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Wednesday 27 October 2021

2093) Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at Christmas, Isle of Man, a British Crown Dependency (BCD): Isle of Man Post (IOMP) has issued a set of Six Stamps depicting the popular children's Series: Date of Stamp issue: 27.10.2021:

2093) Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at Christmas, Isle of Man, a British Crown Dependency (BCD): Isle of Man Post (IOMP) has issued a set of Six Stamps depicting the popular children's Series:  Date of Stamp issue: 27.10.2021:

About Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at Christmas:

Thomas & Friends (originally known as "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" or simply "Thomas the Tank Engine" (until "Series 7") and later called "Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!" is a long-running British children's television series created by Britt Allcroft. 

Based on The Railway Series by W. Awdry and later his son Christopher, it follows the adventures of Thomas, an anthropomorphised tank engine, on the fictional Island of Sodor with fellow engines Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and several other anthropomorphised vehicles. Thomas usually gets into trouble by doing jobs best left to bigger and more sensible engines, but never gives up on being a "Really Useful Engine".

In the United Kingdom, it had its first broadcast on the ITV network in 1984The series aired from 10.09.1984 and ended on 20.01.2021.

In the United States, it had its first broadcasting with the spin-off series Shining Time Station on PBS in 1989

A 2D-animated reboot, "Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go," premiered on 13.09.2021

The Stamps:

The Isle of Man Post Office has brought out a new set of festive stamps for Christmas 2021 featuring "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends wintering on the Isle of Man". 

Thomas and Friends are depicted as celebrating the fun of a Christmas railway excursion in Isle of Man's world-famous transport heritage network in this stamp series.

Isle of Man has strong links to the Thomas series, as the author has credited the Island , as inspiration for the Island of Sodor.

The Isle of Man has a long history of heritage transport - and steam railways in particular - and a selection of these are referenced on this collection. 

The hillside-view stamp, featuring Toby, incorporates the landscape that is home to the Snaefell Mountain Railway, a seasonal service operated under the management of the Isle of Man Government. 

Duncan’s stamp is set at the picturesque Groudle Glen Railway which is operated by volunteers and located along the coast a couple of miles north of Douglas.

This collection is the second stamp issue to feature Thomas.

In 1995, Isle of Man Post Office had released a set of six Thomas the Tank Engine stamps in which Thomas dreamt that he visited his friend, Caledonia on the Isle of Man.

Five years later the Island was one of the locations for the feature film Thomas and the Magic Railroad when Castletown Station transformed into Shining Time Station and the goods shed at Port Erin became the character Burnett Stone's workshop, as such, the Thomas stories have got linked to the Isle of Man. 

Castletown Station is featured on the 1st Class stamp alongside Thomas.

There are six stamps within the issue (1st, EU, Large Letter, Rest of World, USA, EU Large), with each stamp depicting a character from the world of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends as under:

The Stamp Set

1st Class value (Local, UK/CI mail) - Thomas at Castletown Station

EU value - Toby on Snaefell Mountain Railway

Large Letter value (Local, UK/CI mail) - Duncan at Groudle Glen Railway Station

Rest of the World value - James at Ballasalla Station

USA value - Henry at Douglas Station

EU Large Letter value - James and Gordon at Port Soderick Station

The stamps pay tribute to the earliest era of Thomas artworks with imagery derived from the work of Reginald Payne and Reginald Dalby. 

Although very early illustrations were by William Middleton, the images that remain in print are those modified by Reginald Dalby whose newer versions date from 1949.

 The festive stamps show a wintery scene at various Isle of Man Heritage railway locations across the Island and have been designed to invoke warm memories of Christmas railway journeys with loved ones.

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas First Day Cover (FDC):

The First Day Cover (FDC) includes all six stamps is presented on a deluxe envelope with a black foil postmark for the FDC.

A filler card complete with information about the historical heritage railway sites which Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends visited whilst in the Isle of Man, is included with the FDC.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at Christmas Sheetlet:

This  Sheetlet (S) on Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at Christmas Sheetlet features all six stamps with a festive snowy border which also showing Thomas the Tank Engine against the Douglas Railway Station on the Isle of Man and is presented in a decorative folder complete with the issue text.

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas on the Travelling Post Office (TPO) Special Cover:

The complete set of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at Christmas stamps is displayed on this deluxe cover along with a Railway Letter Stamp

The stamps were cancelled with the Post Office TPO first day of issue pictorial postmark depicting the semaphore signal at the platform end of Douglas Station. 

The cover also bears the Isle of Man Railways IMR cachet indicating that the cover has been carried on the Travelling Post Office.

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas Presentation Pack

The Front Cover of this Presentation Pack (PP) shows Thomas the Tank Engine amidst a snowy scene with a backdrop of the iconic Douglas Railway station.

Inside is contained information about the link between Thomas the Tank Engine and the Isle of Man and it's famous link to heritage railways.

A Collectable

Self Adhesive Collectables:

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas Self Adhesive Set:

This set of six self adhesive stamps all carry £0.67 value (equivalent of a 1st).

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas Self Adhesive First Day Cover (FDC):

All six stamps from this beautiful festive collection are presented on a deluxe envelope, in a self-adhesive format, each with a 67p value, together with an Information Card (IB).  

About Variable Value Definitives:

Variable rate definitive self-adhesive stamps are known as 'Post & Go stamps' and 'Faststamps' in a number of other jurisdictions. They are popular, highly collectable and viewed as the next generation of self-adhesive stamps. Each stamp features the stamp value, date of issue, sequential number and stamp identifier.

