSUE / - 4 SEP 1973 / DOUGLAS / ISLE OF MAN |
| Postmark notes | One circular strike overlaps both stamps. The cover is unaddressed. |
| Postmark image |
|
| Signed | No |
| Signed by | N/A |
| Signature details | N/A |
| Information sheet included | Yes |
| Information materials | Double-sided information card |
| Information sheet title | The Manx Grand Prix |
| Information sheet image | 
|
| Information sheet reverse image | 
|
| Information sheet notes | Historical account of the races and riders, followed by technical details of the stamps. The front shows staining and damage near its lower right corner. |
| Certificate of authenticity included | No |
| Certificate of authenticity image | N/A |
| Certificate of authenticity reverse image | N/A |
| FDC owned | Yes |
| Condition | |
| Collection Comment | Owned. Unaddressed official cover bearing both stamps, with a Douglas first day cancellation and a double-sided information card. The cover reverse is blank. |
The Isle of Man issued two stamps on 4 September 1973 to commemorate the golden jubilee of the Manx Grand Prix. The stamps are catalogued as SG 39–40, and Stanley Gibbons lists a first day cover for the issue.[1]
The owned cover
The unaddressed envelope is inscribed ISLE OF MAN OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVER. Its cachet depicts a winged trophy in front of a green Manx Motor Cycle Club monogram, with the golden jubilee title and issue date beneath.[2]
One circular FIRST DAY OF ISSUE strike overlaps both stamps. It is dated 4 September 1973 and includes DOUGLAS and ISLE OF MAN in its inscription.[2]
Designs and racing background
- SG 39, 3p: Leslie Randles, first winner, 1923, as named on the stamp and information card.
- SG 40, 3½p: Alan Holmes, double winner, 1957.[3]
The 3p stamp bears the inscription “Leslie Randles First Winner 1923”. Stanley Gibbons incorrectly uses “Leonard Randles” for the name shown on the stamp in both its illustration caption and main listing. The accompanying information card also uses Leslie Randles.[1][3]
The inaugural event was held in 1923 as the Manx Amateur Road Races. The information card dates the first race to 20 September 1923 and identifies its winner as Leslie Randles riding a Sunbeam motorcycle.[3] An Auto-Cycle Union account identifies the winner as Len Randles.[4]
Alan Holmes won both the Junior and Senior Manx Grand Prix races in 1957, becoming the first Manxman to achieve this double.[5]
Production details
Both stamps were designed by J. H. Nicholson, R.I., and printed by John Waddington of Kirkstall Ltd. using lithography. The information card records four colours, a size of 29.85 × 40.64 mm, and white coated postage stamp paper gummed with PVA adhesive.[3]
Stanley Gibbons records perforation 14. Each value was issued in sheets of 50 stamps, comprising two panes of 5 × 5. Both values have plate numbers 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D (each ×4). The imprint is centrally positioned in the bottom margin.[1]
Information card
The double-sided card is headed THE MANX GRAND PRIX. It describes the origins of the amateur races, subsequent changes to their rules and name, and the achievements of participating riders. Leslie Randles and Alan Holmes are identified as the subjects of the two stamps. Technical details appear on the reverse.[3]
Sales and withdrawal
The catalogue records the following quantities sold for the individual stamps:[1]
| Stamp | Face value | Quantity sold |
|---|---|---|
| IM-SG-39 | 3p | 550,347 |
| IM-SG-40 | 3½p | 653,355 |
Both stamps were withdrawn from sale on 3 September 1974. These sales figures and the withdrawal date describe the stamps, rather than the physical first day cover.[1]
Stamps on this cover
| Image | Identifier | Face value | Subject | Format | Other catalogues | Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IM-SG-39 | 3p | Leslie Randles, first winner of the Manx Amateur Road Races, 1923 | Stamp | The stamp and card use Leslie Randles; SG incorrectly gives the stamp's name as Leonard Randles. Quantity sold: 550,347. Withdrawn from sale on 3 September 1974.[1][3]
| |
|
IM-SG-40 | 3½p | Alan Holmes, double winner of the Manx Grand Prix, 1957 | Stamp | Quantity sold: 653,355. Withdrawn from sale on 3 September 1974.[1]
|
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Stanley Gibbons.Channel Islands and Isle of Man 2022 Edition Stamp Catalogue(31st combined edition).Stanley Gibbons.2022.Section: Isle of Man.p. 199.Catalogue system: Stanley Gibbons.Catalogue number(s): 39–40.ISBN: 978-1-911304-89-0.Place of publication: Ringwood.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Golden Jubilee of Manx Grand Prix — official first day cover(First day cover).Reference: Scan of the owned cover.Unaddressed collection copy bearing SG 39–40 and a Douglas first day cancellation dated 4 September 1973.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 The Manx Grand Prix(Information card).Reference: Front scan; reverse scan.Double-sided card accompanying the owned official first day cover. The stamp issue date is printed as 4 September 1973; a separate publication date is not given.
- ↑ “The Manx Grand Prix will soon be 100”. Auto-Cycle Union. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
- ↑ “Alan Holmes Passes”. Auto-Cycle Union. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2026.