968) Concorde: A Stamp set from Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory (BOT): 50th Anniversary of the first Supersonic Passenger Carrying Commercial Airplane, jointly built by France and Great Britain: Stamp set issue date 20.04.2019:
Concorde was the first Supersonic Passenger carrying airplane (or Super-Sonic Transport, SST), built jointly by aircraft manufacturers in France and Great Britain.
It made its first trans-Atlantic crossing on 06.09.1973 and it inaugurated the world's first scheduled Supersonic Passenger Service on 21.01.1976 - with British Airways initially flying the aircraft from London to Bahrain and air France flying it from Paris to Rio de Janeiro.
Both airlines added regular service to Washington DC in 05/1976 and to New York City in 011/1977.
Other routes were added temporarily or seasonally and the Concorde was flown on chartered flights to destinations all over the world.
However, the aircraft's noise and operating expenses limited its service. Financial losses led to both airlines to cut routes, eventually leaving New York City as their only regular destination.
The Concorde had a maximum cruising speed of 2.179 kilometres per hour (kmph) or Mach 2.04 (more than twice the speed of sound), allowing the aircraft to reduce the flight time between London and New York to about three hours.
The development costs of the Concorde were so great that they could never be recovered from operations and the aircraft was never financially profitable. Concorde Operations were finally ceased by Air France in 05/2003 and by British Airways in 10/2003. Only 14 aircraft actually went into service.
Other routes were added temporarily or seasonally and the Concorde was flown on chartered flights to destinations all over the world.
However, the aircraft's noise and operating expenses limited its service. Financial losses led to both airlines to cut routes, eventually leaving New York City as their only regular destination.
The Concorde had a maximum cruising speed of 2.179 kilometres per hour (kmph) or Mach 2.04 (more than twice the speed of sound), allowing the aircraft to reduce the flight time between London and New York to about three hours.
The development costs of the Concorde were so great that they could never be recovered from operations and the aircraft was never financially profitable. Concorde Operations were finally ceased by Air France in 05/2003 and by British Airways in 10/2003. Only 14 aircraft actually went into service.
The Concorde was the first major cooperative venture of the European countries to design and build an aircraft. On 29.11.1962, France and Great Britain signed a treaty to share costs and risks in producing an SST.
British Aerospace and the French firm Aerospatiale were responsible for the airframe, while Britain's Rolls-Royce and France's SNECMA (Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation) developed the jet engines.
The result was a technological masterpiece - the delta-wing Concorde, which made its first flight on 02.03.1969.
The Stamp issue:
The Official First Day Cover (FDC) issued along with the four-Stamp Set
It shows the four stamps of values of 64 Pence, 80 Pence, 2.80 Pounds and 3.40 Pounds affixed on the top.
The Special Cancellation Handstamp bears an impression of the Concorde. The Cancellation is marked "Gibraltar" and the Cancellation Date is 20.04.2019".
A set of the four stamps released in the Stamp issue
A Presentation set of the four stamps issued on the 50th Anniversary of the Concorde
The technical specifications of this stamp issue include:
Issue Date: 20.04.2019
Stamp Values: 64 Pence, 80 Pence, 2.80 Pounds and 3.40 Pounds
Process: Offset Lithography
Stamp size: 50 mm x 30.0 mm
Colours: 4 Colours used
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustration/Photography: Getty Images
The Stamp issue:
It shows the four stamps of values of 64 Pence, 80 Pence, 2.80 Pounds and 3.40 Pounds affixed on the top.
The Special Cancellation Handstamp bears an impression of the Concorde. The Cancellation is marked "Gibraltar" and the Cancellation Date is 20.04.2019".
