Isle of Man – Centenary of Steam Railway – 1973
| FDC image | 
|
|---|---|
| FDC reverse image | N/A |
| Country | Isle of Man |
| Country code | IM |
| Issue title | Centenary of Steam Railway |
| Date of issue | 4 August 1973 |
| Withdrawal or invalidation date | 3 August 1974 (SG 35–38 withdrawn from sale)
|
| Stamp type | Commemorative stamp |
| Stamp subtype | Anniversary |
| Theme or subject | Steam railways; railway centenary; locomotives |
| Text credit | |
| Designer or artist | J. H. Nicholson, R.I. |
| Printer | Harrison & Sons (High Wycombe) Ltd. |
| Printing process | Photogravure |
| Colours | Multicoloured; five colours |
| Paper and gum | White postage stamp paper with Harrison & Sons coating; PVA adhesive |
| Perforation | 15 × 14 |
| Stamp dimensions | |
| Issue format | Four stamps, each issued in sheets of 50 (catalogue notation: 5 × 10) |
| Number of stamps | 4 |
| Cover type | Official first day cover |
| Cover producer | Isle of Man Post Office Authority |
| Cover reference | |
| Limited edition | No |
| Edition limit | N/A |
| Copy number | N/A |
| Cachet or cover design | Isle of Man Railway Company emblem incorporating a steam locomotive and the Three Legs of Man, with an ornate red and gold surround; railway centenary wording and the dates 1873 and 1973 |
| Addressed | No |
| Postmark type | Circular first day of issue handstamp |
| Postmark location | Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Postmark date | 4 August 1973 |
| Postmark inscription | FIRST DAY OF ISSUE / - 4 AUG 1973 / DOUGLAS / ISLE OF MAN |
| Postmark notes | One circular strike overlaps all four 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 | Isle of Man Railway |
| Information sheet image | 
|
| Information sheet reverse image | 
|
| Information sheet notes | The front gives a history of the railway. The reverse describes the four locomotives and provides technical details of the stamp issue. |
| 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 with all four stamps, a Douglas first day cancellation and a double-sided information card. No reverse cover image is provided. |
The Centenary of Steam Railway issue was released by the Isle of Man on 4 August 1973. It comprised four commemorative stamps depicting locomotives associated with the Isle of Man Railway and the Manx Northern Railway. Stanley Gibbons catalogues the stamps as SG 35–38 and lists a first day cover for the issue.[1]
The centenary commemorated the opening of the railway's Douglas–Peel line on 1 July 1873. That date is recorded both on the accompanying information card and in the railway's official anniversary guide.[2][3]
The owned cover
The envelope identifies its producer as the Isle of Man Post Office Authority and is inscribed “OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVER”. Its cachet features the Isle of Man Railway Company emblem, incorporating a steam locomotive and the Three Legs of Man, beneath the railway centenary title and dates 1873 and 1973.[4]
All four stamps are tied by one circular FIRST DAY OF ISSUE handstamp dated 4 August 1973, with DOUGLAS and ISLE OF MAN in its inscription. The cover is unaddressed.[4]
Designs and production
The stamps depict:
- 2½p — No. 1 Sutherland, 1873.
- 3p — MNR No. 4 Caledonia, 1885.
- 7½p — No. 13 Kissack, 1910.
- 9p — No. 3 Pender, 1873.[1]
Caledonia was numbered 4 by the Manx Northern Railway and later became No. 15 in the Isle of Man Railway fleet. The accompanying card explains both numbers.[2]
The stamps were designed by J. H. Nicholson, R.I., and printed by Harrison & Sons (High Wycombe) Ltd. using photogravure. The card records five colours, white postage stamp paper with Harrison & Sons coating, and PVA adhesive.[2]
All four values are perforated 15 × 14. Stanley Gibbons records sheets of 50 (5 × 10) and cylinder numbers 1A (each ×5) for all four denominations.[1]
Information card
The double-sided card is headed ISLE OF MAN RAILWAY. Its front describes the formation of the railway company, construction of its lines and their opening. It identifies Sutherland as the locomotive that hauled the official Douglas–Peel opening train on 1 July 1873.[2]
The reverse describes Sutherland, Caledonia, Kissack and Pender, including their builders, wheel arrangements and the origins of their names. It also records Kissack hauling the Royal Train during the Royal Family's visit in August 1972. A technical details section follows the locomotive descriptions.[2]
Sales and withdrawal
Stanley Gibbons records the following quantities sold:
| Stamp | Face value | Quantity sold |
|---|---|---|
| IM-SG-35 | 2½p | 617,122 |
| IM-SG-36 | 3p | 808,173 |
| IM-SG-37 | 7½p | 331,695 |
| IM-SG-38 | 9p | 324,414 |
These figures count individual stamps, not first day covers. All four stamps were withdrawn from sale on 3 August 1974.[1]
Stamps on this cover
| Image | Identifier | Face value | Subject | Format | Other catalogues | Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IM-SG-35 | 2½p | No. 1 Sutherland, 1873 | Stamp | Quantity sold: 617,122 stamps. Withdrawn from sale on 3 August 1974.[1]
| |
|
IM-SG-36 | 3p | MNR No. 4 Caledonia, 1885 | Stamp | Quantity sold: 808,173 stamps. Withdrawn from sale on 3 August 1974.[1] Caledonia later became IMR No. 15; see Manx Northern Railway locomotives.[2]
| |
|
IM-SG-37 | 7½p | No. 13 Kissack, 1910 | Stamp | Quantity sold: 331,695 stamps. Withdrawn from sale on 3 August 1974.[1]
| |
|
IM-SG-38 | 9p | No. 3 Pender, 1873 | Stamp | Quantity sold: 324,414 stamps. Withdrawn from sale on 3 August 1974.[1]
|
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 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): 35–38.ISBN: 978-1-911304-89-0.Place of publication: Ringwood.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Isle of Man Railway(Information card).Reference: Front scan; reverse scan.Double-sided information card accompanying the owned official first day cover. The stamp issue date is printed as 4 August 1973; a separate publication date is not given.
- ↑ Year of the Railways 2023: Commemorative Souvenir Event Guide(Event guide).Isle of Man Transport.2023.Accessed 3 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Centenary of the Isle of Man Steam Railway — official first day cover(First day cover).Isle of Man Post Office Authority.Reference: Scan of the owned cover.Unaddressed collection copy bearing SG 35–38 and a Douglas first day cancellation dated 4 August 1973.