Full Sheets (FS):

Technical details:

Issue Date: 27.10.2021

Designer: EJC Design

Printer: bPost

Process: Offset Lithography

Stamp Size(s): 32.00 mm x 25.96 mm












Links: Postage Stamps from the British Isles: 























37) Sherlock Holmes, United Kingdom: A set of six stamps issued by Royal Mail, UK featuring the characters of the modern version of a TV Serial "Sherlock" started in 2010 by the BBC, together with Cupro-nickel & Silver Medals minted by the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Stamp Set issue: 18.08.2020














53) Gibraltar Cryptocurrency Stamp: Stamp value 4 Pounds: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2021: (Pre-ordered accepted from 19.04.2021)

54) The Calf Of Man Nature Reserve", Isle of Man, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): 75th Anniversary" Celebrations (1946-2021): A set of ten Stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post (IOMP) commemorating the milestone of this Biosphere Island: (Also includes the EUROPA Stamp on "Endangered National Wildlife" theme designated by PostEurop for 2021): Date of Stamps issue: 12.04.2021

55) "The Who", United Kingdom: The iconic Rock Group features on the latest "British Music Legends" Collector Coin Series issues from the Royal Mint UK: Date of Coin Release: 24.05.2021

56) "Sark - Dark Sky Island", Guernsey, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): This "GuernseyTogether" Series of stamps by Guernsey Post features drawings made by Sark school-children: Date of stamp set issue: 19.08.2020

57) Surfing in Jersey, a British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set if six stamps issued by Jersey Post featuring contemporary photographs taken by Jersey photographers: Date of Stamp Set issie: 18.05.2021

58) Dennis and Gnasher, United Kingdom: 70th Anniversary (1951-2021): A set of sis Stamps issued by Royal Mail, UK, featuring the popular comic strip: Date of Stamp Set issue: 01.07.2021

59) The Palace of Westminster, United Kingdom: 10th Anniversary molestone (1870-2020): Royal Mail UK has issued a set of Ten Stamps featuring the iconic Palace: Date/Year of Coin issue: 30.07.2020

60) Industrial Revolutions, United Kingdom: Royal Mail, UKhas brought out a set od stamps featuring the IndustrialRevolutions: Date of Stamp Set issue: 12.08.2021

61) Frances Hodgson Burnett and "The Secret Garden", Alderney, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six postage stamps issued by Guernsey Post on behalf of Aldernay Islands: Date of Stamp set issue: 01.09.2021

62) "75th Anniversary of MENSA" (1946-2021", Isle of Man, A British  Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six stamps issued by the Isle of Man Post (IOMP): Date of Stamp Set issue: 01.10.2021

Music Legends Coin Series:

1) "The Who", United Kingdom: The iconic Rock Group features on the latest "British Music Legends" Collector Coin Series issues from the Royal Mint UK: Date of Coin Release: 24.05.2021 

2)  Music Giants III, QUEEN, UK: A comprehensive Coin and Stamps Combo issued by the Royal Mail UK in collaboration with the Queen Band and the Royal Mint, UK: Date of Coin & Stamp combo issue: 09.06.2020

 Posts on the UK  Coins and Stamps:

"Tales of the Earth Coin Series": The Second Dinosaurs Collector Coin Series:

i) Prehistoric Temnodontosaurus, United Kingdom: "Tales of the earth Coin Series": First coin in the "Second Dinosaurs Collector Coin Series" features on Gold, Silver & Cupro-nickel 50 Pence Coin Variants: Date/Year of Coin issue: 25.02.2021 Variants

Myths & Legends Coin Series:

1) "ROBIN HOOD", United Kingdom: "Myths and Legends Coin Series": First Coin in the Series: Silver 2 UKP (2 Pounds) and Gold 100 UKP(100 Pounds) Bullion Coins issued by the Royal Mint UK featuring the famed/legendary Outlaw: Year of Coin issue: 2021

"The Queen's Beasts" Coin Series, UK issues:



"Tales of the Earth - Dinosauria" Coin Series, UK issues:

Links to some other interesting posts from the British Isles and British Overseas Territories/Dependencies:

Central Bank of Ireland issues:





Bank of Ireland issues:


Northern Ireland Bank issues:







Inspirations from Scottish History (Clydesdale Bank Banknotes): 

  

Banknotes from Royal Bank of Scotland:


British Crown Dependencies/Overseas Territories:





  














































Gold Coins:
  


Silver Coins:


British India Coinage:







Other British Royalty: 







 British Coinage:











 Commemorative British Coinage:





The Brixton Pound:

Links: Crypto-Currency Stamps & Coin Posts:

1) Croatian Crypto Stamp - 2, Croatia: A 50 HRK stamp (a combination of the analog and the digital) issued by "Hrvatska Posta" (Croatian Post) in coordination with the Croatian Blochchain community gathered around the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association: Date of Stamp issue: 16.12.2020

2) Did You Know Series (49): Dogecoin (DOGE), Blockchain Mint, Singapore: Blockchain Mint has issued Silver DOGE Medals in three variants - i) Silver Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Medal Gem BU, ii) Silver Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Medal Proof-Like in Blister Pak, iii) Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Commemorative Medal Antiqued in Blister Pack: Date of Medal release/shipping: 05/2021

3) Did You Know Series (50): A Guest Post by Avery Wright: "Is Making the Crypto Space Legally Complaint Paving the Road to Mass (Blockchain) Adoption?" - A perspective:

4) Gibraltar Cryptocurrency Stamp: Stamp value 4 Pounds: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2021: (Pre-orders accepted from 19.04.2021):

British Antarctic Territory (BAT) Related Links on this Blog:

1) 200 Years of the Discovery of Antarctica, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated the the Bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarcticca by Admiral Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen on board the "Vostok": Coin issue date: 01/2020

2) Solomon Islands: 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's first Pacific "Voyage of Discovery" and charting of New Zealand and Australia's East Coast: Date of Coin issue: 2020





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