The technical specifications of this stamp issue include:
Issue Date: 20.04.2019
Stamp Values: 64 Pence, 80 Pence, 2.80 Pounds and 3.40 Pounds
Process: Offset Lithography
Stamp size: 50 mm x 30.0 mm
Colours: 4 Colours used
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustration/Photography: Getty Images
Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories/Dependencies:
Central Bank of Ireland issues:
1) Jonathan Swift: 350th Birth Anniversary 15 Euro Silver Proof coin features his most famous work "Gulliver's Travels" : Coin issued on 30.11.2017
2) Ireland: Women's right to Vote - 100th Year Anniversary : A Silver 15 Euro Proof Collector Coin issued by the Central Bank of Ireland on 27.11.2018
3) Irish Myths & Legends: 1) The Children of Lir;2) Cu Chulain; 3) The Omniscient Salmon of Knowledge; 4) Werewolves of Ossory; 5) The Brown Bull of Cooley and Deirdre of the Sorrows: An Annual Mint Set from the Central Bank of Ireland, recreates/celebrates Irish Folk Tales (Issue date: 30.04.2018)
Northern Ireland Bank issues:
1) Northern Ireland Polymer Bank Issues: Danske Bank (10 Pounds Polymer Banknotes), Bank of Ireland (5 & 10 Pound Polymer Banknotes) to go into circulation in 2020/21
Bank of England Banknotes:
1) A Ten Pounds Banknote issued on Charles Dickens (Writer) also depicting a cricket match from his novel "The Pickwick Papers"
2) A Ten Pound Banknote issued on Charles Darwin (English Naturalist) also depicting the HMS Beagle, Darwin's magnifying glass, a humming-bird & flora that he may have seen on his voyage.
3) A Five Pounds Banknote issued on George Stephenson (an Engineer) also depicting "Rocket" his Railway Locomotive and Skeene Bridge on the Stockton Darlington Railway (1825) - since withdrawn
6) Jane Austen: features on the second circulating Polymer Banknote of 10 Pounds denomination to be released on 14.09.2017
Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes):
1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote
Banknotes from Bank of Scotland:
British Crown Dependencies:
1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey
2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey
3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey
4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain
5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015
7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend
8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie
9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda
10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence
11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003
12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint
13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence
14) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-Hopper Penguin
15) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The Gentoo Penguin:Second Coin in the series of four coins issued on 20.06.2017
2) Ireland: Women's right to Vote - 100th Year Anniversary : A Silver 15 Euro Proof Collector Coin issued by the Central Bank of Ireland on 27.11.2018
3) Irish Myths & Legends: 1) The Children of Lir;2) Cu Chulain; 3) The Omniscient Salmon of Knowledge; 4) Werewolves of Ossory; 5) The Brown Bull of Cooley and Deirdre of the Sorrows: An Annual Mint Set from the Central Bank of Ireland, recreates/celebrates Irish Folk Tales (Issue date: 30.04.2018)
Northern Ireland Bank issues:
1) Northern Ireland Polymer Bank Issues: Danske Bank (10 Pounds Polymer Banknotes), Bank of Ireland (5 & 10 Pound Polymer Banknotes) to go into circulation in 2020/21
Bank of England Banknotes:
1) A Ten Pounds Banknote issued on Charles Dickens (Writer) also depicting a cricket match from his novel "The Pickwick Papers"
2) A Ten Pound Banknote issued on Charles Darwin (English Naturalist) also depicting the HMS Beagle, Darwin's magnifying glass, a humming-bird & flora that he may have seen on his voyage.
3) A Five Pounds Banknote issued on George Stephenson (an Engineer) also depicting "Rocket" his Railway Locomotive and Skeene Bridge on the Stockton Darlington Railway (1825) - since withdrawn
6) Jane Austen: features on the second circulating Polymer Banknote of 10 Pounds denomination to be released on 14.09.2017
Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes):
1) The Legend of King Bruce & the Spider on Banknotes
2) Commemorating Sir William Arrol and his creation the Forth Rail Bridge by issues of Britain's first ever 5 Pound Polymer Banknote
Banknotes from Bank of Scotland:
British Crown Dependencies:
1) Specimen Banknotes from the States of Jersey
2) Coinage and Currency from the States of Jersey
3) Currency & Coinage of the Bailiwick of Guernsey
4) Currency & Coinage of Gibraltar : An Overseas Territory of Great Britain
5) Coinage of Gibraltar: (A British Overseas Territory): An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by the Tower Mint, UK in 2010
6) The Isle of Man: An Uncirculated Decimal Coin Collection Set minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK in 2015
7) The Centenary of the ill-fated Titanic (15.04.1912 - 15.04.2012): An Alderney Five Pound Coin Commemorating the Maritime Legend
