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Thursday 8 August 2019

1060) Isle of Mann: Celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of the Birth of Herman Melville, the author of the classic Moby Dick: A six Stamp Set issued on 22.07.2019:

1060) Isle of Mann: Celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of the Birth of Herman Melville, the author of the classic Moby Dick: A six Stamp Set issued on 22.07.2019:

The Isle of Man Post Office has marked the 200th Anniversary of the birth of American author Herman Melville, best known for his classic novel "Moby Dick", the tale of the one-legged whaling captain's relentless pursuit of the whale, on his ship the Pequod, that took his leg.

 The story-line has an Isle of Man connection to it, through a character called "The Manxman". The Manxman is the oldest member of the Pequod's crew, described as "sepulchral"  and somewhat of a mystic, a man who "studies signs" and who Ishmael (another character in the story) has "preternatural powers of discernment". Most sailors are superstitious folk and the Manxman's role is to wax lyrical on the omens, good or bad, facing the crew of the Pequod.

Whenever a new "Best 100 Novels Ever" list is compiled, Moby Dick will invariably appear somewhere on this list. In a top 100 list published by the Guardian, the Novel was described as "wise, funny and gripping...…… continues to cast a shadow over American literature".

The story is much more than just a crazed sailor chasing a whale. It explores race, religion, good and evil, social status, the obsession of power - often lengthy speeches that have little or nothing to do with the plot.

Herman Melville's Moby Dick is one of the most famous and extra-ordinary books ever written. How amazing to have these wonderful stamps remind us of Melville - a great connoisseur both of  art and of islands, who sailed many oceans, met many people - even Manx people. 

More about Moby Dick & Herman Melville:

Melville started writing Moby Dick in early 1850. Melville who lived in New York, spent five years at sea himself, including a stint aboard the merchant ship - "St. Lawrence", which sailed to Liverpool and back.

In 1841, he joined the crew of the whaling ship "Acuishnet", visiting the Caribbean, before rounding the Cape Horn and sailing the South Pacific, a period which gave him the inspiration for "Moby Dick".


It appears that Melville either met a Manxman either in New York or during his time at sea, which led to his character of "The Manxman". He may have also heard stories of sea-faring Vikings and tales of Manx legends, including Manannan Mac Lir. Indeed, the description of The Manxman - grey-haired and sepulchral - seems to have been inspired by the Manx Son of the Sea.

For my post on Manannan Mac Lir on this blog,  please visit the following link:

Melville cast his net far and wide when creating his vast list of characters, with other crew members coming from several European countries, China, Chile and India.

Even if one has not read "Moby Dick", one knows the names of Ishmael and Captain Ahab. Queequeg is from a fictional cannibalistic island in the South Seas and befriends Ishmael from the start, playing a prominent role early in the tale. Starbuck is the young chief mate, an honourable Quaker from Nantucket, who opposes Ahab's quest as madness but crucially does not have the backing of the crew to overthrow his captain. Stubb is the ship's second mate, an articulate, good-natured sailor armed at all times with his pipe and a smile.

Despite its later popularity, the book had a  somewhat inauspicious early life. Written by Herman Melville and published in 1851, "Moby Dick"(or "The Whale" as it was known in Britain) is narrated by the character Ishmael and focusses on the crew of the whaler - Pequod - led by its Captain Ahab.

The novel took its time to be considered a classic. It received a decidedly mixed response from critics and was far from being a best-seller; it sold just 500 copies in the UK, compared to the 6,700 sales for Melville's first book "Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life" and in the USA, it sold fewer copies than each of the author's first five books.

After Melville passed away in 1891, several of his novels were reprinted and caught the attention of the New York literary scene - slowly, the acclaim for "Moby Dick" grew and by the 1920s US critics and readers had started to embrace it. The novel's reputation was cemented over the next few decades.

The Melville Society:

The Melville Society is dedicated to the study and appreciation of Herman Melville. They publish the award-winning journal "Leviathan" and meet twice a year for fellow-ship and scholarly discourse at the annual conferences of the Modern Language Association and the American Literature Association.

They also sponsor international conferences every other year. Membership in The Melville Society is open to all.

The Stamp Set:

This stamp set celebrates this great American author's birth and his strong links with Great Britain.

Each of the six stamps features Moby Dick along with the following characters from the story/book- Captain Ahab, Ishmael, Starbuck, The Manxman, Queequeg and Stubb.

Moby Dick "Presentation Pack" is titled "MOBY DICK - CELEBRATING THE 200th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF HERMAN MELVILLE".

On top is seen the whale Moby Dick, while in the lower half are seen images of the six stamps included in the stamp set.

The six-stamp set has been created by Manx artist Juan Moore - the characters depicted on these stamps are - Captain Ahab, Ishmael, and Starbuck (in the top row) and The Manxman, Qeequeg and Stubb (in the bottom row).

The First Day Cover (FDC) issued on the occasion of release of the stamps shows the six stamps featuring Captain Ahab, Ishmael, Starbuck, The Manxman, Queequeg and Stubb. Also seen on each stamp is the whale Moby Dick. The whaler Pequod is seen at sea, with the whale Moby Dick behind, emerging from the Ocean, spouting water.

The FDC is titled "MOBY DICK - Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Herman Melville". The Special Handstamp/Postmark shows a whale in the centre and the cancellation is dated "22.07.2019".

The Sheetlets containing 15 Stamps of each variant  shown together

The technical information for this stamp issue is:

Issue date: 22.07.2019

Images: Juan Moore

Text: John Quirk

Design: EJC Design

Printer: Cartor

Process: Offset Lithography

Colours: 4

Paper: 110 grams PVA gummed

Perforations: 14 per 2 cms

Stamp Size: 45.79 mm x 24 mm

No. of Stamps: Six

Format 15 Stamps per sheet








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

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 

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

28) Tristan da Cunha (BOT): A Wedgwood "Three Graces" Jasperware 5 Pound Coin: minted in 2018

29) 75th Anniversary of D-Day Landings: (The Battle of Normandy): i) A Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau Stamp set of 4 stamps issued on 08.03.2019: ii) A Limited edition D-Day joint Commemorative issue by British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territory - Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar on 06.06.2019

30) Manannan, the First King of Isle of Man or Mann: A Silver 5 Pounds Coin brought out by the Isle of Man in collaboration with Coin Invest Trust (CIT) and minted by B.H. Mayer's Kunstprageanstalt, Munich

31) 200th Anniversary of John Keats' "Odes to a ....", Alderney Island: A set of six Postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post which brings out stamps on behalf of Alderney Island - 1) Ode on a Grecian Urn,(48p) 2) Ode on Indolence (65p), 3) Ode on Melancholy (66p), 4) Ode to a Nightingale (80p), 5) Ode to Psyche (90p), 6) Ode to Autumn (98 p): Stamp Set issue date: 24.07.2019

32) Isle of Mann: Celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of the Birth of Herman Melville, the author of the classic Moby Dick: A six Stamp Set issued on 22.07.2019



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


4) The 350th Anniversary of the Guinea: A Two Pound Coin issued by the Royal Mint UK celebrating the milestone




 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 




Links: Postage Stamps: 



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