8) "Man of Steel": A Superman Movie: A set of stamps brought out in 2013 by Jersey post, the States of Jersey, commemorating Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill who played Superman in the Movie
9) Coins & Currency of Bermuda
10) The Bailiwick of Jersey - Presently circulating coinage - Pounds and Pence
11) St. Helena & Ascension Islands: An Uncirculated Coin Set from 2003
12) The Legend of the "HMAV Bounty" is interwoven with the heritage of the Pitcairn Islands: An uncirculated coin set from Pitcairn Islands in 2009 depicting the icons/relics of the Bounty minted by the New Zealand Mint
13) Currency of the Falkland Islands: A British Overseas Territory (BOT) Pounds & Pence
14) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The first Coin in the Series of four coins: the Rock-Hopper Penguin
15) Falkland Islands Penguins: 50 Pence Coin Series: The Gentoo Penguin:Second Coin in the series of four coins issued on 20.06.2017
17) The Siren: British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A silver Double crown (Four Pounds) : First coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures) issued by the Pobjoy Mint UK on 03.04.2018
18) The Minotaur: British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT):A Silver Double crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Second Coin in the Series titled :Mythical Creatures: issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 15.06.2018
19) The Isle of Man: A British Crown Dependency (BCD) Coinage: A newly introduced Collector's circulation Currency Coinage Collector's set received from the Tower Mint, London, UK issued in April 2017
20) Pegasus: British Virgin Islands: A gold Bullion Coin of $100 issued by Pobjoy Mint on belalf of British Virgin Islands in July 2018
21) "The Hydra": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Third Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 07.08.2018
22) "Medusa The Gorgon": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Fourth Coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint UK on behalf of BIOT in 09/2018
25) South Atlantic Fauna Coins from Ascension Island and South Georgia and Sandwich Islands, British Overseas Territories (BOT): (Part II): A 1 Pound Titanium Coin & a 1 Pound Uncirculated Coin variant, feature the Queen Triggerfish, issued on behalf of Ascension Island (2019) minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK
26) Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic Explorer: South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands: A 2 Pounds Coin minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK, brought out on 26.02.2019 on behalf of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands in two variants - Silver and Cupro-nickel
27) Concorde, a Stamp set from Gibraltar, A British Overseas territory (BOT): 50th Anniversary of the first Supersonic Passenger Carrying Airplane, jointly built by France and Great Britain: Stamp set issue date: 20.04.2019
20) Pegasus: British Virgin Islands: A gold Bullion Coin of $100 issued by Pobjoy Mint on belalf of British Virgin Islands in July 2018
21) "The Hydra": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Third Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint, UK on behalf of BIOT on 07.08.2018
22) "Medusa The Gorgon": British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High relief Coin with antique Finish: Fourth Coin in the series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint UK on behalf of BIOT in 09/2018
23) "The Centaur": British Indian Ocean Territiory (BIOT): A Silver Double Crown (4 Pounds), 2 Oz High Relief Coin with Antique Finish: Fifth & Last Coin in the Series titled "Mythical Creatures" issued by Pobjoy Mint in Nov. 2018
24) South Atlantic Fauna Coins from Ascension Islands and South Georgia and Sandwich Islands, British Overseas Territories (BOT): (Part 1) : A 2 Pounds Titanium % a 2 Pounds Uncirculated coins variant, feature the Macaroni Penguin issued on behalf of South Georgia & Sandwich Islands (2019), by the Pobjoy Mint, UK
24) South Atlantic Fauna Coins from Ascension Islands and South Georgia and Sandwich Islands, British Overseas Territories (BOT): (Part 1) : A 2 Pounds Titanium % a 2 Pounds Uncirculated coins variant, feature the Macaroni Penguin issued on behalf of South Georgia & Sandwich Islands (2019), by the Pobjoy Mint, UK
25) South Atlantic Fauna Coins from Ascension Island and South Georgia and Sandwich Islands, British Overseas Territories (BOT): (Part II): A 1 Pound Titanium Coin & a 1 Pound Uncirculated Coin variant, feature the Queen Triggerfish, issued on behalf of Ascension Island (2019) minted by the Pobjoy Mint, UK
26) Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic Explorer: South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands: A 2 Pounds Coin minted by Pobjoy Mint, UK, brought out on 26.02.2019 on behalf of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands in two variants - Silver and Cupro-nickel
27) Concorde, a Stamp set from Gibraltar, A British Overseas territory (BOT): 50th Anniversary of the first Supersonic Passenger Carrying Airplane, jointly built by France and Great Britain: Stamp set issue date: 20.04.2019
The Queen's Beasts Coin Series, UK issues:
Famous Battles:
1) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena: (Part I): A One Crown Commemorative coin issued by the Ascension Island (minted by Pobjoy Mint UK) 2) Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's Exile to st. Helena: (Part II) 1) A 5 GBP Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK. 2) A"Drie Landen Zilverset" ( ot the "Three Lands Silver set") containing coins issued by the Royal Dutch Mint including coins of Netherlands, Belgium and UK
3) Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by issuing a 50 Pence coin by the Royal Mint UK
Gold Coins:
1) Gold Sovereigns issued in 2013 & 2014 by MMTC-PAMP in India under licence from the Royal Mint, UK, carrying the "I" Mint Mark
2) Gold Half-Sovereigns minted by MMTC-PAMP in India in 2014 under licence from the Royal Mint UK bearing the "I" Mint Mark
Silver Coins:
1) A 20 Pound Silver coin minted for the first timr by the royal Mint UK: reverse design carries the famous St. George slaying the dragon design found on Gold Sovereigns
British India Coinage:
1) East India Company Quarter Anna Copper Coin which is one of the first issues under the Coinage Act 1835
2) Victoria Coinage: When she was Queen and afterwards Empress
3) Edward VII: King & Emperor Coinage
4) George V King Emperor Coinage
5) George VI: The last of the British India Emperors Coinage
Other British Royalty:
1) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations (1952-2012): A Five Pound Commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
2) Commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953: A Five Pound Coin minted by the Royal Mint UK in 2013, depicting the Imperial State Crown
3) The Royal Coat of Arms of the UK: Great British 2012 Coin Set (Uncirculated) issued by the Royal Mint UK
4) Prince George's Christening Ceremony celebrated with coins issued by the Royal Mint UK in 2013
5) The British Empire: A Case of Numismatic "Segregation": (Guest Post by Rahul Kumar)
6) 1) The Portrait Collection: Various Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Coinage 2) The Fourth & Final Circulating coinage of the Portrait designed by Ian Rank-Broadley and the First Edition of the portrait of the Queen made by Jody Clark
British Coinage:
1) The contribution of the Great British One-Pound coins in keeping alive the historical legends/emblems/heritage of the UK (1983 onwards)
2) Transformation of a Five shilling Coin (Crown) into the UK Twenty-five Pence & then the Five Pound Coin
Commemorative British Coinage:
1) Commemorating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens: A Two pound coin celebrating his literary contributions during the Victorian Era
2) Commemorating 50 Years of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - presently called the World Wide Fund for Nature by issue of a Fifty Pence coin by the Royal Mint, UK
3) Coins commemorating London Olympics & Paralympics (2012)
4) Commemorating 150 Years of the London Underground : Two pound Coins minted by the Royal Mint UK, showing the "Roundel" logo and a train emerging from a tunnel
5) Commemorating the 100th Birth anniversary of Christopher Ironside with his " Royal Arms" design on a 50 Pence coin issued by the Royal Mint, UK
The Queen's Beasts Coin Series, UK issues:
Links: Postage Stamps:
12) Owls: A set of 10 Stamps depicting five Owls - Barn Owl (Tyto alba), Little Owl (Athene noctua), Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), Short eared Owl (Asio flammeus) and Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) issued by the Royal Mail Uk on 11.05.2018
13) Reintroduced Species: A set of six stamps issued by the Royal Mail, UK depicting UK's successfully restored wildlife including the Osprey, Eurasian Beaver, Pool Frog, Sand Lizard, Large Blue Butterfly and Stinking Hawk's-beard species on 17.04.2018
13) Reintroduced Species: A set of six stamps issued by the Royal Mail, UK depicting UK's successfully restored wildlife including the Osprey, Eurasian Beaver, Pool Frog, Sand Lizard, Large Blue Butterfly and Stinking Hawk's-beard species on 17.04.2018
Kevin Day-Thorburn has commented:
ReplyDelete" I have a Polaroid of one I saw back in the '80s in Nova Scotia. Pretty cool."
It was a very elegant design, Kevin and had a fantastic speed and passenger comfort. Too bad it ran into operational losses. Your photo is a trip down memory lane indeed.
DeleteVikram Bhatnagar has commented:
ReplyDelete"The worst part of the failure was that these Countries continue to recover the losses, by selling expensive aircraft to Countries like India in the name of "advanced technology" aircraft!
Clever ones like China have developed their own stuff at less than half the cost."
Both France and GB have never admitted that the project was a failure from the very start of commercial ops in fact I came across several statements that the tech was a tremendous success and a glorious first for both nations. I have excluded these references altogether from my post. I fully subscribe to your viewpoint. Now India too has woken up to the fact how we have been taken for a ride in the past. I had recently gone for a ride on the Main Battle Tank Arjun, fully built in India, and have seen documentaries of the TEJAS aircraft. Let's hope that in the next decade India builds up sufficiency in Aviation .
Delete